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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
With its high-intensity plot about an attempt to assassinate French President Charles de Gaulle, the bestselling novel by Frederick Forsyth was a prime candidate for screen adaptation. Director Fred Zinnemann brought his veteran skills to bear on what has become a timeless classic of screen suspense. Not to be confused with the later remake The Jackal starring Bruce Willis (which shamelessly embraced all the bombast that Zinnemann so wisely avoided), this 1973 thriller opts for lethal elegance and low-key tenacity in the form of the Jackal, the suave assassin played with consummate British coolness by Edward Fox. He's a killer of the highest order, a master of disguise and international elusiveness, and this riveting film follows his path to de Gaulle with an intense, straightforward documentary style. Perhaps one of the last great films from a bygone age of pure, down-to-basics suspense (and a kind of debonair European alternative to the American grittiness of The French Connection), The Day of the Jackal is a cat-and-mouse thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat until its brilliantly executed final scene (pardon the pun), by which time Fox has achieved cinematic immortality as one of the screen's most memorable killers. --Jeff Shannon
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I have just looked at the Day of the Jackal for the umpententh time and it never fails to impress. Edward Fox plays the lead role expertly as the assasain in this outstanding thriller from the pages of Fredrick Forseyth's novel. I thought the book was outstanding but the film portrays the story brilliantly. An edge of your seat experience and one in which you will not be dissapointed.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Think of the problem here in terms of suspense: "The Day of the Jackal" is the story of meticulous hitman (Edward Fox) who is hired by disgruntled French generals to assassinate French President Charles de Gaulle. But we all know that de Gaulle was NOT assassinated, so how does this film achieve suspense? The answer is: extremely well. This is a superior thriller from the novel by Frederick Forsyth and directed by Fred Zinnemann ("High Noon"), who gives equal weight to the professional preparations of the assassin and the dogged efforts of the French detectives to run down the "Jackal." The audience is placed in the position of actually rooting for both sides as the story develops. The excellent cast includes Michel Lonsdale, Delphine Seyrig, Alan Badel, Cyril Cusack and Derek Jacobi. "The Day of the Jackal" offers an unforgettable conclusion in which you come to the moment you thought was impossible, as the Jackal finally gets de Gaulle in his sights.
18 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
That we know de Gaulle was not assassinated makes Zinneman's achievement all the more remarkable. This is a film crafted with genius.
He's taken Frederick Forsyth's fine thriller and improved upon it in almost every particular. The plot is more logical, the pace tighter; the characters retain their intense and personal distance (essential for the plot), but are somehow far more human and calculating, and the suspense is palpable.
There have been many cat-and-mouse stories of the detective tracing the criminal, but none so effective. Just to appreciate how good the original is at the art of film-making, compare it to the dire American remake starring Bruce Willis and Richard Gere.
The directorial techniques used are stunningly effective: freeze frame highlights key moments. Silence is used to stunning effect, particularly at the climax which creeps upon the viewer without being signposted by creepy music - big improvement that other directors could do well to note.
The cool ruthlessness of the Jackal is beautifully drawn out by Edward Fox, using the meticulous planning process to tune his character's determination to suceed in the assassination.
By contrast, Michael Lonsdale's detective, burdened by the awesome responsibility of saving France, applies to the task with dogged and passionate determination. That he succeeds is not enough for his own satisfaction - he does not know his enemy, and never really knew who he was chasing.
This film has consistently stayed in my personal top 10 of all time since way back when. DotJ has been accused of being emotionally cold and lacking human warmth, but it strikes exactly the right balance between steely realism and hypothetical retelling of history - one reason why the remake is hokum by comparison!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Thrilling, compelling viewing - every time!
The mark of a truly great thriller is when you can watch it over and over again and it still grips and entertains - and Day Of The Jackal delivers here in spades. Read more
Published 5 days ago by David P
Day of the Jackal
A first class copy of a brilliant film that does not date over the years.
Probably Frederick Forsythes best book and certainly Edward Fox finest hour. Read more
Probably Frederick Forsythes best book and certainly Edward Fox finest hour. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Pacer
DVD is NOT Widescreen, but 4:3 letterbox
I agree whole-heartedly with previous reviews that `The Day of the Jackal' is a great suspenseful film. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Kalliope
((((Edward Fox)))) is magnificent and brilliant as the JACKAL
.Suspenseful, Wonderfully Straightforward Thriller,Chilling yet on the ball at all times-type of a detective story and international mystery stirred up into a magnificent and... Read more
Published 2 months ago by S. F. husseiny
Entertaining, but the book is much better.
Put simply, the book is so good this film never really stood a chance to even come near the magnificence of it. Read more
Published 3 months ago by nw2012
Very close to the book.
When you watch for the first time a movie based on a novel that you've read, you'll never know if the story will even be recognizable. Read more
Published 4 months ago by skakdosmer
Ice cold
The best thing about the Jackal is that it is slow, deliberate,and there are not many words spoken. As one reviewer mentions, there is no music, it doesn`t need music. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Suelzer
Day of the Jackal DVD
This DVD arrived in good time and excellent condition. My husband was delighted with it and still enjoys watching this film even though it was made many years ago. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mrs. H. P. Martin
One of the greatest films
This is quite simply one of the greatest films ever made. Zimmermann starts from the unfavourable position in a thriller that we already know the outcome - De Gaulle wasn't... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mr Swallow
Slow-burn conspiracy drama that's all about the method
They say that a vacation's often all about the journey: that a great meal's all about the preparation - well, perhaps not that one. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Philoctetes
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