Day Of The Jackal (DVD)

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Good
How does it compare to similar films?	Good

Advantages:	One of the few novels faithfully translated into film
Disadvantages:	none

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

The novel ,The Day of the Jackal , a thriller was published in 1971 by Frederick Forsyth.The story is about a professional assassin who is contracted by the right-wing OAS French terrorist group , to kill Charles de Gaulle, the President of France.

The novel had a carefully thought out plot. This fast-paced novel was based in parts on the actual events that occurred in 1960s France. The revolt in 1954, in Algeria and the following events that brought Charles De Gaulle to power in 1958.Elements in France and Algeria blamed De Gaulle for this political decision. They formed the Secret Army Organization (OAS), and decided to remove De Gaulle from power..There were many attempts on his life which were all foiled at the last minute by the French Police.

The swift moving plot, the realistic police methods, the interesting characters, all made for a complete story which never lets you get away - you were hooked right from the first page. It received rave reviews and praise when it was first published in 1971.Forsythe managed to keep up the remarkably effective suspense right till the final pages...

The OAS commanders decide to hire a professional assassin to kill de Gaulle after several attempts to carry out the killing, using their own organization fail and there was a chance of their plot being exposed.
They do extensive research on the world's top killers and decide on an Englishman code-named "The Jackal".. The Jackal demands half a million dollars to carry out the assassination, which was a great deal of money in the sixties..The demand is met with and the plan put into action and The Jackal takes over from there.

It is basically a story of the efforts of Jackal ,efficient, and ruthless , as he prepares to assassinate President De Gaulle, and the efforts of an equally efficient French detective officer, assigned to track the assasin and stop him and expose the enemy/s within the system.

The Film

The novel was adopted by Fred Zinnemann for his movie released in 1973.This book had the honor of being one of the few novels faithfully translated into film and the credit goes to the director, writer team.

This was a terrific movie by all standards.The lead actors, Edward Fox and Michael Lonsdale an Anglo French actor, are actors rarely seen in Hollywood films.
Edward Fox is just right for the role of the enigmatic Jackal, the Assasin and very ably supported by Michael Lonsdale as Claude Lebel the french detective assigned to catch him.

The director has done a great job in maintaining the suspense, this in spite of the viewers knowing that the assasin has to fail.It is the intricate detailing of the preparations taken by the assasin that make for a very interesting viewing and keeps the viewers totally engrossed. since most of the film comprises of that.The efficiency of the French Police and the detailed investigations that make them aware of the plot that is brewing has been very well portrayed.

Jackal is cold blooded and very resourceful as he goes about plotting his every move,assembling false papers, several new identities , and specialised weapons. He gets some important information that he needs for the success of his assasin bid by seducing a French female clerk and later cold bloodedly kills her and he is always one step ahead of the detective officer, so much so , that the detective officer develops a grudging admiration for the assasin , for his methods and his meticulous planning.

But Lebel is no less,as he efficiently tracks down all the hideouts and places that Jackal has visited..it is a very interesting plot , a cat and mouse game between the Killer and the investigating officer.
There is not much action here , as the whole movie centers around Jackal and his methodical preparation for the final kill.At the same time it is very interesting to watch Jackal go through his preparations and various changes in his appearances planned to the last detail and successfully carried out right till the final stages.

This is a great political thriller well acted and directed, Day of the Jackal is a tense and engrossing film with a not so surprising ending.

Directed by : Fred Zinnemann
Produced by : John Woolf,Julien Derode,David Deutsch
Written by : Kenneth Ross
Starring : Edward Fox, Michael Lonsdale,Cyril Cusack ,Delphine Seyrig and others
Music by: Georges Delerue
Cinematography: Jean Tournier
Editing by: Ralph Kemplen
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Release date(s): 16 May 1973
Running time : 145 minutes
Country : UK/France
Language : English