The Scene of your life:The Day of the Jackal

the meeting

[@Kelly14UK]

"Considering you'd expect to get France in return, I'd have thought it a reasonable price"

[@tajunoor1311]

That's a killer line

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Also, Jackal isn't greedy or lavish.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

Casting Edward Fox was an inspired idea. He looks like an ordinary man on holiday but when he is operating, assembling the components for the assassination, there is a steely determination in his eyes that makes Fox believable in the role.

[@dzanier]

Absolutely.

[@florinivan6907]

Not really ordinary. He doesn't have the swagger of a working class type. You see him on the street you wouldn't assume he is someone who grew up in poverty. He has the swagger of a former officer in the Army now freelance.

[@MrPolicekarim]

Apparently, Roger Moore wanted the role but was turned down, They felt he would be unbelievable in the role. Well, it is very hard to be low-key in a white safari suit! LOL!

[@ricardocantoral7672]

@@florinivan6907 His body language wasn't totally unremarkable but I think the average person on the street would never say "that guy looks like an assassin".

[@stevetheduck1425]

The book gives a few moments of internal thought for the Jackal: he wants the rich life; money, women, good meals, a fast car. Beyond that, he is a cipher; an intelligent nobody who can shoot.
Even the personality he projects is that of a sociopath; he does what is needed to get what he wants, but is more concerned about living to enjoy his money (which if he fails, the OAS will want back, should he and they live) than the legal problems of killing someone.
In the book Rolland of the OAS finds information on three possible assassins and they settle on the Jackal, as the others have obvious flaws. How he does this is never explained. Did he go to Britain?
They come to choose the Englishman without knowing what work he has done, except that he is believed to have worked in Africa.
The British Police work on a rumour of man who shot the driver of a car in Central America so that rebels could capture and kill a dictator. They connect this with a man selling near-legal weapons there at the time, which is discovered to be a coincidence.
Both are wrong: the identity of the Jackal is never discovered.
Yet: real history lists an attempt on DeGaulle's life while he was in Britain during WWII. Acid was used to damage control linkages in an aircraft he was due to use; the controls failed just before take-off and the damage was discovered. DeGaulle was furious, but the investigation merely blamed 'enemy action'.
It's worth looking up how many high-ranking people died in plane crashes during WWII.
DeGaulle remained unpopular with the political establishment in Britain after world war II.
Did the author suggest in the book that the Jackal is actually an anti-James Bond? a British agent, deniable, who is there to either kill DeGaulle, or destroy the OAS by revealing them, or both, benefitting the British Government's bargaining power with the French government at a time when they were blocking Britain's entry in to the European Economic Community?

[@louthegiantcookie]

One of the best parts of Fox's performance is how personable he makes The Jackal. He smiles and laughs a lot, is clearly very witty, even kind to people around him at times. It creates a stark, sometimes eerie disconnect between this charming man and how he suddenly switches to being an ice cold killer.

[@vksasdgaming9472]

He leaves positive, yet utterly unremarkable impression of himself to casual observer. Just a guy between early 30s and 50s and native speaker would recognize his foreign accent of French. Just a tourist - nothing more.

[@Beppo85]

Sociopaths can often be charming and charismatic when they want to be.

[@stuart5811]

@@vksasdgaming9472 the grey man-he just blends into the scenery

[@zak8458]

@@Beppo85 One would rather say that he is a psychopath than a sociopath. A psychopath is patient, calculated, calm, does not lose his temper...he is very often charming and excellent at manipulating others.

[@vksasdgaming9472]

​@@zak8458High-functioning sociopath. Many traits are present and high intelligence as well.

[@theretiredmariner2488]

Not too often the film is as good as the book, but this is, truly great on both counts

[@jdewitt77]

The film and the book were excellent. $500,000 US in 1963 would be about $3,000,000 in today's money.

[@SBCBears]

If you like this film as I do, you will like Assassination Tango, set in Argentina and stars Robert Duvall. Like this film, it is intricate, intelligent, suspenseful and believable.

[@theretiredmariner2488]

@SBCBears cheers matey

[@spiritof1960]

,

[@adamfreeman2348]

Yup. I read. Both excellent

[@damianbyrne1664]

Fox would have a made a brilliant James Bond: cool, charming, yet utterly ruthless...

