The Day of the Jackal (1973)

Note des utilisateurs:

7.9/10   

Réalisateur:

Fred Zinnemann

Writers:

Frederick Forsyth (book)
Kenneth Ross (screenplay)

Release Date:

30 juillet 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Drame | Thriller

Accroche:

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 | France | President | Detective

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 10 nominations

Avis des utilisateurs:

Very well-done

Ensemble

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

Autre(s) titre(s):

Chacal (France)
Chacal (Canada: French title) [fr]

Durée:

143 min

Pays:

UK | France

Langue:

Anglais | Italien | Français

Couleur:

Couleur (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Son:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Classification:

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

Emplacements De Pelliculage:

150 Rue de Rennes, Paris 6, Paris, France

Company:

Warwick Film Productions

Anecdotes:

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.

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.

Guillemet:

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]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)

Very well-done

Entertaining drama about a killer for hire named the Jackal (Edward Fox) hired to kill Charles DeGaulle in 1962. It follows step by step his preparations for the assassination and the authorities trying to track him down.

Story has a huge cast of mostly unknown character actors which makes it seem more believable (i.e. in the 1997 remake Bruce Willis played the Jackal and you were always aware you were watching Willis). Also Fox is all too believable as a killer. The plot also takes place all over Europe jumping around from country to country. Despite the large cast and multiple story lines I was never confused and thoroughly engrossed. Expert direction by Zimmerman helps also.

I have one small complaint--it goes on a bit too long. I was a little bored by the final half-hour. Still, this is a well-done thriller worth catching.

I give it an 8.