In the aftermath of France allowing Algeria's independence, a group of resentful military veterans hire a professional assassin codenamed "Jackal" to kill President Charles de Gaulle.In the aftermath of France allowing Algeria's independence, a group of resentful military veterans hire a professional assassin codenamed "Jackal" to kill President Charles de Gaulle.In the aftermath of France allowing Algeria's independence, a group of resentful military veterans hire a professional assassin codenamed "Jackal" to kill President Charles de Gaulle.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 win & 11 nominations total
Jacques François
- Pascal
- (as Jacques Francois)
Raymond Gérôme
- Flavigny
- (as Raymond Gerome)
Michael Lonsdale
- Lebel
- (as Michel Lonsdale)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe special lightweight rifle that The Jackal concealed in a crutch was a genuine working model. Two of them were made for this movie; one was handed over to the British authorities, the other resides in the Paris Cinematheque.
- GoofsThe Jackal had taken an impression of the key to the apartment, and presumably had therefore made a copy. That means he could have simply slipped past the concierge while she was in the kitchen and gone up the stairs to the apartment without her knowing. That way, if anyone had come into the building to ask if she had seen anything, she would be there to answer "No", instead of being found lying on the floor.
- Crazy creditsThe Cross of Lorraine, a symbol General Charles de Gaulle used during his lifetime, appears at the beginning of the film.
- ConnectionsEdited into The Clock (2010)
Featured review
I don't think I've ever heard of a political killer in this country. It's not our style, is it?
You watch the Bruce Willis version of the Jackal and you think that is so cool, but you don't know cool until you see Edward Fox do it.
Fox is the epitome of cool. The guy even wears an ascot, for god's sake! Most people today don't even know what an ascot is. He carefully plots his moves and is methodical in his precision. He kills with cool detachment. If he had Willis' assignment, he would have gotten it done.
But, he had to deal with the European versions of the CIA/FBI and they were not restrained in how they handled investigations. With just a thread, the French police inspector carefully puts together a case with as much precision as his prey. It was a game of cat and mouse that kept you on the edge of your seat for two and a half hours without noticing the time.
That is because of director Fred Zinnemann and the fact that he kept things moving along beautifully.
If you want to see how a thriller is done with craft and cunning and without special effects, then this is the film for you.
Fox is the epitome of cool. The guy even wears an ascot, for god's sake! Most people today don't even know what an ascot is. He carefully plots his moves and is methodical in his precision. He kills with cool detachment. If he had Willis' assignment, he would have gotten it done.
But, he had to deal with the European versions of the CIA/FBI and they were not restrained in how they handled investigations. With just a thread, the French police inspector carefully puts together a case with as much precision as his prey. It was a game of cat and mouse that kept you on the edge of your seat for two and a half hours without noticing the time.
That is because of director Fred Zinnemann and the fact that he kept things moving along beautifully.
If you want to see how a thriller is done with craft and cunning and without special effects, then this is the film for you.
helpful•681
- lastliberal-853-253708
- Feb 18, 2012
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Der Schakal
- Filming locations
- La Bastide de Tourtour, Tourtour, Var, France(hotel where the Jackal meets Colette)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $16,056,255
- Runtime2 hours 23 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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