THE DAY OF THE JACKAL - Fact, Fiction & Why it's GREAT - WFP Review

[@kebabtank]

Edward Fox was superb in this move, as he was charming and ruthless in equal measure. He kills women and old people without a moments hesitation and it was a great shame that he was not nominated for an Oscar. It is an utterly gripping film and I can highly recommend the Frederick Forsyth novel as well. Great stuff.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

the academy doesn't seem to like nasty roles for major awards, except sometimes for supporting roles.

[@Marcfj]

I read the novel as well, a great read.

[@drats1279]

I agree, as usual, the book was far better than the movie.

[@panderjitsinghvv8199]

@@kebabtank Didn’t he have a cameo in a Johnny English film? Sitting in a waiting room full of geriatric spies.

[@guntertorfs6486]

@@drats1279 The movie was very good as well. The order of which one you watch / read first plays a role in the appreciation of either , i find. ( watched the movie first ) Also , one is limited in terms of time and possibilities with a movie. A book doesn't have such limits.

[@richardbouchard1716]

One of the best lines in movie history was after Lebel exposes the leak with the wiretap recording he is asked how did he know who’s phone to tap and Lebel answers “I tapped them all”

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

yes, that was yet another great moment!

[@jeffcauhape6880]

That scene cracked me up.

[@chuckabutty888]

@@richardbouchard1716 lol yea the look on all their faces.

[@joefish6091]

And Obungler did the same to all the Republican candidate teams in 2015. Obamagate.

[@virgilstarkwell8383]

Great and of course ironic it was released in 73 at high point of Watergate!

[@mikecodner7444]

Seen this movie repeatedly, and it never gets old. Shows what can be done with virtually unknown actors and a great story to tell. A professional production in every way.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

Of course I totally agree with you - and this screams out the need for talented and worldly writers. It seems today most screenwriters are college cinema grads with little real-life experience and/or those who insist on jamming "social commentary" into stories that derail the narrative.

[@heybuh007]

Eric Porter and Edward Fox were well known actors in GB

[@AndriyValdensius-wi8gw]

They were well known in the UK, but unknown in America.

[@donmateo3728]

@@Vlad65WFPReviews I ALWAYS SAY...a great story is ALL about the writer!

[@jamesmaybrick2001]

@@AndriyValdensius-wi8gw Its such a weird and uninformed take. "unknown" actors? Edward Fox and Derek Jacobi and more. They were big names.

[@ccooper8785]

This is one of the few movies that I can happily repeatedly rewatch. It is so much better than the vast majority of today's big budget blockbusters. Less can frequently be more...

[@opencurtin]

Id love to see it on a cinema size screen .

[@scottmiller6495]

The Day of the Jackel should have been nominated for Best Picture of 1973 ! It should have won several oscars and it was horribly overlooked!!!!!

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

It definitely could have been nominated but I think it would have been very difficult to upend the Godfather.

[@scottmiller6495]

@@Vlad65WFPReviews I'm sorry, but The Godfather was in 1972 and won Best Picture but Jackal was made in 1973 and wasn't even nominated.

[@scottmiller6495]

The Sting won in 1973, However The Day of the Jackal was much better 😁

[@rogerhill138]

Edward Fox made this film. Utterly brilliant. He was also in the film "Battle of Britain." Thanks awfully old chap!

[@jackpavlik563]

Not what I would say after falling through sheets of glass. Class…

[@JxH]

Edward Charles Morice Fox OBE. Born: April 13, 1937 (age 87 years), still going !! Yay !!

[@chuckabutty888]

Tacka Tacka Tacka Tacka

[@butchie2752]

Also a bridge too far.

[@bhachub]

Also in "Force 10 from Navarone."

[@robinwilson730]

Probably the best film of its genre and one of the best of all time. Excellently crafted with one scene moving onto the next in gripping efficiency. There is no padding whatsoever. The viewer is held in a constant state of suspense throughout. The definition of a thriller. The director also captures a 1960s epoch wonderfully with the many different commonplace scenes in France, Italy and London. A terrific time capsule that defines an era.

[@Marvin-dg8vj]

There is some padding at the end with the Liberation Day celebrations going on too long but apart from that is a great thriller. It was designed for people with longer attention spans than today. The test is it is still widely watched 53 years later and people will sit through a long film with the tension expertly managed

[@barriolimbas]

One of the best novel to film adaptations ever.

[@royfernley3153]

A great film. I hadn’t known just how much help French officialdom gave to the filming which certainly gave that sense of documentary realism you refer to. It’s a film that stands the test of time, no matter how many times you see it you’re never disappointed.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

Couldn't agree more! As I know I've said before, the fact you know the Jackal will fail, yet you can watch it many times, shows how great the film is!

[@unaiestanconapelaez2526]

​@@Vlad65WFPReviews the fact that the book casually reminds you that de Gaulle died in bed early in the book and still manages to convince you that chacal might succeed is on of its most impressive accomplishments.

[@GorgeDawes]

Lebel’s introduction in the film is a classic example of “show don’t tell” cinema. We cut from a scene of the higher-ups proclaiming him the best man to lead the investigation, to a scene of a quiet, physically unimpressive man fussing with his pigeons. His wife then calls him into the house to answer a phone call. We can immediately see that he is a bit of a homebody and clearly not an action hero or tough guy. As the audience, we are left to draw the conclusion that the only reason he is so highly regarded by his superiors is that he must be extremely smart. We know all this within a few seconds of meeting him and off the basis of hardly any dialogue.

