The Day of the Jackal (1973)

★ 7.5 2h 23m 667 votes IMDb

An international assassin known as ‘The Jackal’ is employed by disgruntled French generals to kill President Charles de Gaulle, with a dedicated gendarme on the assassin’s trail.

The Day of the Jackal

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Cast

Edward Fox
Edward Fox as The Jackal Age 89 · London, England, UK Edward Charles Morice Fox (born 13 April 1937) is an English stage, film and television actor. He is the older brother of actor James Fox. He played the part of the professional assassin who is hired...
Terence Alexander
Terence Alexander as Lloyd Died 2009 · Islington, London, England Terence Joseph Alexander (11 March 1923 – 28 May 2009) was an English film and television actor, best known for his role as Charlie Hungerford in the British TV drama Bergerac. He was born in London,...
Michel Auclair
Michel Auclair as Colonel Rolland Died 1988 · Koblenz, Germany Michel Auclair (born Vladimir Vujović; 14 September 1922 – 7 January 1988) was an actor of Serbian and French ancestry, known best for his roles in French cinema. Auclair was born to a Serbian father...
Alan Badel
Alan Badel as the Minister Died 1982 · Rusholme, Manchester, England From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Alan Fernand Badel (11 September 1923 – 19 March 1982) was a distinguished English stage actor who also appeared frequently in the cinema, radio and television...
Tony Britton
Tony Britton as Inspector Thomas Died 2019 · Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, UK From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Anthony Edward Lowry "Tony" Britton (9 June 1924 - 22 December 2019) was an English actor. He is the father of presenter Fern Britton, scriptwriter Cherry Britt...
Cyril Cusack
Cyril Cusack as Gunsmith Died 1993 · Durban, Natal, South Africa From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Cyril James Cusack (26 November 1910 – 7 October 1993) was an Irish actor, who appeared in more than 90 films. Description above from the Wikipedia article Cyr...

Audience Reviews

John Chard 9/10 Feb 12, 2014
Chacal.

The Day of the Jackal is directed by Fred Zinnerman and adapted to screenplay by Kenneth Ross from the novel of the same name written by Frederick Forsyth. It stars Edward Fox, Michael Lonsdale, Terence Alexander, Michel Auclair, Alan Badel, Tony Britton and Denis Carey. Music is by Georges Delerue and cinematography by Jean Tournier.

As the French political climate reaches boiling point over the Algeria situation, underground organisation the OAS plot to have President Charles de Gaulle assassinated. When an attempt fails the OAS members not caught are exiled in Vienna and decide that bringing in an outsider to kill the President is now the best way forward. That outsider is an Englishman, code name The Jackal, a methodically cunning and deadly assassin.

Wonderful, the kind of character driven thriller that has become in short supply over the last couple of decades. It’s all so simple, even sedate, yet this calm approach serves the plotting perfectly. After the initial set ups we follow The Jackal (a super icy turn by Fox) on his mission to kill General de Gaul. His planning, the people he meets, and the people he has to kill to stay one step ahead of the authorities. From cons to weapon smuggling, to disguises and sexual encounters, it’s thoroughly compelling from Jackal’s story arc alone, but the frequent shifts to the hunt for him by a whole ream of suits and detectives is also gripping and suspenseful viewing.

Backing Fox up is a raft quality performers, a cast very much in tune with the material to hand. Delure’s musical composition is purposely of the minimalist breed, Tournier’s photography is period compliant and smooth, while Ralph Kemplen’s excellent editing was rightly nominated for an Academy Award. Zinnerman does sterling work from the director’s chair, amazingly keeping a two and half hour movie free of extraneous scenes or pointless exposition. Everything is relative, it really is a film to stay focussed with, to give it respect by giving it your undivided attention. So go the bathroom before sitting down to view this truly great and smart thriller. 9/10
CinemaSerf 7/10 Mar 28, 2022
A sophisticated adaptation of Frederick Forsyth's thriller about an Englishman codenamed "the Jackal" (Edward Fox) who is hired to assassinate Charles de Gaulle, the President of France. His meticulous planning remains almost undiscovered until the redoubtable "Inspecteur Lebel" - played by the always under-rated Michael Lonsdale manages to piece together enough information to get on his tail. A workmanlike ensemble cast give extra weight to the lead performances in this intriguing and well put together Fred Zinnemann film. It's huge advantage as a story is it's simplicity - and here we get a drawn into the cat and mouse game unsure who will win right til the very end.

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