The Day of the Jackal: Q&A with Edward Fox

[@TriciaSenior25557]

Day of the Jackal is one of my favourite films. Absolutely Sterling actor

[@tonymurphy6227]

Always loved this film, and the fact that it didn't have rubbish background music, Edward Fox played it to perfection, a classic.

[@efnissien]

Fox conveyes more with a glance than many actors can do with a trilogy of movies. He's graceful and at the same time menacing. He goes from being a almost a dandy to a dour Dane to an old man - and seems to inhabit all three bodies.

[@PeterSodhi]

What an incredible interview, he is so vested and interested in answering the questions from the audience. No ego or pretense. Love him.

[@vincentl.9469]

now looks like Charles Dickens

[@orchardist1965]

Such a contrast between the wonderful Edward Fox and the determined assasin he portrays in this fantastic film. It was amazing to discover that Frederick Forsyth wrote this magnificent work in only five weeks,what a master of the genre.

[@mmmoroi]

I have seen this film over 100 times, and still I find something new in it to this day. Perfection is the only word I can think of this masterpiece. Being a ruthless criminal prepared to kill anyone including a kind stranger in his way, Jackal in this film, as Edward Fox aptly explains here, has some quality that audience tend to be fascinated and miss. And such quality is largely Fox's credit. Well done sir.

[@garymitchell5899]

Obviously not true.

[@rodgreen6021]

Agreed .I have this movie at home and have watched it a number of times .Vastly superior and classier than the remake made later on. Edward Fox was superb as The Jackel. Superb cast entirely.

[@alancassell566]

Weak story... There is no way the agent would have used the phone in the minister's apartment.. She would have known it would be tapped... The agent would have left the apartment.... Used a different public phone box at separate locations....

[@User_Un_Friendly]

@@alancassell566 Not really. Given the period, and France, it would have been unthinkable to tap the phone of a high minister in the Elysee palace. And certainly there was the risk of the minister noticing an absence in the middle of the night. Safer to call from the minister’s phone.

[@threadbear]

That film is almost perfect. Fox was great in it as were the supporting cast.

[@philoshaughnessy906]

What an absolute gent! God bless you, Edward Fox.

[@jubalcalif9100]

I have a notion to second that emotion ! Edward and his brother James are both gifted actors and classy gents ! Bless 'em both ! :-)

[@angloaust1575]

Portraying a nasty villain Killing people!

[@tknudcarter]

In this interview Edward Fox seems to be a gentle, light hearted soul. What an amazing acting job he did to play the stone cold killer, the Jackal.

[@davidkyle5017]

I saw this as a teenager when it came out, and have watched it dozens of times since then. I appreciate it even more as time went on since I went to college in France in the late 70's so the views of France/Paris are so interesting to me over time.

[@olliemcmillan124]

I know Edward as a good friend and he is so human and brilliant. The Day of The Jackal was excellent too, God bless him.

[@IanP1963]

Nice man - when I wrote my bio on Richard Wattis in 2003 he sent me his memories of Wattis in character role in a film trying to explain cricket to an American, hilarious !!!!!

[@jjcoadyjm]

No actor in history could have played the part as good as Fox

[@HotVoodooWitch]

A PERFECT film. It doesn't have an ounce of fat on it. I always push friends to watch it, especially young ones who grew up watching the crap that passes for entertainment now (this would include that embarrassment of a remake).

[@stephenreeds3672]

Perfect description...not having an ounce of fat! And not an American actor in sight. It sticks so closely to the book which is very unusual.

[@jma4423]

Hey i do exactly the same with all my young friends, And relay the same quote "There hasn't been less original real art in the past 20years, than in history as a whole.... What dumbing down they have done to our youth?....

[@garymitchell5899]

The scenes with the forger don't really work for some reason. The actor just isn't convincing. I don't know what 'fat' is, but maybe it's that.

[@suma4m]

The best thing about this movie is that all this might have happened and we wouldn't know it. Nobody noticed the bullet ricocheting off the cobblestone.