[@marknairn6032]

This was an understated British style movie like the ‘tinker tailor soldier spy’ or ‘the ipcress file’. Some may think it was a bit slow but these movies stay in the memory mainly due to the brilliant source material.

[@user-wk9wq8yq5u]

@@marknairn6032 I saw Day Of The Jackal on the late night movie when I was 9 or 10 and I didn’t have any issues with the pace of the story and I rented it when I was an adult in my twenties and I enjoyed every minute of it , but I tried watching Tinker,Taylor,Soldier, Spy and quickly lost interest. There are only a handful of movies I could numerous times and Day Of The Jackal is one of them.

[@chrisstephens6673]

Shows the benefit of a good story, without the need for eye-popping special effects so popular these days. Like a black and white oldie film can be more captivating than a razzmatazz colour one, with a story and mood lighting often lost in later days.

[@chuckabutty888]

@@marknairn6032 Yes not many can do a gripping story line without all the gun fights and stunt men flying all over the screen. Those three films are brilliantly done.

[@CaesarTjalbo]

Most movies before 1980 and certainly 1970 are slow for modern standards

[@virgilstarkwell8383]

I think its "slow" style is what turned off American mass audience.

[@gregoryeastwood9068]

Oh, this is a great movie. Flawless and very Efficient. Not one wasted scene.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

It's clearly still a big favorite for many people. I consider all the movies I try to showcase very worthwhile within their genres, but Jackal is easily the most popular and viewed subject of all of them. Trust the video might prompt you to see it again sooner. Do check out my other vids on historical subjects such as Breaker Morant, Ice Cold in Alex and A Night to Remember. Thanks for commenting.

[@maestromecanico597]

Wonderful film. Charles de Gaulle passed away in 1970, before the making of the film. The actor playing de Gaulle was convincing enough that during filming of his scene a drunk WW2 veteran saw him and immediately snapped to attention and saluted.

[@ranchokitty1]

all 6 foot 8 inches of him,

[@32ModB]

The best❤Fffeeere❤

[@Marcfj]

This was a truly great film that Hollywood would be incapable of making. In fact, the American version with Bruce Willis was absolute crap.

[@joycemiller-bean1814]

Totally agree!!!

[@seikibrian8641]

This film was coproduced by Universal Pictures, and had an American director.

[@Marcfj]

@@seikibrian8641 - The director was Alfred Zinnemann, an Austrian Jew who immigrated to the United States and became a naturalized American citizen.

[@henrywallacesghost5883]

The only reason to watch the remake is for the Jack Black scene and hearing Richard Gere trying to do an Irish accent😂

[@Marcfj]

@@seikibrian8641 - The director, Fred Zinnemann, was an Austrian who immigrated to the United States.

[@mikehillas]

This was a great flick. Also glad you mentioned "Three Days of the Condor", one of my favourites. It was a very tight movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

[@tenpastten4167]

This movie serves as a connection point with my late father and I. I still recall him pointing out his favorite scenes like the phone tap reveal and the amputee reveal. It’s sophisticated, smart, and one of a kind. The lack of soundtrack is bold in its restraint.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

So true. While I love the John Barrys and Jerry Goldsmiths of the world, some of my favorite movies don't have conventional musical soundtracks. No Country for Old Men is a brilliant example. Thanks for watching (hope you subscribed; I will never monetize but I'd love to eventually hit a 1,000 just to do it). Thanks again.

[@ianw5725]

Likewise; I went to see this film at the cinema with my father when I was about 10. One of the many things I have always loved is the film’s portrayal of France; in those days it was a far more exotic and challenging country for us Brits. All shops and restaurants totally different and no one speaking English

[@AdaGonzalesSaldaña]

@@ianw5725 Right!!! In South America at the time you had to be over 21 to be allowed to watch this film, and I was not. In t he '80s, with my father, I watched it several times, and we both loved and discussed the details, each time improving our perception. Dad sadly is already gone, but those lovable moments watching and sharing comments, will be in my heart forever.

[@RickTucker-ye6hu]

Great suspense, especially the scene where the Jackal, after learning his cover is blown, stops his car at the crossroads in Italy where he can either proceed to Paris or turn back, and then proceeds. Great film!

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

yes - that is a nice little touch when he fully commits himself to the challenge of the project even though he know they will be looking for him. Of course, as a sociopath or psychopath his level of fear (if any) would be very different than for a normal person

[@AdaGonzalesSaldaña]

@@Vlad65WFPReviews The Supreme Moment of Decision, that would change forever his life and some other's. So brilliant.

[@user-uz7dm6qn3y]

Absolutely. It's the scene that make one think, 'what would I do?'

[@charlessmyth]

The OSS, to whom he didn't want to be held accountable, had forked over a lot of stolen money by that point :-)

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

@@charlessmyth excellent point. How much was professional ego and how much was trying to keep the money

[@tomparatube6506]

French gov't permission & assistance: no wonder it looks so real and massive, otherwise it would have cost a fortune for those big sets w tanks, flying planes, crowds, parading troops. I've wondered about this all these years. Great review, great doc. Thanks mucho!

