The Day of the Jackal

Amazon.com

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

Customer Reviews:

Superb.......2007-08-13

This excellent film from 1973 features Edward Fox as The Jackal. A man who is paid 1/2 a million dollars to kill Charles De Gaulle, the then President of France. This has a top notch cast including Maurice Denham, Cyril Cusack, Derek Jacobi, Donald Sinden and Michael Lonsdale. Perhaps the best of the cast is the impassive Lonsdale (who was the Samurai maker in Ronin 24 years later) as Lebel, the man who is tasked with stopping The Jackal.

This is very well directed by Zimmerman, who shot the film on location in Paris and London. The film never lets up and is a slow burning explosive ride from beginning to end. Be warned this is not a modern day action thriller, you won't find whole buildings exploding or unrealistic car chase carnage. This is shot in an almost documentary style, which should not put you off because like a number of other films from the early 70's (The French Connection/Godfather films spring to mind), this is a really entertaining film that you will want to see again and again.

Just see it.......2007-08-04

Quite possibly the best motion picture I have ever seen, they just don't make movies like this anymore. Once it gets going 2 hours go by in what feels like 15 minutes. Get this movie now, It'll blow you away.

Classic Version.......2007-07-19

This is an excellent film. It stays very close to the book from which it was taken. It is superior to the "new version." It is suspensful and has an interesting ending.

Nothing Like The Original.......2007-06-15

What a great film. It's thoroughly enjoyable to watch the incredible lengths that the film's heroes and anti-heroes go through to achieve their objectives. And more impressive is the film's precise relevance today, in our age of terrorism, even though it was released 35 years ago. An eerie tale, to say the least.

The cast is superb from top to bottom, and the director and editors deftly let you into the minds of both the Jackal and the Inspector ... keeping you fully engaged with each one's strategies and skills.

The Day of the Jackal.......2007-06-08

This is a great movie, it keeps you on the edge of your seat!

Average customer rating:

Does contain a directors commentary.
What's wrong with it?
Fine acting and locales
no where as good as the origanal but still fun if you let it
See the great 1970's Day Of The Jackal instead

The Jackal - Collector's Edition
Starring: Steve Bassett , Jack Black , Maggie Castle , John Cunningham , and Richard Gere
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery & Suspense | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( J ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0783226888
Release Date: 1998-04-28

Amazon.com

The best way to enjoy this 1997 thriller is to forget the much better film that inspired it (1973's The Day of the Jackal) and get whatever kicks you can from this heavy-metal remake. It's not bad as hokey thrillers go, but all of the original film's suspenseful finesse has been traded in (not traded up) for bigger, bolder action and nonsensical plotting. It's as if Hollywood had forgotten to create excitement without resorting to overblown action and heavy hardware, but there's ample compensation in the casting of Bruce Willis and Richard Gere. Willis is the elusive assassin known only as the Jackal, whose latest target (he uses a cannon-sized gun that's anything but inconspicuous) may be the first lady of the United States. Gere plays a former IRA terrorist who is recruited by the deputy head of the FBI (Sidney Poitier) to trace the Jackal's maneuvers, and Diane Venora offers some gutsy support as a Russian-born agent who assists Gere on his mission. The movie has fun turning Willis into a master of disguise, and Gere adds much-needed gravity to counter the plot's escalating absurdity, but this is the kind of film that falls apart if you think about it too much. Still, that doesn't stop the Collector's Edition DVD from offering an impressive array of bonus features, including a director's commentary, a "making of The Jackal" documentary, deleted scenes, an alternative ending, cast interviews, and more. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Does contain a directors commentary........2007-07-24

For anyone who is interested, this DVD (ISBN 0-7832-2688-8) does contain a commentary by director Michael Caton-Jones. Why Universal doesn't put that information on the box is beyond me. They've done it before(12 Monkeys springs to mind); have features someone might want, but not list them on the packaging.