[@user-hh5rn4jz6o]

Totally agree. I was riveted from start to finish when I saw it. The movie perfectly captured the book, which was brilliant. I put this and only one other film/book on the same pedestal - The Godfather. Masterpieces of film and writing. Beautifully cast. Mesmerizing stories flawlessly told. With acting performances so good you barely noticed them.

[@crickle47]

Difficult to see "Edward Fox" behind the beard and soft voice, but wonderful to hear him speak fondly of this movie, my favorite movie.

[@dimitridoes7936]

Horrible ...

[@goodoldrebel8]

I agree, the film and the book are timeless masterpieces. 43 years after I first saw it and its still great to see.

[@tonydonegan2519]

Best film ever. Stunning performance from Edward Fox . Have been cravat fan since.

[@funnyfiveminutes]

Lovely to hear Mr Fox praise the wonderfully talented Michael Lonsdale - one of the great actors of this age.

[@rashidahmad7830]

He was superb on this role. His finest role, I believe. I also enjoyed his portrayal of Lt. Gen Brian Horrocks in "A Bridge Too Far." He captured Horrocks' charm and eccentricity very well.

[@firenze5555]

Edward Fox's acting in The Day of the Jackal was incredible - he was terrifying.

[@Spookieham]

A fantastic film developed from a fantastic book. Very very tight and focused. It stands the test of time very well.

[@terrystephens1102]

A wonderful actor and, the film is one of my all time favourites. 😃👌👌👌👏👏👏❤️

[@fundamentos3439]

Edward Fox is so charming & witty.

[@IanP1963]

In one scene the Jackal spends hours re-spraying his car, then sets off in it, only to hit another car and trash the lovely car he's sprayed. Like all good assassins he just takes the car which works, puts the dead man from it, puts him in his own car and goes on his merry way to have nooky with a woman he's met the day before in a hotel - amazing !!!!

[@corradospadoni3915]

In the book there isnt the car ceash, probably the main difference between book and movie.

[@arvindgigoo3950]

The day of the jackal is my favourite film. Watched it a number of times. Edward Fox is brilliant.

[@superdiscount100]

Both Caine and Moore would have been ridiculous in this role. Caine moderately better. Fox's performance is one of the most faultless of all time.

[@Malt454]

Caine would have been a very different, and interesting choice, and it could be argued that his physicality might have better fit the Congo mercenary background of the character (although this background wasn't really touched on by the script as opposed to the book) - perhaps much more the Caine of Get Carter than that of The Italian Job. The story goes that Fox had some real problems finding the character because there's very little to go on; he's a man shown far more by what he does than what he ever says or what anyone knows about him. As it is, Fox played him very well as a consumate professional whose ruthlessness is just one more impersonal tool used as needed to accomplish the job. It's a top-rate performance, but I still think that Lonsdale steals the show as Lebel.

[@pix046]

Gabriel It is all about acting. If a good actor plays a role well it can look like it could only have been him playing that role!

[@johnbull1568]

I think you're being a bit unkind to Roger Moore here. He played a similar type of character in Wild Geese. It's only because he played James Bond so comedically that people remember him that way. I also think that Get Carter showed that Caine could have done a good job. That said, yes, Fox was perfect in the role.

[@garymitchell5899]

@@johnbull1568 Moore would have been good. Our friend is getting confused because he's seen the film and doesn't have the wit to imagine anyone else playing it.

[@powerbite92]

@@johnbull1568 Roger Moore was cheesy in Wild Geese dispensing lots of quips and one liners. Both Caine and Moore are responsible for their bad press. Moore for becoming a self parody almost all his career. Caine as his alcoholism ruined his acting career in the 70s, Richard Harris and Caine fell out because Harris said Caine failed to become as great as he could have been because of the bottle. Interestingly in many ways the Jackal is closer to Flemings amoral psychopathic Bond than the film version and if closeted gay man Roger Moore had played a bisexual cold killer well it would have blown everyone's socks off.. but his schtick and patter were too familiar and I doubt he would have done it. Fox also brought a lithe physicality to the role that I doubt either Caine or Moore could have done.

