The Day of the Jackal (1973)

Director:

Fred Zinnemann

Writers:

Frederick Forsyth (book)
Kenneth Ross (screenplay)

Release Date:

30 July 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The Jackal spent 71 days,56 minutes thinking a bullet into the brain of de Gaulle

Plot:

A professional assassin codenamed "Jackal" plots to kill Charles de Gaulle, the President of France.

Plot Keywords:

Assassin | French | President | France | Detective

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 10 nominations

Cast

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

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]

Runtime:

143 min

Country:

UK | France

Language:

English | Italian | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

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:

150 Rue de Rennes, Paris 6, Paris, France

Company:

Warwick Film Productions

Trivia:

Roger Moore revealed in an interview on Icelandic television in December 2005 that producer John Woolf allegedly wanted him to play the Jackal. Director 'Fred Zimmerman' rejected him since Moore was too popular from his role in "The Saint" (1962) and too tall. He wanted someone who could walk in a crowd and not be recognized or stand out.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the Brits find the bogus passport application it's reported as having been applied for on July 14th and mailed on the 17th. Later when Lebel is announcing the find he says that that the passport was issued on July 30th.

Quotes:

The Jackal: You see, gentlemen, not only have your own efforts failed, but you've rather queered the pitch for everyone else.
Casson: How dare you suggest that?
The Jackal: In this work you simply can't afford to be emotional. That's why you've made so many mistakes.
Col. Rodin: But if we decided to employ a professional...
The Jackal: You have to employ a professional. Your organization is so riddled with informants that nothing you decide is a secret for long.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Remington Steele: Steele Searching: Part 2 (#4.2)" (1985)

Proof that creativity and 'Hollywood formulas' are at cross purposes.

Many films of recent years have had the potential to live on and become "classics," but all too often the 'Hollywood formula' for success makes them obsolete in a few short years. Having seen the 1997 remake, I was reluctant to watch the original, released in 1973. But I am certainly glad that I did. I would probably rate the original version a 9 had I not seen the newer one but I couldn't resist comparing the 2 and ultimately giving it a 10. It's historical accuracy might leave you wondering whether it is a true story or not because all of the characters are genuine and believable. It is intriguing, clever and offers a bit of suspense, all in the absence of romantic departures, gratuitous sex and unexplained violence. It's a well-researched, well-written story that was expertly adapted to film.