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

you are very welcome

[@hoodatdondar2664]

They were willing to admit to official abuse in interrogations. There must have been a widespread feeling it was needed, so soon after a couple of attempted coups. Sorry to see, just saying.

[@WMAcadet]

This is, as you believe, one of the best intrigue/thriller movies I have ever seen, and the score is fantastic, just perfect for this film. I have seen it probably a dozen times since I saw it in a theater when it first came out. I never tire of it either!

[@emilytrott]

Definitely. I can remember one reviewer commenting that it succeeded in holding your attention, even though from the beginning you knew that he was going to fail.

[@ReneTihista]

I own this film on VHS and watch it once a year. It is superb. A classic of the genre maybe the best.

[@scottrobertson9452]

Easily my favorite. The attention to detail, locations and the realism are reasons why I watch this enjoyable film every year. Good review.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

Every year, you say. Impressive. I've probably seen it 6-7 times, including in the cinema when it first came out - and that's the definitive compliment to the film's quality - you've always known he's going to miss and yet we watch it time and again.

[@jjr1728]

There ought to be some labradors in the film. And maine coon cats they're lovely cats. The Jackal should have had a labrador sidekick as a 'distraction' and a kitty

[@darbyheavey406]

It’s almost an exact rendition of the novel.

[@LazyDaisyDay88]

I absolutely LOVE the opening sequence of this film. The car drive through Paris still feels contemporary. And I enjoy seeing Heathrow airport from that time.

[@James-nl6fu]

Daniel Craig thought he could play "method cool."😎 "Fox's "Jackal " is sub-zero frostbite❤️

[@32ModB]

He loves❤you❤

[@grantchallinor5263]

Michael Lonsdale's performance as Claude Lebel was the standout among many great performances in TDOTJ - what an epic cast! For 1973, it was, on a level a bit like a Tarantino movie of the present time - all the actors were chosen because they were perfect for the role not because they were necessarily big box office draws of the day. One very sad thing, not covered in this review, was the beautiful French actress Olga Gorges-Picot, who played Denise in the film. In 1997 she jumped to her death from a the 5th floor of a building in Paris, she had suffered from depression all her life - a great pity.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

Great points. Lonsdale is perfect in his low-key way and even his wardrobe supports his acting. Watching this time I saw he gets summoned while feeding his pigeons, rushes off, and enters that very intimidating room wearing stained pants. Nice touch. I did read about Olga's suicide, yet another French actress who died far far too young. Of course Delphine was only 58 when she died of natural causes. And just a bit earlier the wonderful Francoise Dorleac died at just 25 after finishing Billion Dollar Brain.

[@johnglenn30csardas]

Lonsdale is fantastic. Great actor.

[@grantchallinor5263]

@@johnglenn30csardas Absolutely, he was! The cast assembled for the film was stellar but (in my opinion) Michael Lonsdale's performance was the best in the movie - and then some!

[@G58]

@@Vlad65WFPReviews “The evening sun fell lightly on The eyes of Lucy Jordan…” From the song by Marianne Faithful which could be an epitaph.

[@shawngilliland243]

@user-sc3ts6lf8r TDOTJ = The Day of the Jackal

[@daemonartursson5952]

The Day of the Jackal was one of the first thrillers i ever read and still one of my favourites (still have 40+ years later) and went on to read and enjoy all of Freddie's novels. The film is an excellent adaptation. Edward Fox is perfectly cold as the assassin and Michael Lonsdale smoothly takes no prisoners on realising he is the best chsnce they have in catching the Jackal. Fantastic movie

[@reneharde3459]

The 1973 Jackal has been one of my longtime favorites - great to see mentions of 3 Days of the Condor and Battle for Algiers - all amazing films! Thanks for the interesting background info!

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

You are most welcome! I'd also invite you to try a few of more recent reviews on history-related titles such as Barry Lyndon and Guns of Navarone. Thanks for watching.

[@richard7crowley]

Thank you so much. You explained many reasons why Day of the Jackal is one of my favorite films. Michael Lonsdale is memorable in this film and also in one of my other top-level favorites, "Smiley's People" as Russian Diplomat/Agent "Anton Grigoriev". "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" and "Smiley's People" are also on my top-5 list of favorite productions.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

Hi. Living in North America I just got a multi-region blu-ray to watch new UK prints of both Smiley series, which never looked better. But with links to Ukraine I won't watch S's People for some time.

[@paulbalogh4582]

Outstanding review. One of the best & inspiring films ever.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

Thanks so very much. You might have inspired me to watch it yet again very soon. Meanwhile, thinking of Mr Fox, I may be doing A Bridge Too Far as one of my upcoming projects. I hope you check out and comment on some of my other offerings.

[@harleyshoaf4916]

Day of The Jackal , a perfect movie and my all time favorite

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

I'd have trouble picking a single favourite but Jackal would be on the short list.

[@caulkins69]

If it's so perfect, why do hair and clothing styles look more like the early '70s than the early '60s? They seem to have forgotten they were making a period film.

[@numbersix8919]

Appreciate your no spoilers policy! What a worthy film this is, in almost every way a movie can be.

[@shankarbalan3813]

What a gorgeous film. My favourite in many ways.