What's wrong with it?.......2006-11-23

Personally, I thought this was a great movie. Well written, full of twists and turns, and contrary to many of the reviews I've read on here, has a nearly flawless plot. The only reason I'm writing a review for this movie is to clear up what some of the other people have said about it.
People have written things like "Why did that Jackal make it so complicated" or things similar to this. First of all, the giant gun he uses and the public place he attacks at are all part of what he was paid to do, and if you people would have paid attention to the story you would have known that.
Second, he wasn't "Already in the U.S." as at least one reviewer put. He was in Russia! Yes, he was an American, but he was in Russia discussing the terms of his job, from where he traveled to Canada and THEN the U.S.
And another thing, it was questioned why he took a ship to enter the U.S., and one reviewer put that he could have used his van or taken a bus. He used a ship to avoid border patrols in his van, and HOW IN THE WORLD WAS HE SUPPOSED TO GET THAT GUN AND MOUNT ON A BUS???

Fine acting and locales.......2006-10-01

A big budget action flick here with FBI agent Sidney Poitier enlisting IRA prisoner Gere to stop a high tech assassin (Willis) from completing a high level assassination. All 3 leads are very good and especially Poitier with Gere mananging an acceptable Irish brogue. It's a very watchable movie but one wishes the plot holes weren't so obvious. This was made in 1997 so it was pre 9-11 but even still, it's a little silly to believe that an FBI agent would leave the First Lady up on a platform to give a speech just to try to capture the villain.
The many disguises of Willis and the many locales add spice to the story and it almost moves along quick enough that you miss some of the holes in the story. Still very watchable and entertaining- 3.5 Stars.

no where as good as the origanal but still fun if you let it.......2006-02-17

bruce willis and richard gere plus sidney poitior in the story of an hit-man out to kill someone in the u.s. and we don't know who. russiaian mob men are looking for payback after u.s. and russian police kill one of the mobs boys in russia. they hire the "jackel" a hit-man who no one has ever seen and ask him to do the job. willis is the killer and he looks mean and enjoys killing. gere is an i.r.a. killer in jail who also has seen the "jackel" and poitior is the f.b.i. man that is tracking the hit-man down. logic never gets in the way of the action as this movie pulls out all the stops to tell this story. i makes no sence at all but it is fun if you let it be. willis is ok , gere's accent slips as much as his acting and poitior is his fine acting self and he never lets his age keep him out of the action . not great but fun .

See the great 1970's Day Of The Jackal instead.......2006-02-11

This movie is not a thriller or thrilling like the 1970's Day Of The Jackal. It's mostly dumb action pre-teen boy stuff with little suspense or interesting plot.

Average customer rating:

Does contain a directors commentary.
What's wrong with it?
Fine acting and locales
no where as good as the origanal but still fun if you let it
See the great 1970's Day Of The Jackal instead

The Jackal - DTS
Starring: Steve Bassett , Jack Black , Maggie Castle , John Cunningham , and Richard Gere
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DTS | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

( J ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Action & Adventure | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Drama | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

Mystery & Suspense | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

ASIN: 078323077X
Release Date: 1999-04-13

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Does contain a directors commentary........2007-07-24

What's wrong with it?.......2006-11-23

Fine acting and locales.......2006-10-01

no where as good as the origanal but still fun if you let it.......2006-02-17

See the great 1970's Day Of The Jackal instead.......2006-02-11

This movie is not a thriller or thrilling like the 1970's Day Of The Jackal. It's mostly dumb action pre-teen boy stuff with little suspense or interesting plot.

The Bourne Identity (1988) [Richard Chamberlain / Jaclyn Smith]

Average customer rating:

Bourne is a lot nicer than in the book.

The Bourne Identity (1988) [Richard Chamberlain / Jaclyn Smith]

Manufacturer: WARNER VIDEO
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

The Bourne Supremacy (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B0009IVBGK

Customer Reviews:

Bourne is a lot nicer than in the book........2005-06-24

This is an intriguing movie and it will hold your attention from beginning to end. The plot is well conceived and there are no holes to drive trucks through. They could not have picked better actors for the characters. They may not match the descriptions in the book; but this is not a book.

An introductory scene with a body (Richard Chamberlain) sinking slowly in the water. It may have a few holes in it. It is found and unceremoniously dumped at the door of a doctor (Denholm Elliott). As he recovers from his wounds we realize he has amnesia. People are out to kill him. He had a capsule embedded in his body that contained what looks like a code. He must find out how he is and why people are out to get him. In the process it looks more and more that he is a well known terrorist.

The Bourne in the movie is much nicer than the book version. You have to make allowances for the transformation to the screen. However he does a lot more borrowing instead of stealing and is not as vicious with people on his travels.

