Overview
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Release Date:
30 July 1973 (USA)
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Tagline:
The Jackal spent 71 days,56 minutes thinking a bullet into the brain of de Gaulle
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Plot:
A professional assassin codenamed "Jackal" plots to kill Charles de Gaulle, the President of France.
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Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.
Another 1 win
&
10 nominations
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User Comments:
Stealth Man Among Us
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Crew believed to be complete
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Chacal (France)
A sakál napja (Hungary) [hu]Chacal (Canada: French title) [fr]Chacal (Spain) [es]Dani sakala (Serbia) [sr]Der Schakal (West Germany) [de]Dzien szakala (Poland) [pl]El día del chacal (Argentina) [es]I ora tou tsakaliou (Greece) [el]Il giorno dello sciacallo (Italy) [it]O Dia do Chacal (Brazil) [pt]Schakalen (Sweden) [sv]Shakaali (Finland) [fi]Sjakalen (Norway) [no]Sjakalen (Denmark) [da]
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Runtime:
143 min
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Technical specifications and fold-out diagram for building the actual assassin's rifle are included with the hardcover Franklin Mint special edition of the novel.
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Goofs:
Anachronisms: In the first minutes of the movie the man on the scooter turns right and passes a Peugeot 504 parked on the corner, this car came on the market only in 1969. The Renault 16, available from 1965, can be seen in different scenes of the movie. In the section of the movie where the Jackal makes his preparations for the assassination in Paris you can clearly see one passing the café on the Place de Rennes from where he observes the concierge.
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Quotes:
Mallinson:
The prime minister?
Insp. Thomas:
The prime minster, sir. That he said if there's the remotest possibility of General de Gaulle's life being threatened by a person of these islands, then it is to be stopped. And he's given me full powers and top priority.
Mallinson:
Is this some kind of bloody joke?
Insp. Thomas:
No, of couse not, sir. I've got to drop whatever I'm doing, and I shall need six of your best men, straight away.
Mallinson:
Where's the notification for all this? Where's the proper authority?
[
Telephone rings. Mallison answers]
Mallinson:
Yes!
[
Mallison listens then rises]
[
...]
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FAQ
Did the Jackal kill the gunsmith?
Is Charles Calthrop The Jackal?
How does the movie differ from the book?
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This is not a true story. It is a fictional account of what could, in theory, have happened following the August 22, 1962, real life assassination attempt by the OAS terrorist group, on the life of French President Charles De Gaulle. In the film, the OAS tries again, this time using a simpler plan, one involving a lone gunman, a professional killer who calls himself ... the jackal (Edward Fox). The jackal is the archetype of the modern political sniper. The screenplay and Fox's performance present him as suave, sophisticated, intelligent, resourceful, and methodical. He is a risk taker. All of which makes him extremely dangerous, because he has no moral scruples.
We watch the jackal as he prepares meticulously for his assignment. As the clock ticks toward the moment of kill, the plot alternates between the jackal's daily logistics and the frantic efforts of Detective Lebel (Michael Lonsdale), hot on the jackal's trail, but always one step behind him. Kenneth Ross' efficient screenplay and Fred Zinnemann's expert direction create a film with steadily building suspense.
In lieu of unnecessary background music, sound effects engender a sense of realism and immediacy. The ticking of a clock, the sound of footsteps, or doors opening and closing, help to place the viewer in the scene, as a silent partner. The use of echoes further heightens the already elevated suspense. And adroit cinematography creates menacing visuals, characterized by dark backgrounds, creepy overhead lights, and noirish shadows. Augmenting all of this, the film's minimal dialogue, attention to detail in production design and costumes, the excellent acting, and the brilliant editing seal the film's deserved reputation as a film of unusually high technical quality. The overall result for the viewer is a truly suspenseful and realistic story not easily forgotten.
My only significant complaint is the film's strange climax. I personally found it to be elliptically counterintuitive. Notwithstanding this, "The Day Of The Jackal" deserves a very high recommendation for viewers wanting to see a political thriller along the lines of "Three Days Of The Condor" or "The Parallax View".