[@alastairbeaumont9578]

As a child, I absolutely loved watching Bruce Willis films. The first three Die Hards, Armageddon, Pulp Fiction, etc. Then I saw The Jackal. I loved it. (Don’t have a go, I also enjoyed the Police Academy films. I was a child!). Then I was told it was a remake. So, 10 years later, I finally watched this version. And, yes, it was much better! The film knew when to be quiet. The film knew when to be loud. The film knew absolutely everything and I’ll always have it on my Top Ten list.

[@clivebroadhead4857]

I saw the original as a youngster and also read the book at a similar time but cannot remember which came first. As with most films such as these read the book. I subsequently learned that the OAS was not only a terrorist organisation but the organisation of american states which probably serves the same function.

[@JHNoble]

@@clivebroadhead4857 Wikipedia disambiguation entry for "OAS" shows five /different/ entities with the same acronym: Office of Aviation Services, agency of the United States Department of the Interior Ontario Archaeological Society, organization promoting archaeology within the Province of Ontario, Canada Organisation Armée Secrète, French dissident terrorist organisation, active during the Algerian War (1954-62), fighting against Algerian independence Organization of American States, continental organization of the Western Hemisphere Oxford Art Society, society for artists in the city of Oxford, England so, despite your snarky comment (and whether you view the Organization of American States positively or negatively), they did not and do not serve the same function.

[@richardclarke376]

Cracking good film. Packed with the cream of British acting talent. Fox is superb.

[@CarolFremel-my4hs]

Not to mention dead sexy

[@thorgodofthunder3204]

Loved this movie! Have seen multiple times on TV but the best was when I saw it in the theatre. Remember the sites, the scenes, the back alley meetings. Saw a KZbin video with Edward Fox being interviewed (made me feel OLD!) I remember screaming at the Gendarme to hurry up those stairs before it was too late. Weapon test was my favorite part.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

I also loved it in the theatre and later bought the book and an audio cassette read by George Sewell, who I liked from the original Tinker Tailor and Brit TV crime shows. And yes, the weapon testing with the exploding bullet was something - that's why I stole it to open my appreciation video. It was also a smart dramatic move in the book and movie to keep the real identify of the Jackal a secret (the Calthrop red herring is brilliant). It's one mystery that even Lebel can't solve.

[@mphrdldn]

Saw it in the theater in 1973. I was blown away!

[@williamwilliam5066]

Never knew there was a play. Tell me more! How did they stage it?

[@mphrdldn]

@@williamwilliam5066sorry, I saw it in a movie theater

[@SteveDull]

Hans Zimmerman did a fantastic job of taking an exceptional book and turning it into an exceptional film - and all with the outcome/ending already known! Well done on your retrospective 👍

[@jabbertwardy]

I recently read the novel and was impressed by how well the film adapted the material into a taut, gritty, and efficient thriller.

[@TalkernateHistory]

I haven't seen Day of The Jackal yet, but The Battle of Algiers is really an amazing film. I can attest

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

Of course they share some historical background but BaA is an almost documentary-like epic while Jackal is a tremendously made fictional thriller. Both are top-grade films and deserve to be seen. I hope you get to see and enjoy Jackal soon and am glad this video may cause you to do that.

[@BobGeogeo]

A college professor recommended Forsyth's early novels as a way to get a feel for the times and places portrayed. Forsyth liked this as the best adaptation of his work.

[@peterbrown3608]

Unknown actors playing villains can be like striking gold, another would be Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber in Die Hard, which was his first big movie, and didn't he nail that part.

[@bobschenkel7921]

There is a third option to viewing "The Day Of The Jackal". Blu-Ray. The option I took. It stands up under repeated viewings. A really great movie.

[@CarolFremel-my4hs]

And book

[@opencurtin]

This film was amazing visually, the plot keeps you engaged through out wonderfully directed and fantastic acting all round .

[@michaeljames4904]

There’s just something about this movie. It isn’t my favourite by a long chalk but I kind of _just need_ to watch it at least once a year. I so miss European coproduction cinema. Fox was only 26 when in it; being a compulsive swimmer gave him his svelte physique. He was initially obsessed with failing at his big break: his first scene was the OAS meeting and he just couldn’t get a handle on his character’s breezy sangfroid, to begin with. Fox later said he was allowed to pinch the Jackal’s razor sharp wardrobe, which he wore for years after the film. The flick is masterful in how you don’t even notice the gaping plot holes, and yet, it pulls you in totally: regardless of how everyone knows the ending, namely, that De Gaulle never was assassinated! It kind of has this _Battle of Algiers_ feel, at times, where you sometimes think you’re genuinely watching a police procedural documentary.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

I think the news-reporter style opening really sets the tone and says "you're an intelligent audience" which helps set the hook.

[@michaeljames4904]

@@Vlad65WFPReviews Agreed. Subbed; really enjoying your reviews. Particularly your choice of movies which is excellent. Despite being such a fan of the flick I’ve only just recently started reading the novel and the film follows the narrative like a glove: in everything from the chilly morning’s coup-de-grâce to the tailing scooter rider having a white helmet. With only one exception so far: Bastien-Thiery’s attempt fails because he miscalculates dusk, hence the gunmen fail to see his signal and open up on a convoy, travelling much faster than they expected, far later than they’d initially planned to. In a foreshadowing of Lebelle’s later detective work the gang is folded up as a result of a routine traffic stop which apprehends a young OAS Foreign Legion deserter who fesses and names everyone.