[@davidgoulden5956]

What a riveting perfomance he gave in that gem of a movie. I met him in the Marylebone branch of Waitrose one hot summer afternoon a good ten years ago. He cut a very dapper figure in his suit and tie. I told him he was 'terrific' in The Day Of The Jackal. He thanked me warmly. Nice memory for me.

[@lydialilli4351]

I adore Edward Fox. Loved him in "Day Of The Jackal" and his brilliant performance as King Edward VIII. He's just a superb actor! He was very sexy in "Jackal".

[@alexandermacdonald7547]

Michael Lonsdale performance was oscar worthy.

[@Giskard1000]

Agree

[@63Baggies]

He was great in Ronin and Munich too; we've only just lost him. What a pity. Fox would have been a very interesting Bond; he'd have been Daniel Craig before Daniel Craig. Lean, Cold, mean and psychopathic.

[@chollocks]

Michael Lonsdale stole the scene from Alec Guinness in Smiley's People

[@scottknode898]

@@63Baggies Michael Londsdale stole the show as main villain in Moonraker going against Roger Moore’s James Bond in 1979 but his performance in The Day Of The Jackal was better.

[@dickieblench5001]

We start by realising we are the two most important people in France

[@muffs55mercury61]

The film did well in the States. Saw it twice in 1973 and recorded it when I got my first VCR about 10 years later, then bought the DVD when it came out.

[@scottrobertson9452]

I did exactly same thing as you. Fantastic movie.

[@marybarratt2649]

Ive been in love with Edward Fox's voice forever. I did not recognise him with the whiskers though, I must admit he looks so very different. Love all of his films. Class.

[@Biggee111]

‘Use your network. Rob a few banks.’ What a line!

[@ppuh6tfrz646]

And you misquoted it...

[@Biggee111]

True I did! “Use your network to rob some banks” is more like it!

[@ppuh6tfrz646]

@@Biggee111 No worries. My favourite line in the film was when the gunsmith asked the Jackal: 'Will the gentleman be moving?' Such a polite and professional way of discussing an assassination!

[@ellenthorne8222]

I have the book, the video and the audible book read by David Rintoul which I've listened too over 100 times. Edward Fox was brilliant as the Jackel as was Michael Lonsdell and there was so many familiar faces Alan Badel, Eric Porter and Derek Jacobie to name but three. I never tire of this film or book.

[@marclaw4511]

One of my favourite films and a great actor Edward is.

[@Tw2Brick]

Mr. Fox and Mr. Lonsdale became two of my favorite actors because of this wonderful film. I try to watch everything they are in. Please don't mention the horrible remake of this classic, unmatched thriller.

[@richardzowie]

I ADORED the line: "I wonder if we'll ever know who the HELL he really was?"

[@elizabethpengson8244]

watch Galileo directed by Losey

[@63Baggies]

There are certain things that should be left alone. As much as I love the Coen brothers; they made a right horlicks of the Lady Kilers. Tom Hanks is certainly very good , but NOT and Alec Guinness..

[@kenanacampora]

I bought this movie yesterday

[@Shannmeister]

In my view such an underrated actor, incredibly humble and appreciative of others involved in the film. And as for the beard well I think my profile picture gives you an idea of what I think of it. :)

[@RonWylie-gk5lc]

Great actor, fantastic book and film. Everyone was perfect in the movie and Never done better

[@chestnutsev7]

One brilliant film and Edward did a brilliant job as the assassin .

[@IanP1963]

Just saw this on Monday night on some obscure channel - brill as ever !!!!!

[@63Baggies]

That BEARD! I barely recognised Edward Fox...

[@rdsieben]

one of his disguises. A Russian philosopher?

[@markgraham7291]

Until he spoke

[@PercivalBlakeney]

I thought he was Terry Waite. 😌

[@MrDavey2010]

Why was he wearing that bush?

[@Mugdorna]

Continuing to perfect his disguise skills from his role as The Jackal.

