Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsThe Day of the Jackal (1973) More at IMDbPro »
| Videos (see all 3) |
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Frederick Forsyth (book)
Kenneth Ross (screenplay)
Release Date:
30 July 1973 (USA) more
Tagline:
The Jackal spent 71 days,56 minutes thinking a bullet into the brain of de Gaulle more
Plot:
A professional assassin codenamed "Jackal" plots to kill Charles de Gaulle, the President of France. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 10 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(3 articles)
What are the 25 Best Book to Film Adaptations?
(From Rope Of Silicon. 10 September 2009, 4:46 AM, PDT)
Critics Can't Kill Jackal
(From Studio Briefing - Film News. 17 November 1997)
User Comments:
Stealth Man Among Us more (144 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Edward Fox | ... | The Jackal | |
| Terence Alexander | ... | Lloyd | |
| Michel Auclair | ... | Colonel Rolland | |
| Alan Badel | ... | The Minister | |
| Tony Britton | ... | Inspector Thomas | |
| Denis Carey | ... | Casson | |
| Adrien Cayla-Legrand | ... | The President | |
| Cyril Cusack | ... | The Gunsmith | |
| Maurice Denham | ... | General Colbert | |
| Vernon Dobtcheff | ... | The Interrogator | |
| Jacques François | ... | Pascal (as Jacques Francois) | |
| Olga Georges-Picot | ... | Denise | |
| Raymond Gérôme | ... | Flavigny (as Raymond Gerome) | |
| Barrie Ingham | ... | St. Clair | |
| Derek Jacobi | ... | Caron |
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]
more
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
143 min
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Australia:PG | Iceland:16 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Argentina:18 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | South Korea:15 (DVD rating) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:16 | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:12
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Near the end of the film there is a 7:45 segment with no dialog or music other than diegetic sound such as marching band music, crowd murmurs, sirens, etc. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When the dispatch rider on the motorcycle arrives at the Ministry, the extras in the foreground/ background (depending on the angle of the shot) are doing different things. more
Quotes:
The Gunsmith: Will the gentleman be moving? more
Movie Connections:
References Moulin Rouge (1952) more
FAQ
How does the movie differ from the book?Is Charles Calthrop The Jackal?
Did the Jackal kill the gunsmith?
more
more (144 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Day of the Jackal (1973) moreRecommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| La coda dello scorpione | Die Stille nach dem Schuß | La battaglia di Algeri | Cosa avete fatto a Solange? | Que la fête commence... |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Drama section | IMDb UK section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |



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".