Rent The Day of the Jackal (1973)

4.0 of 5 from 212 ratings
2h 17min
Rent The Day of the Jackal (aka Chacal) Online DVD & Blu-ray Rental
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Synopsis:
August 1962: the latest attempt on the life of French President Charles de Gaulle by the far right paramilitary organisation, the OAS, ends in chaos, with its architect-in-chief dead at the hands of a firing squad. Demoralised and on the verge of bankruptcy, the OAS leaders meet in secret to plan their next move. In a last desperate attempt to eliminate de Gaulle, they opt to employ the services of a hired assassin from outside the fold. Enter the Jackal (Edward Fox): charismatic, calculating, cold as ice. As the Jackal closes in on his target, a race against the clock ensues to identify and put a stop to a killer whose identity, whereabouts and modus operandi are completely unknown.
Actors:
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Directors:
Producers:
John Woolf
Writers:
Frederick Forsyth, Kenneth Ross
Others:
Michael Lonsdale, Delphine Seyrig, Robert Allen, Ralph Kemplen, Nicholas Stevenson
Aka:
Chacal
Studio:
Universal Pictures
Genres:
Action & Adventure, Classics, Drama, Thrillers
Collections:
A Brief History of Galleries and Museums in Film: Part 1, BAFTA Nominations Competition 2024, Cinema Paradiso's 2022 Centenary Club, Getting to Know..., Getting to Know: Sidney Poitier, inema Paradiso's 2023 Centenary Club: Part 2, Introducing a British Film Family, People of the Pictures, Remembering Leslie Phillips, A Brief History of Film..., Top 10 Best Picture Follow-Ups, Top 100 BFI Films, Top Films
Awards:

1974 BAFTA Best Editing

BBFC:
Release Date:
11/08/2003
Run Time:
137 minutes
Languages:
English Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono, French Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono, German Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono, Italian Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono, Spanish Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono
Subtitles:
Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English Hard of Hearing, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish, Turkish
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 1.85:1
Colour:
Colour
Bonus:
  • Production Notes
  • Theatrical Trailer
BBFC:
Release Date:
04/09/2017
Run Time:
143 minutes
Languages:
English Dolby Digital 1.0
Subtitles:
English Hard of Hearing
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 1.85:1
Colour:
Colour
BLU-RAY Regions:
B
Bonus:
  • New interview with Neil Sinyard, author of Fred Zirtnemann: Films of Character and Conscience Two rare archival clips from the film set, including an interview with Fred Zinnemann
  • Original screenplay by Kenneth Ross (BD-ROM content)

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Reviews (4) of The Day of the Jackal

Long, meticulous, superb - The Day of the Jackal review by RP

Spoiler Alert
15/05/2012

Superb political "action thriller" from 1973 about events way back in 1962. I've used quotation marks because by today's tastes it's long and slow moving – there's no crash bang wallop here – and for a thriller there's not many thrills. But I can highly recommend it – the tension build slowly as a hired assassin (codename Jackal) carefully plans the assassination of General de Gaulle. The film is based on true events as the OAS, a far right French nationalist group, attempted to prevent independence of the French colony of Algeria. Edward Fox is perfect in the role of the ruthless assassin who meticulously plans every detail and even carries his anonymity to the grave. 4/5 stars – highly recommended.

1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.

Political Crime Thriller - Excellent - The Day of the Jackal review by GI

Spoiler Alert
06/04/2022

A riveting political crime thriller based on the best selling novel by Frederick Forsyth. Filmed with a documentary style realism this is a tense, almost nail biting drama that has now, rightly, been hailed as one of the best British films of the 1970s. Casting the then unknown Edward Fox as the lead was a risk which affected the initial box office but over the years this has become recognised as a first rate thriller and definitely one of those films everyone should try and see at least once. Set in the early 1960s and just after the French president, Charles DeGaulle, gave the African country Algeria its independence. This led to the formation of a terrorist organisation, the OAS, formed by disaffected members of the French army who felt betrayed after so many French soldiers died in fighting in Algeria. All this is based on facts. The film begins with the OAS attempting to assassinate DeGaulle and having failed they recruit an enigmatic and very clever English hitman to kill him. Codenamed The Jackal (Fox) he plans the assassination in complete secrecy but a leak reveals his existence which starts a manhunt led by top detective Lebel (Michael Lonsdale). The hunt for this man forms the centre of the story and The Jackal seems always to be one step ahead. It's a gripping and interesting story and omits the clichés often found in films of this genre. There's no heroics or big set piece action scenes and Fox as the outwardly pleasant gentlemen is revealed as a very cold blooded killer. A superb film, brilliantly directed and beautifully paced to keep you watching right to the very last, key moment.

1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.

Lone Gun. - The Day of the Jackal review by Steve

Spoiler Alert
06/02/2024

Long political thriller adapted from Frederick Forsyth's huge bestseller. It is a fictional account locked onto the many real assassination attempts by right wing terrorists on French President Charles de Gaulle after he accepted the independence of Algeria in 1962. Edward Fox plays a lone assassin who operates under the code name of the Jackal.

It's extraordinary that Fred Zinnemann was able to direct such a compelling film with so little human factor. Not just that the Jackal is a cypher, but so are all the other lesser characters. They have no histories. The support cast can only reveal character through the sparse, narrative driven dialogue. The best of these is Cyril Cusack as a sinister gunsmith.

But it's mostly Edward Fox all the way, and he's quite credible as the imperious, but emotionally numb killer. The story grows into a remote, intense conflict between the hitman, and the lawman, played by Michael Lonsdale. They only connect in the final scene. It's a supremely well made film with a sophisticated sound mix, Oscar nominated editing and stunning location photography.

And so suspenseful, even though it is understated and ultra-realistic. It is a political thriller which conveys no ideology but suggests the conflict reflects the methods, interests and beliefs of old, powerful men, rather than any ethical intent. It is fascinating to see through the eyes of the assassin, but it's a cold, pessimistic experience.

0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.

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