Rating: 
Summary: A Classic
Review: It would be hard to improve this movie. The acting and casting are excellent, as is the buildup of suspense throughout, even though we know how it will end. Frederick Forsyth's book is excellent, but packed with enough detail to make filming difficult. The makers of this film succeed brilliantly, Watch for a young Derek Jakobi in an important supporting role. A must-see for anyone who likes thrillers or mysteries. Actually, it's a must-see for anyone who likes good movies of whatever genre.
Rating: 
Summary: Shows how the actual events of history can depend on a nod!
Review: This movie/novel starts at a disdvantage: we all know that De Gaulle wasn't assassinated. So Frederick Forsyth does a fine job in creating the suspense that leads to the thrilling conclusion. The Jackal gets just one shot at De Gaulle, who unfortunately nods just at the wrong time. But along the way, in order to make the shot that hurtles unnoticed into a cobble stone, the Jackal has to kill at least four others who might give away his whereabouts to the police.Zinneman constructs this movie as a two-strand plot: the Jackal, as he makes his preparations for the attempt, and the authorities,as they try to track him down. It emerges in the end that their original assumption -- that the Jackal was a particular Charles Calthrop -- was completely wrong. But that mistake aside, the combined French/English barely make a mistake in pursuing the correct figure. Made in 1973, this movie lacks some of the big-budget feel that Speilberg subsequently brought to blockbusters. The most expensive element in the production was probably the crowd scenes in Paris, but you can see members of the crowd who clearly have rather longer hair than the supposed 1963 scenario would lead you to expect. Another quirk of the DVD I bought: after the Jackal has murdered the wealthy French woman and is slipping out of the house, you can still see him standing outside his car while the ignition is being started. Jerkily, he is suddenly in the car, driving off. Clearly a couple of frames have been lost here, but the sound editing tries to make up for the visual discontinuity. But all in all, this is a good film, a taut thriller that has you half-hoping the Jackal is successful in his objective. And it's extraordinary to see Derek Jacobi (who would star in I Claudius four years later), in such a minor role!
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: The Day Of The Jackal is an outstanding movie. My copy came apart because I watched it so many times. You root for The Jackal to succeed, but still you want him to get caught. It is only a matter of time before Lebel, who is also brilliant catches him. I wanted The Jackal to fail but I wanted him to get away unharmed. It is a battle between two outstanding brilliant men. I admired the humbleness of Lebel, when the powers to be thought that they had The Jackal trapped--he got away of course. They had to return again to Lebel to find him again. Please watch this movie, you will enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Compelling Entertainment
Review: Years before the U.S.'s controversial involvement in South Viet Nam, France struggled and eventually failed to sustain its own involvement in Algeria. Many of its senior officers felt betrayed by their government. Efforts to assassinate President De Gaulle failed. Frederick Forsyth had this in mind when writing the novel on which this film is based. At substantial cost, an assassin known only as "The Jackal" is retained by dissidents to succeed where others had failed. There are two separate but related plots: one focuses on the assassin's meticulous preparations; the other on Inspector Lebel's equally thorough efforts to identify, locate, and capture him. Of special interest to me is director Fred Zinnemann's decision to tell the story (as does Forsyth) in a straightforward manner, without any special effects or gratuitous violence. He presents Lebel (Michel Lonsdale) and The Jackal (Edward Fox) as highly skilled professionals. Each fully understands what he must do and how to do it. True, both receive assistance from others along the way but they nonetheless remain in complete control until their ultimate confrontation. Although some have referred to this film as a "political thriller," there is an almost total absence of politics within its narrative. Although his client has specified Charles DeGaulle, The Jackal would kill anyone for the right price. Moreover, there is absolutely no indication of Lebel having any political loyalties or even personal opinions. He is a public official doing his job, no matter who is in danger. For some, I guess, this film is a thriller. It certainly has a number of exciting moments but I, for one, never had any doubt that Lebel would eventually prevail. My interest is explained almost entirely by the seamless development of the two plots, each of which includes several especially well-portrayed incidents. For example, when Lebel confronts a high-level minister who has unknowingly provided The Jackal with privileged information and then later, when The Jackal penetrates security defenses to position himself so that he has a clear shot at his target. "Riveting" rather than "thrilling" summarizes my response to events throughout this crisp and cohesive film.