[@pgraja5767]

Edward Fox is a phenomenal actor of great proportions, he did splendid. The British actors in general have always been brilliant globally.

[@AnthonyDonnellyTT]

Fox... the man in this classic. Superb book. Read it in a day!-

[@robbybonfire9944]

My all-time favorite film, beating out the first two Godfather's, Double Indemnity, The Firm, Wall Street, Apocalypse Now, and High Society, to my thinking, oh yes, Gilda, too, Rita Hayworth at her stunning, man-controlling best. Mr. Fox was brilliant and the rest of the cast was superb, too.

[@AllenbysEyes]

Thank you so much for uploading this. I love Day of the Jackal (both the book and movie) and I'd always wanted to hear Fox talk about it.

[@danabrahams7892]

He never repeated anything like this ever again... fantassic film and performance

[@ganeshr66]

Great actor! His performance in the mirror crack'd was top class too but it had so many superb performances, his was likely underrated

[@judyhopps9380]

It's true. I felt sorry he missed

[@ianbauer4703]

I'm American and I was totally convinced Edward Fox really was The Jackal!

[@seeingimages]

🤦‍♂️

[@redbike6340]

love this film sooooo much. I needed escapism in my youth and this classic gave so much. Wonderful to be on the run every step of the way. The hunt, disguise, intrigue, murder, interpol, the visit to the forger and on to the armourer. A masterpiece on celluloid.

[@ShoegazeNukeDeployed]

day of the the jackal is one of my favorite films ever, Edward Fox is awesome in it

[@novascot60]

A very talented actor and fascinating story!

[@jubalcalif9100]

How right you are ! The Fox brothers have never failed to give memorable performances. Thanks for your comment !!

[@rob5944]

Great actors make the part their own.

[@gs8494]

So many great performances in this movie, Edward Fox, Michael Lonsdale, Cyril Cusack, and the French actress who played the Countess? Her voice has stuck with me for years.

[@bigbong620]

Delphine Seyrig.

[@virginiacorcoran1326]

I saw this movie when it first came out in the theater, and was instantly amazed at Edward Fox’s brilliant performance. I

[@goodoldrebel8]

Such a great find to see this interview. I must have viewed the film at least 50 times. I remember once about 3 years after the film came out I happen to see it playing when I was studying theatre overseas during an intersession in London back in 1973. Its remains a great film and a great actor. His brother James Fox was a great actor also.

[@dartharaneus67]

Such an awesome movie. It's both an assassin type action AND detective police story rolled into one!

[@BLUEsurf63]

Great film and a great actor.

[@seeingimages]

Edward Fox is a genius of cinema. I have watched The Day of the Jackal dozens of times. It is in my top three favorite films of all time.

[@jefflinton]

Cooler than an eskimos fridge

[@spidiq8]

Really interesting Q&A, thanks for posting this. Day of the Jackal is one of my all time faves and holds up so very well even today, the book is great and the film, although it has slight deviations is very close. The scene where Edward is zeroing the scope on the watermelons and finally tests the 'explosive' bullet still amazes me today, it's a beautiful piece of cinematography and really captures your attention as to the serious nature and dedication of the character.

[@chrisst8922]

Yeah, he's really good with props.

[@franciscomiguez5169]

See Bruno, see Hitler. See Peter, see Lawrence. See Edward, see the Jackal. Historical or fictional figures, played to perfection by these iconic actors.

[@philoebeddo8724]

Just watched this yet again on TCM,never tire of it.I’ve been fooled before by TV listings,bloody Bruce Willis..🤮

[@Nixter1974007]

Terrific film. Edward Fox was perfect for the part. Recently watched it again for the umpteenth time. Still enjoy it. Love the film.

[@shankarbalan3813]

Edward Fox. A real legend. The Day of the Jackal, A Bridge Too Far, Battle of Britain and all those superb films….always a real Public School type Gent….