[@amaliocedrez733]

Not 26... Born 1937.

[@Rohilla313]

What gaping holes are there in the plot?

[@petermortimer6303]

@@Rohilla313 Yes I thought that was an odd comment that I'd like clarified.

[@tooterooterville]

I was walking around the theater district in London one afternoon in 1984 and Edward Fox came strolling past holding a brief case and a big cigar in his mouth. Made my day! Also, was fascinated in 1973 when I saw Day of the Jackal at the theater. At the time, a very different film genre. I've always been a firearms nut and the attention to detail in this aspect was very spot on. The exploding tipped bullet was a slight stretch but that made no difference in the overall effect.

[@peterlovett5841]

If you read the book Forsyth explains how the exploding bullet was made. I should add that it was not an "exploding" bullet per se, like a cannon shell, but one that fragmented on hitting its target. From an imperfect memory the core of the bullet was drilled, a drop of mercury placed in the resulting hole and then sealed with molten lead.

[@tooterooterville]

@@peterlovett5841 As I said, the exploding tipped bullet was a bit of a stretch but didn't lessen the superb screenplay and plot development. Just like MI5 didn't buy the anagram of "Cha Cal" for Charles Calthrop.

[@carbo73]

WOW, I've seen this movie more than 10 times , and never had noticed the JFK magazine in the table!!! Many thanks. Is like when Michael Corleone says "If history has told us anything, is that you can kill anybody".

[@andyholburn]

Thanks for your excellent synopsis, especially the location amnesia: incomparable gripping exultations spurt forth

[@nickd4310]

It's one of those movies that's exciting to watch even if you dislike the genre.

[@CarolFremel-my4hs]

It’s a wonderful story and film

[@alexistarr]

3:26 - It wasn't so much the 'sturdiness' of the Citroen DS, but the ultra sophisticated cutting edge pneumatic suspension system, that made it possible for his driver to allude the assassins and drive him to safety at high speed despite having one of the rear tyres shot out.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

thanks for the interesting detail

[@robertsansone1680]

One of the best movies ever. Great review. Thank You

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

You are very welcome. Thanks for posting.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

If you're looking for another movie on the French-Algerian conflict in English, there is also The Lost Command with Anthony Quinn as the paratroop colonel.

[@Rozsaphile]

Or "Le crabe tambour" about French officers in the wake of Vietnam and Algeria. Directed by Pierre Schoendorffer from his own novel.

[@GP-fw8hn]

Saw this as a young kid around 10 in 1977. LOVED IT!

[@stevehill3373]

Fox and Lonsdale were perfect for their characters. Especially Lonsdales understated performance of the meticulous detective.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

@@stevehill3373 londsdale is slightly like Finney in Orient Express

[@chrissi3193]

A magnificent book, Forsyth was able to tell us so much that he couldnt say in non fiction. Brilliant writing.

[@ronjohnson6916]

I had honestly forgotten how much I enjoyed this gem. Thank you.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

A pleasure.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

PLEASE SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: Remember to Like and Subscribe WFP Review videos: find them here: kzbin.info/door/Lk0imh2GnMR9aV1oQr4iUQ

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

Saw this with my ex a few years back and we both enjoyed it more than we expected. Very taut, and even though it's not high speed action, it holds your attention every frame.

[@mikekemp9877]

what saved degaulle and why he was grateful to citroen was due to the magnificent ds.oas shot out a front tyre expecting the cars wheel rim to hit the tarmac and crash.then it would be raked by heavy machine gun fire.instead due to the unique suspension the car kept going on three wheels with the punctured tyre not touching the ground! instead of slowing the driver increased speed swerved round the other cars and escaped.in any other car he would have died.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

You are showing fantastic knowledge there. Thanks for posting!

[@mikekemp9877]

@@Vlad65WFPReviews thank you .citroen for the follow up to the ds the cx kind of reenacted it.they had a cx pallas ad with the car doing 120 on a race track a sniper shoots out its front tyre the car accelerates doesnt move an inch off line and carries on on 3 wheels! it was an amazing ad.i had an xm pallas you didnt use a jack to change a tyre just ramped the suspension up to its highest point took the wheel off and the car sat there unsupported on three tyres amazing engineering!

[@johnnhoj6749]

For years those cars were the preferred basis for camera cars because of their suspension. The back was made into more like a flatbed or pick up truck onto which the camera was rigged.

[@mikekemp9877]

@@johnnhoj6749 yes still used according to top gear to cover racing in the uk . big citroens are the favoured choice for covering horse events.

[@vanpelt2321]

Excellent presentation and even after watching it since it first came out in 1973, you edified and informed me with some great details I never knew. It's a shame that Zinnemann with his breathtaking canon of classics is not better known today as Wyler, Ford, Capra, Stevens and Huston, the Five Who Came Back. It's also a pity we don't know more about the De Gaulle doppelgänger nonpareil, Michel Cayla-Legrand. He will remain indelibly memorable for saying nothing but simply looking like the original.

