The Day of the Jackal (DVD) Reviews

This 1973 movie based on the novel by the excellent Frederick Forsyth is one of the most watchable pieces of cinema in motion picture history. Starring Edward Fox as the would be assassin of France's President De Gaulle the film tracks "The Jackal's" progress towards pulling the trigger as he makes his way through various ...  Read the complete review

The novel ,The Day of the Jackal , a thriller was published in 1971 by Frederick Forsyth.The story is about a professional assassin who is contracted by the right-wing OAS French terrorist group , to kill Charles de Gaulle, the President of France. The novel had a carefully thought out plot. This fast-paced novel was based in part on ...  Read the complete review

The OAS is losing financing, losing support and losing members. Fast. The new operations chief, Colonal Marc Rodin, plans the hit that will work. It will bring back the supporters to bring him to power. The plan of the Jackal was launched. The Jackal was an anonymous Englishman, outstanding in his profession - assassin. Yet the police did ...  Read the complete review

Another of Fred Zimmermann’s classic films as a director. The day of the Jackal is a model of how a good thriller should be elegant, precise and painfully tense at times. The film is set in France in 1962 under the rein of President De Gaulle. A renegade group of ex soldiers lead by Colonel Marc Rodin, called the OAS, has attempted ...  Read the complete review

When I ruminate over my fate of having the Four Seasons Mall on my head,I often come to the conclusion that my grisly fate was sealed due to my lack of careful planning. A good source of tactical data for would be hitmen can be found in this 1973 classic based on the novel by Frederick Forsyth.Set during the turbulent 1970's in France ...  Read the complete review

This is one of the very few films I couldn't pick out any flaws in! Completely riveting from start to finish. Extremely well acted by everyone, especially Michael Lonsdale (whom you might recognize as the villain Drax in "Moonraker"), and Edward Fox. Attention is paid to detail, and there is never anything that happens that struck me ...  Read the complete review

I have seen "The Day of the Jackal" a few times now, and have to say that I found it to be excellent. Previously, I had read the book by Frederick Forsythe, and unlike some films, it hasn't lost any of the quality of the book. It is fascinating to see how the Jacal obtains his forged papers and the like, and to see the cold- hearted way in which ...  Read the complete review

A cold and impersonal film, with the ice-cool assassin (Edward Fox) taking centre stage rather than the lugubrious French 'tec on his tail (Michel Lonsdale). Chronicling the methods by which the Jackal plots his attempt on the life of De Gaulle, with a love for the details of specially made rifles and forged papers, it's a fascinating if ...  Read the complete review