[@dr.juerdotitsgo5119]

As a Bond fan, I was thinking about this the entire film. In some ways it felt like a very realistic, down-to-earth 007 film. The Fox character even pulls a "Connery" when he seduces that married lady to serve his purposes... Well, not so much when he picks up a guy at a gay sauna lol

[@Dragblacker]

I think he actually was in the Bond movie "Never Say Never Again".

[@PxThucydides]

You are so right!

[@elta6241]

He has the demeanour but not quite the physical attributes.

[@spikespa5208]

He would have made a good Bond *villain* .

[@martinbrandt6079]

“It’s possible. The problem is getting away with it. And speaking as a professional, that’s a very important consideration.”

[@gregoryhagen8801]

That's the difference between a amateur & a professional.😉

[@danielcleary3914]

Edward Fox. Brilliant. Perfect.

[@jubalcalif9100]

I agree 100 per cent !!

[@user-cc6nb5th6x]

Me too. I'm glad he is still with us.

[@asacarrick1440]

Lawrence Fox too is a remarkable man

[@asimwaheed8201]

Edward Fox was awesome in this role.

[@jamesdrynan]

Agreed! Owing for conversion rate, his asking price of $500,000 would be over five million dollars today.

[@ppuh6tfrz646]

@@jamesdrynan Which isn't a particularly high figure to be honest when you consider who the target was.

[@jubalcalif9100]

I certainly have a notion to second THAT emotion!

[@adamfreeman2348]

Perfectly cast. No other actor would have worked. He fits the character in the novel exactly

[@sdkelmaruecan2907]

Just noticed a detail, near the end (3:29) when they say goodbye, the door has just been opened and Jean Martin's character (who was outside all the time) is now able to hear the man calling him "Jackal"... later it'll play a pivotal role since it's the only detail he'll remember when being tortured by the police. If it wasn't for that slip of tongue, the police would never have gotten that code-name, kind of validates the Jackal's warning about secrecy and shows that from the start, any mistake can be fatal to the plot.

[@SuperBassman30]

Plus the man at reception informed the authorities that a fair haired man visited the oas

[@dcasey77]

@Sdk ElMaruecan The police knowing the assassin's codename made no difference at all.

[@neelanshguptaa1440]

@@dcasey77 yes it did. Discovering the Jackal's code name is what made them make that wild guess about it being Charles Calthrop. Raiding Charles Calthrop's appartment and finding his passport gave them the idea of finding the fake passport of Duggan. The entire process is much better detailed in the book.

[@dcasey77]

@@neelanshguptaa1440 I'm talking about the film not the book.
And isn't it obvious anyway that a contract killer will travel under a false passport?

[@neelanshguptaa1440]

@@dcasey77 Yeah I'm not talking about the book either. I just said whatever you saw in the movie was way better shown in the book. My explanation still relates to the movie and not the book.
Whether it should be common knowledge that someone would travel on a false passport like that or not is not the issue here. You can clearly see here that it wasn't and they only thought of thinking that way after they found Charles Calthrop's real passport, discovering whom would have been impossible if they didn't know the Jackal's codename.
They showed how with word-play you get the French word for Jackal from Charles Calthrop. That might have been a stupid coincidence in reality, but it did give them momentum on their investigation.

[@user-ib4mi5eq7u]

1973, and still remarkable movie. I watched it many times.

[@jamesdrynan]

A superb political thriller. Based on a Frederick Forsyth story, Zinnemann directed a perfect cast. Despite a 145 minute runtime, the film zips by quickly, the attention to detail is exquisite. Fox was flawless as the Jackal, cool, professional and deadly. Michael Lonsdale as Lebel was the model of efficiency as the hunter. 10 out of 10!

[@JabbaTheAmerican]

240? If there's a 4 hour cut of this movie, please post a link.

[@zachjohnson637]

It’s 143 minutes my guy.

[@cmcull987]

I think a longer runtime is necessary sometimes.

[@DavidMedeiros-ox2iw]

Yes it was excellent. Read the book too. Awesome as well. Frederick Forsyth wrote some great thrillers.