[@HenrykGutmann-kr9tn]

The day of the Jackal, the fourth protocol and the Odessa file were 3 of the very best movies I have ever seen and enjoy to watch again from time to time. In my opinion, such diamonds of film history are no longer produced today - at least I do not remember such good movies in the 21st century. Maybe some series of the last 20 years have replaced the storytelling.

[@helmuthsanchez6059]

I saw this movie when I was a kid, broadcasted on "Catholic-University TV Channel" (they use to broadcast masterpieces at midnight..) and still remember the great final,, greetings from Chile.. great review!!

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

Greetings to you - glad it brought back those good memories.

[@m.r.donovan8743]

I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of this great film. I was so entranced by it that I felt the need to research the true events that inspired Forsythe to write the book. I became an instantaneous fan of both Fox and Lonsdale. In short, Jolly Good Show Old boy!

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

@@m.r.donovan8743 very much appreciated. I invite you to view my later efforts on Guns of Navarone and now Barry Lyndon which are technically more accomplished

[@XQForce8]

One of the best films ever in my book.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

As many as observed, it is so good that even though you know the ending, you keep watching.

[@michealfigueroa6325]

Edward Fox....is that Edward Fox...yes its Edward Fox ...Hey.. EdwardFox...Several Limies have tried to capture Edward Fox's charter but the Jackal lives on

[@brunozachary]

Jackel was the first novel I read multiple times and I couldn’t see anyone cast as perfectly as Fox.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

As I find with some foreign movies and actors, when I am less familiar with an actor - and he/she is good - they can become the character more completely (as you don't think of them as a star). I think this was the case when I first saw Jackal and proved the director had the right instincts.

[@seavankat]

One of my favorites. Also Eye of the Needle with Donald Sutherland.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

Yes, that one is rarely shown or talked about. Interesting the movie co-starred Kate Nelligan and her version of Dracula, with Frank Langella, around the same time, is also rarely shown. I thought both were worthwhile films. As a Canadian it was sad to lose Donald Sutherland - he had a great career.

[@owenlaprath4135]

There is just so much about this film, that modern CGI crazy movie makers could learn from!

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

true - but you know they won't

[@danblanks3190]

Such a fantastic movie. It's hard to make you actually root for the bad guy at all in any movie, but he's just so fascinating to watch as he methodically plans his mission that you feel like the ultimate voyeur. Every filmmaker tries to turn the viewer into exactly that. Another interesting thing I noticed about the movie is that it has the barest of musical scores. There is some music played at the beginning and at the end (discounting the parade music that is part of the background). It adds to the realism of the mood. I agree that everyone should read the original novel. It's gripping. Knowing how the movie turned out did not subtract from my enjoyment of reading the original text.

[@markberman6708]

I used to show my students the Battlefield of Algiers... excellent movie and teaching material.

[@MartinFroland]

The day of the Jackal has always been one of my all time favorites

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

You can link to all my other videos on this channel here: kzbin.info/door/Lk0imh2GnMR9aV1oQr4iUQ

[@amaliocedrez733]

Awesome analysis! This film, and the book upon which it is based, has been a favourite since I was about 10 years old. Both still hold up. Keep up the good work!

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

Thanks a ton! This was one of my earlier efforts but it means a lot to know people are still watching and getting some enjoyment out of it.

[@dgibson2314]

Reading the book is very entertaining, also and the attention to the details draws one in right until the end.

[@colnuttall9035]

Over the years, I have watched this movie many times. It is always enjoyable and the tension builds relentlessly into a crescendo. The intelligent byplay between Inspector Labell and The Jackel is sophisticated and thrilling. The cold professsionalis of The Jackel is fascinating to watch. The politicians were well done, portraying their total lack of understanding, but voracious need to be given all the accolades. I also loved watching a moment in time, captured in Paris where cars were cool and computers were not yet the norm. Great movie ! The Ronin was also a great movie in a similar vane, and with John Frankenheimer directing. I would much prefer movies like this, than the Hollywood crap they pump out with loeads of costumes, special effects but no script.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

movies used to be based on books or plays - now they are based on comic books

[@AdaGonzalesSaldaña]

Brilliant video!! I loved it, especially the part of the original film THE DAY OF THE JACAL. Top performers, Fox, Lonsdale, Seyrig, Cusack, Jacobi ... all of them.

[@Menschenfreund535]

Wonderful film! I saw it first run (dates me). My wife worked in the building that Fred Zinnemann lived in while growing up.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

That is when I saw it too! Interesting detail about your wife's building - anything more on that? Oh, and thanks for watching - and if you get a chance, do try a few of my newer vids made when I had a bit more experience with the tech stuff!

[@Menschenfreund535]

@@Vlad65WFPReviews The building is in Vienna, the third district. Very nice.

[@citizeng7959]

One of my all time favourites. James Bond’s evil and much more realistic brother.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

Great comparison

[@vaclav_fejt]

Damn you! There's my program for tonight, then. I saw it for the first (and so far only) time as a part of a four-movie single-person New Year's celebration some ten years ago. It could have been a pitiful night, if it weren't for this thrilling feature.

[@russellcampbell9198]

Never get tired of this one. Another fine review, Walt.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

thanks!