El Chacal De Nahueltoro|The Jackal of Nahueltoro

Average customer rating:

El Chacal De Nahueltoro|The Jackal of Nahueltoro
Starring: Nelson Villagra , Shenda Roman , Hector Noguera , Luis Alarcon , and Marcelo Romo
Director: Miguel Littin
Manufacturer: Terra
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Art House & International | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Drama | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( E ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000E5KUMY
Release Date: 2006-02-28

Description

This is the second release in Terra's series, Spotlight on Chilean Masterworks. The Jackal of Nahueltoro is an extraordinary account based on real events that took place in Chile at the beginning of the 1960s. It tells the story of an illiterate farmer who kills his lover and her children in a drunken rage after being evicted from his farmhouse. He goes on to learn to read and write in prison, and becomes an active citizen, but finds that his reform is not enough to save him. The film was controversial for its portrayal of the abject living conditions and the social injustices facing the poor in Chile, and it gained wide praise in international circles, it is considered one of the best Chilean films from the 20th century. Directed by Miguel Littin. Originally released in 1969. Spanish with English subtitles. 95 minutes.

History's Mysteries - Carlos The Jackal (History Channel)

Average customer rating:

History's Mysteries - Carlos The Jackal (History Channel)

Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000F6ZDF6
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Ancient Evil 2: Guardian of the Underworld

Average customer rating:

Ancient Evil 2: Guardian of the Underworld
Starring: Victoria Campbell , Adam Lipskey , Christopher Kann , Noel Francomano , and Alex Whall
Director: D.W. Kann
Manufacturer: Silver Nitrate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Horror | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Ancient Evil: Scream of the Mummy

ASIN: B000H0MN76
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Airwolf - The Collector's Edition: Daddy's Gone a Hunt'n and Bite of the Jackal

Average customer rating:

Airwolf - The Collector's Edition: Daddy's Gone a Hunt'n and Bite of the Jackal

Manufacturer: Universal City Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: VHS Tape

Airwolf Collector's Edition: Proof Through The Night & One Way Express

ASIN: B0002TRUKW

Product Description

Contains Two Episodes .. Daddy's Gone A Hunt'n' Air date January 28, 1984 With Guest Stars James Whitmore and Deborah Pratt.... Hawke is asked by Archangel to serve as an exchange pilot in the US Air Force so that he can go undercover and find out who is attempting to delivery a Hi Tech Jet to the Russians. Bite of The Jackal Air date February 4, 1984 With Guest Stars Shannen Doherty and Scott Hylands. Archangel's subordinate Bruck is determined to wrestle control of The Firm away from his superior by setting up a trap in Mexico involving Dominic.

Average customer rating:

A Sensation-Vincent Price!!!
disappointed
much better than I expected!
Vincent Price in the Wild African west
Very unusual Vincent Price Movie!

The Jackals
Starring: Vincent Price , Diana Ivarson , Robert Gunner , Bob Courtney , and Patrick Mynhardt
Director: Robert D. Webb
Manufacturer: Bci / Eclipse
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Action & Adventure | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

( J ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

ASIN: B00005KA6N
Release Date: 2001-04-24

Customer Reviews:

A Sensation-Vincent Price!!!.......2005-09-26

Vincent Prices breathtaking performance gives this, otherwise not very exciting film,a touch of very memorable!!!

disappointed.......2005-05-26

I am a big Vincent Price fan but I did not like this movie at all. It is kind of stupid. Not entertaining at all. sorry

much better than I expected!.......2004-11-26

I just show the movie a couple of days ago on Fox Movie Channel. Even though Vicent Price is given top billing, it's more of a supporting role. I wasn't too crazy about it's premise (cowboys in South Africa). However, by the end of the movie, I liked it.

As previous reviewers have stated, granddaughter and grandfather (Price) try to protect gold from 5 outlaws. One of them falls for the granddaughter and decides to change his ways. Not original, but fun since it takes place in South Africa rather than the old west. I've haven't seen the original, YELLOW SKY, so I can't comment if this film is better or worse.

As far as the length of the film is concerned, the one I saw on Fox Movie Channel had a runing time of 93 minutes. If there is a longer version, either Fox doesn't have the missing scenes or it really is only 93 minutes and the distribution company made a mistake on the running time.