[@beryllium1932]

My two favorite quotes:
Jackal- Just use your network to rob some banks.
LeBel- I didn't (know which phone) so I bugged them all.

[@ICSAMMAN]

It's an incredible film. One of the best.

[@barracuda7018]

The best political thriller of all times. The late version with Bruce Willis and Richard Gere doesn't come close to this one.. Not by a long shot..

[@krishanuA]

Absolutely! A pity that so many younger viewers overlook this gem, although it's hardly hidden!

[@alanrogs3990]

@@barracuda7018 It's total trash, garbage. An Insult.

[@jubalcalif9100]

Right On !!

[@sebastianvella8992]

one of my favs.

[@chriswilson3126]

Edward Fox as the Jackal is fantastic. Just as I imagined him in the book.

[@matthewhendy5785]

Stunning movie.

[@stepchicken3238]

After the book, I thought the same.

[@jubalcalif9100]

Indeed !

[@A_Eichler]

Same here!

[@DukeSeager]

This is how to win a job interview

[@jacksonsmagic]

I have watched this film so many times over the years, it is notable for its total lack of music overlay, a classic.

[@nicholasm5465]

there is the title music, and then a very strange hint at some background notes when he leaves the gunmaker

[@hugodrax71]

Truly great film. A thriller that oozes style and class.

[@john1959ism]

Spot on!

[@michaeljames4444]

The book was even better!

[@89426]

It was on television in the 70's. It is a quiet thriller, perfect for the late show.

[@jubalcalif9100]

My sentiments exactly !!

[@KB-sv7fm]

Edward Fox has an intelligence and nerve that can’t be matched by Bruce Willis.

[@RagedContinuum]

two different acting styles dude

[@KB-sv7fm]

@@RagedContinuum Did you see both movies ? The Edward Fox movie put the other movie to shame.
Bruce Willis’ character is brain dead compared to Edward Fox’s character.

[@RagedContinuum]

@@KB-sv7fm Oops, I meant Bruce Willis in general - he had some great roles in other movies.. the jackal was just an unnecessary movie

[@KB-sv7fm]

@@RagedContinuum This was a piss poor remake compared to the 1973 movie. Edward Fox was a cunning motherf*cker.

[@anycolouryoulike8567]

@@KB-sv7fm Bruce Willis himself is braindead, ergo his characters.

[@CB-fz3li]

Should have shut the door on Kowalski and made a change. 'Forget Jackal, my new alias will be the Hamster'.

[@Zedzian23]

I shall be known as the Walrus. Koo-koo-ka-choo.

[@murkymurk8305]

Wollanski in the movie for some reason.

[@James-xm9oq]

I never saw anyone completely, intimidate a room before. Characters or actors. Their jaws hit the floor the moment the Jackal walks in.💓😎

[@tajunoor1311]

Nice line "Use your network to rob some banks"

[@evm6177]

🍷😎

[@jacobpeters5458]

he knows how to get their job done better than them lol

[@MouthBreatherGaming]

LOL! I thought the said "...rub some backs."

[@Kimpotter-yt4ly]

One of the best thrillers of all time...gripping from start to finish.

[@jubalcalif9100]

Could not agree more. Saw it at a local theater as a teen when it first came out. Awesome & amazing !!

[@tarvisponsdebeaumont794]

Even better than that, considering that we already know that he's going to fail, from the beginning. Nevertheless we are driven to believe that he's the man that can do the impossible.

[@SusanBlakely-pd6mp]

There's an mid 60s TV appearance of Edward Fox in some series I can't recall where he does a comic turn as an ineffectual loser in love, a useless Bertie Wooster type, and he's as utterly convincing in that role as he is here as a super efficient contract killer. Wonderful underrated actor.

[@olatkinson8560]

The Avengers.
Season 7.
Episode 28.
Edward Fox as Lord Teddy Chilcott .

[@geofromnj7377]

This was a great movie. Loved Edward Fox. Saw this in the theatre with my wife. Happy days.

[@adamfreeman2348]

The whole cast was spot on. Cyril Cusack was also very notable as the amoral gunsmith. Brilliant interaction between him and fox.

