The Day of the Jackal (1973)
- Starring:
- Edward Fox, Michel Lonsdale, (more)
- Director(s):
- Fred Zinnemann
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG
- Format(s):
- DVD
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Synopsis of The Day of the Jackal
In this involving political thriller, a secret French paramilitary organization plans to assassinate French President Charles De Gaulle (Adrien Cayla-Legrand) because of their disagreement with his policies during the Algerian War. They hire a professional killer, known only as "The Jackal" (Edward Fox). The police learn of the plot from an informer, and police investigator Lebel (Michel Lonsdale) cleverly pieces together the clues to the Jackal's identity. The complicated plot uses parallel editing to cross-cut between the details of the Jackal's preparations for the assassination and Lebel's efforts to find him before it is too late. Fred Zinnemann presents the story, faithfully adapted from the book by Frederick Forsyth, with precise, dramatic flair. Edward Fox is coldly alluring as the Jackal. Well acted and directed, Day of the Jackal is a tense and engrossing political thriller with a surprising ending. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 143 mins
Complete Cast of The Day of the Jackal
- Edward Fox - "The Jackal"
- Alan Badel - The Minister
- Tony Britton - Inspector Thomas
- Cyril Cusack - Gunsmith
- Eric Porter - Col. Rodin
- Jacques Francois - Pascal
- Donald Sinden - Mallinson
- Adrien Cayla-Legrand - Charles de Gaulle
- Vernon Dobtcheff - Interrogator
- Olga Georges-Picot - Denise
- Barrie Ingham - St. Clair
- Jean Martin - Rodin's Bodyguard Wolenski
- Anton Rodgers - Bernard
- Michel Lonsdale - Lebel
- Michel Auclair - Colonel Rolland
- Terry Alexander - Lloyd
- Delphine Seyrig - Colette
- Timothy West - Berthier
- Jean Sorel - Bastien-Thiry
- Maurice Denham - General Colbert
- Ronald Pickup - Forger
- David Swift - Montclair
- Denis Carey - Casson
- Raymond Gerome - Flavigny
- Derek Jacobi - Caron
- Director(s):
- Fred Zinnemann
- Writer(s):
- Kenneth Ross
- Producer(s):
- David Deutsch, Julien Derode, John Woolf
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG(Violence)
- Categories:
- Mystery & Suspense
- 1973 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Editing
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