[@Kaisan-vc8fw]

DOTJ is an excellent film and the book it came from is similarly superb. My one issue with the film is that if one pushes rag covered parts up one's exhaust pipe, then the car does not run as the engine gases back up. If you wish to immobilise a vehicle the old trick is to bang a potato onto the rear exhaust pipe and bingo the ICE engine will start then stop, instantly. Apart from that vast faux pas ... It's all good

[@user-ou9hr3uy3s]

Thank you Walt. Absolutely love this picture,it's a masterpiece. Your video is wonderfully produced and your narration is high quality . So glad I subscribed!

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

Thanks - that is extremely kind of you and I am glad you enjoyed the video. To be honest, as this was one of my earliest efforts, the audio and image quality wasn't my best, and you'll find following videos improved in that regard as I learned more techniques. But I'm glad my passion for Jackal showed through.

[@vincentgoupil180]

A key to understanding Frederick Forsythe is his preference for the underdog. "The Biafra Story" was his first book. "Dogs of War" echoes somewhat the Katangese Succession with Moise Tshombe and Mike "Mad" Hoare's 5 Commando during the 1960s Congo Wars. (See "Adios Africa/Blood & Guts" 1966 movie.) "Naked City" a 1948 film noir shot on location in New York City has a documentary feel. Thanks for the review. Halfway thru reading the book.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

Interesting. How do you think the "underdog preference" applies to Jackal? Is it a case that though he is a sociopath, the Jackal is a skilled loner taking on the entire Western law enforcement apparatus?

[@vincentgoupil180]

@@Vlad65WFPReviews Dunno about the Jackel but throughout the first half the book doesn't appear there's much regard for the grand leader by the under the breath remarks made by the general French population and none for the politicians by the military personnel regarding Algiers, who in the *book* are the underdog. The Jackel is portrayed as a neutral professional outside these two sides. As one against the enforcement organizations could be viewed as an underdog. Guess, you would have to have lunch with Forsyth for his views.

[@davidhanson8728]

One of my favorites along with Three Days of the Condor. Great 70's thrillers.

[@jaysterling26]

May I add The Parralax View, Klute, The conversation , All the Presidents Men ( although has 'issues')?

[@jeffaddis5715]

actually, when he wrapped the barrel to the tree, the barrel harmonics were changed compared to the way he shot at DeGaulle. barrel harmonics affect repeatable shot accuracy.. this means when sighted in while attached to the tree, his sight-in would have been invalidated when he took the shot at the French man in a different manner. as it was a head shot attempted, this fact could have made the difference if DeGaulle had not lowered his head. but it was an excellent movie

[@almost_harmless]

I loved this movie when I first saw it. I got the same sensation when I saw the Fourth Protocol, also a book written by Forsythe (starring Michael Caine and Pierce Brosnan in an unusual part).

[@schizoidboy]

I love the movie, especially the parade sequence. In the book when Lt. Col. Marc Rodin meets the Jackal he notices his eyes. The scary thing about the Jackal is it is hinted that he's not a psychopath because Rodin had known such people and sees his eyes are not dull like one. What is scary is he can't make anything out about the Jackal, even by looking at his eyes, thus he's not predictable.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

Thanks - I read the book (twice) but it has been a while and I don't recall the detail. Of course, it's hard not to envision J as a psychopath as he kills so coolly and efficiently. (Of course it is interesting in the book he takes on the disguise of a priest, which would have been tricky for a mainstream movie.)

[@timetraveler2518]

The Day of the Jackel was one of my favorite films. It was a thriller, intriguing, and full of deception and disguises. Even today's terrorists play deception and disguise to fool and bypass the security system under customs, police, and security surveillance.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

yes, the technology has changed but the goals remain the same.

[@mjspice100]

Edward Fox didn’t serve in the Coldstream Guards, he failed to get in but instead served in the Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire), he was a national serviceman.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

thanks for your post. There is some confusion about this online - typical of the internet. Several sources do have him briefly in the Guards - including imdb and TVGuide. In one online biography it still relates Fox as being lieutenant in the Guards before his dismissal. His official wiki says he "failed to gain a commssion" in the Guards. I take accuracy very seriously so I will delve into this.

[@andrewhough8479]

I found that the pace and cast of this film combine to make it such a classic. Fox's portrayal of a ruthless assassin somehow managed to make you sympathise with his character.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

Great point. Yes, there's something about a good movie that can make us root for terrible people. You've got examples like Alex in Clockwork Orange, Bonnie and Clyde - and just about every heist movie ever made. Of course, we see events through his eyes, he's charismatic and smart and we get pulled along - even as he murders several people to protect himself.

[@dgibson2314]

Not for me. I found the "Jackal" character to be a sleazy ,exploiter of the innocent. Being female I was raised to watch out for males that oozed an unctuous 'smell'. Males often can't 'smell' this sort of thing of one of their own kind. Brilliant portrayal by Fox.

[@djshowtrial4565]

Really interesting stuff here! Thanks for putting this together! I gotta see this film. . .maybe even check into the book

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

Getting people to see, enjoy and discuss these movies is what it is all about - plz post your comments once you've seen it

[@user-fm4hd3zw3q]

I first saw this movie as a 11 or 12 year old boy. On a small black & white tv my parents ill-advisedly (and rather briefly) let me keep in my room. If I remember correctly I watched it in the middle of the night. I knew the history (we had lived in an Arab country when I was younger and had travelled in France) and yet I was in suspense all the way to the end. A few years later I read the book and thought it was even better! One difference with my experience of this movie is that by the time I first saw it Edward Fox was already a star so for me he had huge name recognition as I watched it. Thank you for the review.