[@rafortgon]

When films were real films, not a bunch of special effects and cgi: explosions, speed, people just running and screaming.

[@mochan8447]

The book was brilliant. And then came Edward Fox and breathed life into the Jackal. Not to mention the French detective too who was nothing short of brilliant.

[@darrenphillips5874]

One of the best movies ever

[@normadesmond6017]

this is one hell of a movie

[@Kelly14UK]

He's more charming in the film than the novel. In the book, he's a lot colder and seems just maybe more enigmatic as a result.

[@rogerkincaid931]

It's because it's Edward Fox.

[@Kelly14UK]

@@rogerkincaid931 He'd have made a good Bond in the Roger mould. Just the hair's a bit on the blonde. A no no back then.

[@Beppo85]

actually I thought in the book The Jackal is more charming *when he wants to be* than Fox ever is in the movie. Fox does a good job but he seems kind of stuffy even when he’s supposed to be seducing the Baroness or getting the attention of Jules Bernard at the Turkish bathhouse.

[@scottknode898]

@@Kelly14UK it’s funny as he played James Bond’s Superior M in Sean Connery’s non official Bond film Never Say Never Again in 1983.

[@GuineaPigEveryday]

@@scottknode898honestly say what u want about how weird and kinda shit that movie is, the performances in it are such fun, Edward Fox is just having so much fun as M, even Rowan Atkinson is in it a small bit, and Barbara Carrera is having a ball. Edward Fox would’ve made a great M with the years after, he has that politely British snide attitude

[@ewaf88]

The Jackal should have done our Brexit negotiations

[@BuffaloBuffalo-uc6zp]

l really like that comment its really somes up what we are faced with today with are own Ruthless Government scum trying their damndest too replace us at every possible opportunity

[@mindslaw4961]

"You see gentlemen, not only have your own efforts failed, you've rather queered the pitch for everyone else..."

[@erwind1257]

Yeah, he could've gotten half a million.

[@stevetheduck1425]

The book has an interesting take on that: the French Government (DeGaulle himself) had just blocked Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, as this would put France in second position.
Later France left the EEC as it wasn't dominating any more.
It may be that assassinating DeGaulle with a deniable m killer would benefit Britain greatly... it's only a vague suggestion in the book, but could this mean that the Jackal is James Bond, licenced to kill?

[@ewaf88]

@@stevetheduck1425 Interesting. It's a great film though -

[@Oldag75]

Possibly the absolute peak of Fox's acting career -- one of the most ruthless, amoral villains ever portrayed on film.

[@jrisner1951]

It is a brilliant film that captures the time and atmosphere. Fox is an unappreciated actor.

[@anandv4163]

Best feature film.
They wanted an actor who was not much popular and
Edward Fox was found suitable and he showed what a classic actor he was. Superb acting.
He was seen later in movie Gandhi as Gen.Dyer.

[@jacobpeters5458]

I've seen Fox in The Bounty (1984) - he has like one or two lines, but makes the scene 10x better

[@renatovicenziofrancesconis4476]

También salió en "Un Puente demasiado lejos", de 1977, como el teniente general británico Horrocks.-🎥🎞📽🎬📺😊👍🇨🇱

[@IanAnthonyMartin]

Also superb in A Bridge Too Far as Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Horrocks.

[@adam8822]

great book great old movie
i wasn't overwhelmed by the remake

[@johnfitzpatrick3094]

Remake was a POS.

[@blockmasterscott]

I never saw the remake. I watched the trailer and decided to pass on it.
The book was AWESOME! 👍💪👊

[@louthegiantcookie]

@@johnfitzpatrick3094 Poor Bruce Willis in a fat suit. What were they thinking?!

[@johnfitzpatrick3094]

@@louthegiantcookie They think that casting Bruce Willis means an automatic hit. You can't begin to imagine how many movies did not star Bruce Willis, even though they wanted him for the starring role.

[@lordtherapeutics]

The remake was execrable

[@TheFlaneur-up1ft]

If they made films like this again I may go back to the cinema.

[@davidnjuguna9477]

"No notes must be kept ..." ... then immediately proceeds to pull out a pen and paper and note down in his own handwriting his banking details.