Rating:
Summary: Edward Fox is bloody brilliant!!
Review: Well, up front...I am an Edward Fox fan. Have been since he lumbered around in the 1966 FROZEN DEAD as Nazi Popcicle #3. Hey, he was one super fozen dead!! He had several good roles in next few years, but really stood out as Ian McShane's fellow flyer in THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN. They stole the show in a cast of super Brits - Lord Larry, Michael Caine, Ralph Richardson and Robert Shaw, just to name a few - firmly setting their star potential. But Edward really carved his chunk of attention for the role as the Jackal in the 1973 DAY OF THE JACKAL. The film is a tight production, nearly boarding on documentary. Edward portrays the meticulous hitman of many disguises who has been hired to assassinate Charles de Gaulle. Based on the spy novel from Frederick Forsyth, director Fred Zinnermann focuses on the French detectives racing to track down the elusive Jackal before it's too late, and well as the dispassionate, professional preparations by Fox. But you are in two minds, actually. Fox is so winning in the performance, fleshing out the Jackal just not as a coldblooded killer, but as a man, so you oddly almost root for him to succeed, at the same time cheering for him to fail. With the marvellous supporting cast of Derek Jacobi, Alan Badel, Maurice Denham, Cyril Cusack, the faced paced script by Kenneth Ross (Breaker Morant) keeps you absorbed from beginning to end. Thanks awfully, Edward!!
Rating:
Summary: Inside the mind of a killer
Review: This classic thriller is awesome. I don't think I need to say anything else that's already been said above. Cya.
Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate In Suspense
Review: THE DAY OF THE JACKAL is a first-class movie about a professional assassin who is hired to kill Charles de Gaulle. The film is based on a novel by Frederick Forsyth whose books often reflect his earlier training as a journalist. Director Fred Zimmerman achieves almost the same effect with this movie which seems very much like a suspenseful documentary. Edward Fox gives an excellent performance as the cold-blooded Jackal. Other members of the talented cast include Terence Alexander, Michel Auclair, Alan Badel, Tony Britton, Denis Carey and Adrian Cayla-Legrand. THE DAY OF THE JACKAL was nominated in 1973 for an Oscar for Best Editing.
Rating:
Summary: About The Jackal and Claude the detective
Review: Both parts played by top line actors and thier performance proves it.The Jackal,smart,cool,sauve a top gun,Claude,a plodder,tired looking,dull dresser but a sharp mind and a network of friends around the world,as any good policeman has.The viewer must realize this is a time before DNA,computers or profilers,it is very labor intensive,watch Scotland Yard going through montains of records by hand to track down one of the Jackals aliasis.It also shows the distain some of committee members have because Claude is not of thier social class,but they can't operate without him.This is a top line detective story with suspense,and a look how a assassin thinks,he is not like a gangster hit man,he is more deadly,he only takes on real hard jobs any place in the world that pay lot of money,politics have nothing to do about it.So sit back and enjoy a old fashion detective at work before all the forensic sciences got into the picture like we see on TV almost every night.Remember there are guys like the Jackel still out there.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Stunning!
Review: This is one of the best suspense movies I've ever seen. Its simply mindblowing. The whole plot is so unbelievably complicated that you find it fascinating. The fact is that its a true story and that makes it even more interesting. Edward Fox gives an outstanding performance as 'The Jackal', who's been hired to kill President Charles de Gaulle of France. Its a must-see movie for anybody who's got even the slightest interst in suspense. You'll be surprised to find out how well the movie has been directed, and how great all the performances are.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, rare gem; intellectual-thriller
Review: They don't make movies like this anymore. This movie was recommended to me over its remake "The Jackal". It started out slow, and odd-- a 1970's movie. It slowly picked up speed and became an intellectual masterpiece. We get to see a very smart crook from step one set up his plan to asasinate the president. We see how he covers his tracks; and how the authorities try to follow behind. It's PG for (surprise) frontal female and rear male nudity, implied sexual situations, subdued violence. The director very nicely leaves murders a lot to our imagination and doesn't show every detail of deaths or assaults. The real suspense didn't start for me until half way through the film. It built up more and more until quite a climax at the very end. What a fine job. Truely an "A" rate film.
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