[@heartofmanproject9198]

One of my absolute favorites! Brilliantly directed, acted and executed! (No pun intended.)

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

Thanks for watching. I'll also invite you to try some of my more recent vids - notably Barry Lyndon, A Bridge Too Far and Guns of Navarone (which are technically better) and which you should find interesting!

[@ericthered760]

One of my favorite films. Zinnemann was brilliant as the director. Also a breakout movie for future stars like Edward Fox, Michael Lonsdale, and Derek Jacobi. More than a few showed up later in Bond films, like Vernon Dobtcheff, Fox, and Lonsdale. While fictional, feels like a documentary. One of the great thrillers.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

It astounds me how much love and respect this film receives on this channel. Great connecting with fans around the world who enjoy it.

[@nebbs]

One of my top ten favourite movies. I can even overlook all the 1970s fashions, hairstyles and road traffic.

[@barrvason5431]

One of my top ten ever. Has it all.

[@mikewysko2268]

Enjoyed the film. Well written script,quality production with many talented actors.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

Yes, the production had a lot of depth and intelligence.

[@georgespiese7388]

I love this book and this version of the movie. Thanks for noticing!

[@philipditchfield439]

This is one of those rare occasions where the book is captivating and the "conversion" to film equally so. The film did not try to be a reinvented version of the book but captured the essence to perfection. One other occurrence which comes to mind is John Le Carre's "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy". Both the 6 part TV series with Alec Guinness and the film with Gary Oldman are a pure delight. After reading the book a few times, watching the TV series a few times and watching the film a few times, I still don't know how Smiley bloody well did it!

[@andyetheridge]

The originals in my top 5, books a great read too!

[@petermortimer6303]

Thanks for a great video on one of the best films ever made. I enjoy knowing the extra background information and your analysis of the movie is brilliant. I have a DVD of "The Battle of Algiers" but I didn't know that Jean Martin was Adjutant Wolenski. Wikipedia (not the most accurate I concede) says that Martin was a paratrooper in Indochina. If that's true he would have met Legionnaires like Wolenski and officers with OAS sympathies. I believe that he based his portrayal of the Colonel Mathieu in the Algiers movie on Col Marcel Bigeard who was a paratroop commander at Dien Bien Phu and then served in Algeria. I hope that is true.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

Peter, thanks for your kind words - and you taught me something. I did not know that Martin himself was a para veteran himself. It's interesting he plays the role as a professional tasked with a horrible job and simply doing what he thinks needs to be done. He's certainly not the hero, but he is more like an apolitical specialist methodically doing his business. Two more things. It's interesting to compare Martin to Anthony Quinn who played essentially the same character in The Last Command - a mid 1960's actioner. In that film Quinn plays a peasant who has risen to paratroop Colonel (not an easy feat in the upper class French officer corps) and is striving to keep his position by subduing the insurgents. And while circumstances are quite different, it is also interesting to view Martin's character in light of the Ukrainian War that is tragically happening as I write. In that case the Russian army and its officers are ordered to attack their neighbours - many of whom speak Russian or Russianized Ukrainian. The proximity, the common language and the fact that civilians don't want their "liberators" must make it a bizarre situation.

[@petermortimer6303]

@@Vlad65WFPReviews Thanks for that. I looked up The Last Command and in the (again Wikipedia) entry it says that Quinn loosely modelled his character on Marcel Bigeard. That's not surprising since Bigeard was, reputedly, the model for the same character in "The Centurions" on which "The Last Command" is based. Your description of Quinn's character also resembles Bigeard who rose from private soldier to General without the benefit of going to officer academies. If you are interested I would recommend "Hell In A Very Small Place" by Bernard Fall which is about the Battle of Dien Bien Phu and "A Savage War of Peace-Algeria 1954-1962" by Alistair Horne. Your description of the Ukraine situation as "bizarre" is very accurate but probably understated.

[@robertshanks3674]

Movie is an absolute masterpiece .....Edward Fox nails it as an assassin. Supporting cast is perfectly cast.

[@dubliners0999]

Great vid! I loved the '73 version of The Day of the Jackal. What a great film. Odessa file was good, but DotJ was the best!

[@cohort6159]

I really grew to like this movie in the 1980s. It seemed to be playing about every month on A&E. I love the 60s and 70s movies that were filmed on location in Europe. I wished I could have been born to be a jet setter in that time. Europe now just seems to be like the US in too many ways.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

Yes, every country has all the same high-end stores now and the "national" character of many major cities is sadly diminishing.

[@guidonagle5075]

I read all four of Forsythe's books that became films. All were gripping , realistic and educational in their own way. In Jackal, I particularly enjoyed how the Jackal constructed his disguises, so when I saw the film, I was a bit disappointed that many of the interesting details didn't make the final cut. But maybe I need to re-visit it.

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

If I recall correctly, in the book he became a priest, which the filmmakers decided to leave out. But as the Jackal knew the hotels would be watched, it is interesting he went to a public baths facility where he planned to get picked up in order to have a place to stay in Paris.