[@joelouis-arena4061]

Invisible ink? 🧐

[@haraldsnnichsenkrogsrud4539]

A slip of paper with the name of a bank and a number. That doesn't tell much.

[@davidnjuguna9477]

​​@@haraldsnnichsenkrogsrud4539 Really? Doesn't tell much? Why then would the FBI keep a database of inks and have handwriting experts?

[@haraldsnnichsenkrogsrud4539]

​@@davidnjuguna9477We can assume that the Jackal thought it was a risk worth taking.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@davidnjuguna9477 In 1962? From an account in Switzerland?

[@butziporsche8646]

This is my favorite Edward Fox movie.

[@HerbertSalzberger]

one of the best movies ever made. fox is a highly underrated actor

[@nhmooytis7058]

Fox was a terrific actor!

[@Johnny-rj6ou]

Is. Still alive

[@kurtgodel5236]

Both Foxes are still alive and kicking.

[@nhmooytis7058]

@@kurtgodel5236 good genes!

[@user-cc6nb5th6x]

Still with us..good

[@orangewarm1]

One night, I got off the tube at Warwick Avenue and who should get off as well but Fox himself. Later, i regretted not having told him how much i appreciated this role in my childhood.

[@countbasiethebicyclemessen4321]

He often got the tube. Lived close to Warwick Avenue. As did Ken Livingstone when he was GLC leader. I once spotted them both in the same carriage

[@stevegarrod4764]

Edward Fox would have made a great James Bond!

[@Dave-bo8ry]

Interestingly, in "Never Say Never Again" (regardless of how you "count" that one in the Bond canon), Fox played M, who told Bond to eliminate all free radicals.
In other words, he told Bond to clean up his diet. Heh.

[@Ateisthortlak]

@@Dave-bo8ry not the doctor, he was M.

[@Dave-bo8ry]

@@Ateisthortlak Mea culpa. I've corrected it.

[@thomaskruse8298]

Fox is better then Lazenby and Dalton.

[@TheVetoSkreeemer]

@@thomaskruse8298 As an actor , for me only Connery and maybe Craig are in Fox League.

[@MrLive2win]

As good as The French Connection. Just a brilliant film.

[@richarddecredico6098]

better

[@michaeltaylor6782]

Edward fox is amazing in this film. Totally believable all the way through.

[@sihaves8808]

Fantastic film. Utterly cold and ruthless when it comes to work.
Thr Book is an excellent read too.

[@shabbos-goy9407]

I love the Alfa Giulietta 1300 he drives.
A stunning machine. It's a masterpiece as is this film.

[@dkjens0705]

So much better than any remake and thoroughly enjoyed seeing cars and people of the 60s and 70s Europe.

[@mindslaw4961]

"No notes must be kept"
Immediately writes down his bank account number

[@ppuh6tfrz646]

Would you take a chance on the OAS getting the account number wrong and transferring $250,000 to the wrong person?

[@bellerophonchallen8861]

ah, but it's a Swiss bank account, they never reveal names, numbers amounts to anyone. CIA, Mossad, no-one. There is some speculation that former Nazi's had a nice retirement from Swiss bank accounts and nearly every dictator, warlord and major criminal in the world uses Swiss bank accounts.

[@barracuda7018]

@@bellerophonchallen8861 Not any longer Swiss Bank regulations have changed completely. Today they always ask where the money comes from.. Otherwise they refuse to accept deposits.

[@barracuda7018]

@@ppuh6tfrz646 Nobody can take the risk. In 1962 you only needed an account number to open an account with a Swiss private bank. No name or adress was needed.. Today its impossible...

[@bellerophonchallen8861]

@@barracuda7018 Ah shit, what I going to do with the money from this garage full of cocaine now?

[@shaun5944]

Brilliant film. Fantastic performance from Mr Edward fox

[@tomtensecretlanguage9273]

Inflation smacked me deeply when $500K seemed shockingly high to the characters and my memory of young me watching the original film.

[@krakow95]

I did not discover this movie until a few years ago. I have described it as a "reverse James Bond" it's rare when you can "root" for the bad guys...

[@kedharisivashankar9905]

A refined, stylish actor. Saw this movie in my college days...

[@JollyGraham]

One of my favourite films, I have it on DVD.