[@jamesdrynan]

Fred was right to cast Fox and stick to his guns. Nicholson and Redford are fine actors but Mr. Fox brought an icy coldness to the Jackal that was sublime. He was a professional assassin, totally dedicated to the task at hand. Fox was able to humanize this monster with subtle nuances and almost had the audience rooting for him! A brilliant movie on all counts.

[@clivethomas-v4x]

yup. spot on. fox had an extremely cool delivery in this role.

[@WhocaresWhy44]

My favorite actor period. Great in A Bridge too Far. A military briefing in the great English Music Hall tradition.

[@SergioGonzalez-dm1uz]

A hundred times seen the picture. It's perfect. Nothing more to Say

[@sakr-el-bahr272]

If Edward had worn this disguise he may have got away with it!

[@RT-eb6vo]

Edward is such an awesome actor. Brought class to every movie he acted in.

[@tooterooterville]

Love the old flat four cylinder BMW motorcycles in the movie. Saw this film when it came out in '73 and made a great impression on me. Fox's performance was superb. I later saw him in the early 80's walking down the street in the theater district of London smoking a cigar with everyone around paying no attention.

[@sticksman1979]

He's morphed into Richard Attenborough!

[@jubalcalif9100]

With the white beard and added weight and all, I was thinking the SAME thing !! Thanks for your comment !!

[@stephenjoiner882]

That beard is extraordinary! He is one of my favorite actors but I would never have recongnized him on the street if I were to see him with that facial hair. It was highly interesting to hear Edward tell that Jack Nicholson was offered the part of the Jackal. I did read that Robert Redford turned down the role because he felt that it would have hurt his career to have played a professional killer.

[@mickadatwist1620]

huge movie...every minute of it

[@sebekglab]

I have read book first and after watch movie few days later. In seconds I could see characters not actors. Bloody well done casting and acting .

[@margaretross9150]

Just watched the movie AGAIN. Brilliant performance.

[@davidclark9840]

Fantastic film so many great venues and actors , love France in this period, and the vehicles, ( interesting the continuity errors) but have watched this 25 times one of my fav

[@carmeldeakin2456]

This film is my all time favourite. Edward Fox was amazing.

[@joekurtz8303]

Suspeceful plot, got to see this as a young teen, dug history, and how it builds & of course the custom tooling, exploding bullet scenes etc.

[@schizoidboy]

I could never picture anyone else playing the Jackal other then Edward Fox, he embodied the character perfectly and if you ever read the book you would see it right off. To think that they would have used an American actor - I'm American- just wouldn't have worked. To be honest I know they would have never have made this movie these days, certainly not with the style it was made with back in 1973.

[@clivethomas-v4x]

correct! i read the book in the late 1980s to cross reference with the film. clearly zinneman knew exactly what he was doing. fox was clearly the perfect choice at that time. michael caine was considered? not appropriate. just like edward fox would not have been appropriate for the role of jack carter in "get carter" 2 years earlier.

[@IanP1963]

In those days it would only be a suave polite Englishman who would play the role of a ruthless assassin, in todays world things have sadly changed !!!!

[@Dingeraye1]

Pleased to see that Edward Fox is everything I would have expected. He did a magnificent job in the film, as did Michael Lonsdale and the entire cast. But, as he mentioned, the direction and editing made the movie what it was.

[@ironpirites]

I think one of the most interesting things about Edward Fox, and something that gives him a dramatic presence that few other actors have, is the impression one gets that no matter what is going on in the performance, there is more to this person than simply the role he is playing.

[@blueforrester8459]

is he in one of his disguises here? :)

[@observer4039]

😂

[@adriantyler6911]

It's for the 2nd Remake set at Christmas

[@Sidrives]

Lol

[@okgood8529]

The Jackal is such a great character study. Fox was completely believable in that role.

[@ukbhangragroupvids2356]

One of the best movies around A++ pure acting no CGI rubbish

[@SimAlex20000]

that is a really great post. i love this film and this is a very insightful look behind the scenes.

[@TheMrBennito]

the silence in the movie is sometimes deafening. So the car accident makes one jump to the ceiling. Note that a good deal takes place either in very confined rooms or in open space/nature. Another juxtaposition. All those supposedly little details add to the build-up of suspense in this superb movie.