Vincent Price in the Wild African west.......2004-03-18

The technical part of this review refers to the Brentwood Home Video or BCI Eclipse version.

A western set in Africa with Vincent Price! What more could you ask for? In reality, you could ask for a bit more. Mr. Price plays a prospector who lives with his granddaughter and happens to have a ton o' gold hidden away. Along come the bad men who want to take the gold and the girl away. Mr. Price is the cunning wily old codger you'd expect him to be. After seeing him in almost exclusively horror fare, it was a pleasure to see him tackle this role. And I bet HE had a good time with it. It shows! A routine western made better with the African location.

The print used was not too bad. Scratches, splices, etc. were minimal. The color by DeLuxe has faded and can be quite noticeable in indoor settings, but not enough to detract from the story. 20th Century Fox originally released this picture, which was 105 minutes in length by all sources I could find. Some company called Rawhide Home Video must have bought the rights, took off the 20th Century Fox logo and put some cheap title card on the beginning. In the process, they must have chopped 12 minutes out of it somewhere. To be honest, I don't know where the editing took place. With such an unknown feature, this will probably be the only chance to see this movie. I wouldn't look for Fox to release a remastered, uncut version any time soon.

Brentwood/BCI does their usual job with features of 6 chapter stops, a Max Fleischer cartoon and trivia game. A decent transfer for the price. This movie is also in a 10 pack of westerns at about triple the price for this one film from Brentwood Home Video called "The Wild West" and is available from Amazon.com.

Very unusual Vincent Price Movie!.......2001-11-10

This western, made 1966 in South Afrika, is a very strange remake of YELLOW SKY (1948). It reminds me a little bit of two Monte Hellman western (THE SHOOTING and RIDE IN THE WIRLWIND) made around the same time. Major interest is Vincent Price as an old gold digger, who lives with his graddaughter in the desert and gets in trouble with a gang of bankrobbers. If you're an admirer of Vincent, you have to see this!

Talking about the Brentwood DVD: The quality is okay for a rare film like this and the cheap price. Colors are a bit fadad red. The main problem is, that the film isn't complete: It runs only 93 minutes, than the correct (and on the cover mentioned) 105 minutes! But probably we'll never get the chance to see it better!

There is also a tape available. I don't know it, but think it's made from the same source. If you own it you don't need the DVD. If not get this one!

Average customer rating:

Both good.
one great movie,but a great value
One good, one average.
Great combinations of movies

12 Monkeys/The Jackal
Starring: Ernest Abuba , Bob Adrian , Vernon Campbell , Michael Chance , and Carol Florence
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Customer Reviews:

Both good........2003-02-17

I would buy it for Jackal but because i am not that psycho kind of guy and didn't like 12 monkeys so much i can't really say which one is better! 12 Monkeys is a psychological film that needs some thinking in order to enjoy it and the jackal is an excellent action film that doesn't need further comments. I would like to add that both Brad Pitt and Bruce Willis cooperate really well in the film and that the jackal gets sick sometimes in the film because of too much blood. Despite that i think they are both films worth watching them and nice to spend your time with!

one great movie,but a great value.......2001-05-31

I like the above viewer bought this to get twelvemonkeys which I have wanted for over a year since I got a dvd player, This is one the best movie's ever made and well whorth the money. You get the jackal as bonus and it not that bad of movie either, It just does not stand up the brilliant twelve monkeys, Plus the documentry is as good as the movie on twelve monkey's. Buy this set today

One good, one average........2001-05-27

I bought this for 12 Monkeys, with the Jackal as sort of an afterthought. I think that it is easily worth the price because either the Jackal or 12 Monkeys alone costs 25 bucks, so why not get both? 12 Monkeys is a great, thought provoking movie, and is worth the price alone, but for LESS than the price of the Jackal on DVD alone, you get both movies. If you want to buy either 12 Monkeys OR the Jackal, buying both saves you money. Both DVDs have pretty good features too, and the 12 Monkeys DVD has a documentary that is almost as long as the movie. Overall, I would say that this is a great bargain.

Great combinations of movies.......2001-05-23

I was personally a big fan of the movie 12 monkeys this thriller is ming boggling, I enjoyed the Jackal as well but i was somewhat disapointed, but I would still consider this a must have for all action movie fans.

DVD:

DVD

DVD