The Day of the Jackal

The titular "Jackal" in this 1973 conspiracy classic is the code name of a professional assassin hired by a cabal of French dissidents in 1963 who plot to assassinate French President Charles de Gaulle. Edward Fox plays the otherwise unnamed assassin, a meticulous professional who reaches out to experts for every tool in his arsenal, from his custom-designed sniper rifle to his identity papers and travel documents. While he puts his plan in place, the authorities follow the slimmest clues to uncover the conspiracy and identify this ghost of a killer. The screen adaptation of Frederick Forsyth's bestselling 1967 novel (which was inspired by a real-life assassination attempt) is directed by Oscar-winning Hollywood veteran Fred Zinnemann with a matter-of-fact directness in the manner of a police procedural, making for a dispassionate rather than thrilling film, with everything observed at a remove, bringing an old-fashioned sense of dogged professionalism to both the story and the storytelling. Although the ending is never in doubt (de Gaulle died in 1970 of natural causes), The Day of the Jackal remains compelling in its accumulation of detail, although modern viewers raised on rapidly-paced thrillers may find it a bit plodding. Fox is the least showy of big screen assassins, a man with military precision and a personal manner to match: crisp, professional, and confident, but without arrogance. The fictional character inspired a real-life revolutionary to adopt the name Carlos the Jackal. Extras include two rare archival clips from the film set (including an interview with Zinnemann), and a new interview with author Neil Sinyard. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)