[@chrisst8922]

There's something like 37 minutes odd with no music.

[@manjulammm]

One

[@manjulammm]

One scene not much significant to the story, but does bring a smile on your face - the scene where he buys the dyes, the young sales girl is finding his presence so attractive, with his wry smile, she is nervous she is fumbling for the bottles, the charming Fox just smiles engagingly.That is all. The script is so close to the purpose and character, any other director would have added a sensual scene to it. But here it was just that Fox knew his charm, and was just amused at the smitten young girl :-)

[@ShoegazeNukeDeployed]

I always wanted to see him play James Bond myself

[@carlitobrigante6304]

He's too posh to play Bond.

[@matt75hooper]

Fabulous !!!! I just stumbled in here. Love that movie. Fox without that beard looks like he's hardly aged a day.

[@MrPh30]

Heard about a ex 1REP legionaire who was part of the reason why OAS was formed. He and the Regiment was given a option, discharge or go on to 2REP. He chose discharge ,almost served his whole contract in Algeria ,never been in France at all during his time there. He said it was his favorite movie ,he basically lived it .

[@rem2267]

Very nice interview, he was very engaging, but man, what a scary looking beard! I absolutely love the movie, and he played the hell out of the Jackal. Yay, Mr. Fox! He is right about the film still holding up in modern times. I think it takes on an even more special poignancy since 9/11. (I love the way the color of his socks match his jacket perfectly.)

[@ignatiussilveira4257]

All the actors especially Fred deserve the appreciation. Nonetheless, it was undeniably a collective effort of all the actors.

[@fleurafricaine5740]

Amazing gentleman is Edward Fox. He holds his head up, indeed.

[@apurvakmr]

Mr. Fox played the jackal role to the bone. Jackal was an emotionless killer, focused only on the job at hand. Mr. Fox brought the character flawlessly

[@charleswinokoor6023]

Such a short interview. All the questions were excellent, but I wanted to hear more. He mentioned Americans versus Europeans thinking he was the best man for the part. I don’t know if he was referring to the American public, critics, Hollywood or all three. But I’m an American, and “Day of the Jackal” will always be on my top ten list. The understatement of its delivery and, as was mentioned here, lack of distracting music and most importantly its intelligence really sets it apart. But I guess it didn’t make a lot of money in the U.S. I didn’t watch it for the first time until years after its release. I eventually bought it on DVD. And I also eventually read Forsyth’s book, which thankfully was also excellent.

[@gjef9971]

Bless him a fine gentleman indeed and a wonderful actor.

[@paradisebeyond1982]

Just watched it yesterday, first watched it in 1998, at the age of 15. Love it so much. The remake was such a disgrace...

[@stephenreeds3672]

There was a remake?

[@paradisebeyond1982]

@@stephenreeds3672 1997 with Bruce Willis, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jackal_(1997_film)

[@runandraisans6055]

@@stephenreeds3672 yes don’t bother it’s rubbish

[@neiljones1938]

The remake wasn't bad, quite good. Both novel and original movie are great.

[@clivethomas-v4x]

disgrace is right. bruce willis also did a remake of the charles bronson film "death wish" and that was even worse. i dont know why they bother.

[@paulbadoo9326]

That film is a masterpiece and his performance is the key. He''s totally right, he made the character likeable in a strange way, being a killing machine as he is.

[@forteeka2010]

i love Edward Fox at The Day Of The Jackal Mohamed from Egypt

[@stuartmenziesfarrant]

In my top 3 films of all time! Edward Fox is a truly great actor!

[@thomasbauerle317]

What.an amazing Actor! DOTJ more than holds its head up. An extraordinary piece of art!

[@diddymuck]

Is that Edward Fox under all that? Gad, he looks like Dusty Hill's grandfather.

[@chuckabutty888]

This was a most wonderful film with so many talented actors. When Claude killed the Jackal I cried which confused me, I dont know whether it was for the Jackal or Claude, such was the power of their characters.