[@kapnerad]

That would be $4,054,671.05 in today's dollars. Not a bad payday.

[@byronius57]

Bruce Willis went for $70,000,000 in the remake of this movie...not a bad payday either. Actually, thank you for figuring this out in today's money. I love this film and had often wondered about The Jackal's price's worth today.

[@kapnerad]

You're welcome! Btw, I figured out that $70,000,000 back in 1997, when the remake was made, would be about $110,000,000 today. REALLY good payday for one contract! :)

[@byronius57]

@@kapnerad I love how the jackal put it in the original novel, when he was asked if he could assassinate De Gaulle: "Yes, but it will cost a lot of money...You must understand this is a once-in-a-lifetime job. The man who does it will never work again.The chances of remaining not only uncaught but undiscovered are very small. One must take enough for this job both to be able to live well for the rest of his days and to acquire protection against rage from the Guallists- ...I am the best, and therefore the most expensive...You would get men cheaper, and you would find they took your fity-percent deposit and vanished or made excuses as to why it could not be done. When you employ the best you pay. Half a million dollars is the price. Considering you expect to get France itself, You value your country very cheap." There is some brilliant writing in this book :)
.

[@LudwigMagnusson]

Seems a small amount to me to live the rest of your life of

[@offrampt]

"That's $2,027,335.52 now and $2,027,335.53 on completion."

[@uwe1969]

One of the coolest genre films ever. Definitly recommend it. If you can grab it, do it !

[@bobymonday3798]

Tbh, the failure of the mission can't be attributed to the jackal abilities. He took every precaution available and certainly knew his shit. A mixture of fate and dumb luck failed him. Lol

[@Leo-sd3jt]

That's why this movie is so good: the villain and the hero are both smart and capable so they don't make any unrealistic mistakes just to move the plot forward. This raises the tension of the plot.

[@stevetheduck1425]

In the book a decision is made by the Jackal on the recommendation of the gunsmith: the Jackal wants a gun that can be dismantled and hidden in aluminium tubes of a certain diameter, as he already had an idea of how he would hide the gun.
This ruled out both a semi-auto with fast second-shot ability and a prevented a fast-working bolt system.
This is why the Jackal fails to survive the Police discovering him, and why he did not get a second shot at his target.
His limiting the gunsmith's options defeated him twice in a few seconds, just before he died.

[@celtspeaksgoth7251]

Why did he waste his time with a super accurate rifle. Why not a bazooka?
Would his clients be concerned about the collateral damage?
More difficult to secret on his person for sure, but even so.

[@scottknode898]

@@celtspeaksgoth7251 he is a professional killer he wouldn’t draw attention with a law rocket or anything like high powered rifle and wanted something he could take a part quickly and escape after shooting De Galle

[@BrendanOConnell-xz6ch]

The failure was leaving the window open. Surely he could have knocked out a corner of the glass and set himself up to shoot through that. Or else go up on the roof and shoot from a chimney. Ah well its only a story. Great film. Akin to Jaws as in you could watch any number of times....

[@SonicAgamemnon]

Fantastic book and film. Fox is perfect as the Jackal.

[@jasonbarnes1541]

Watched last night on cable tv for the third time I guess over the years, and it is still a very good film.

[@mikearchibald744]

Amazing how well these french military guys speak english, even with an accent:)

[@NarainNarain-nk5hi]

"User your network. Rob some bank.". Cracked me up.

[@petergedd9330]

Always from Edward Fox was a sense of optimism and fun in his acting, you knew that whatever film he was in it would be grandiose and good.

[@darjeeling6432]

I watched this movie when I was very young. I've always enjoyed Edward and James Fox. Now i enjoyed Laurence Fox. I notice Laurence resembles his uncle, Edward, more than his father, James.

[@Kelly14UK]

I don't know of Laurence, but it was a discovery to find out that Emilia Fox ( Gunpowder, Treason and Plot ) is a niece.

[@Kelly14UK]

@@dunjica77 Ta. Was thinking of James.

[@drxym]

Too bad Laurence is a massive sociopathic tit for real.

[@Johnconno]

Laurence should have remained a brown stain on a sofa in Chelsea.

[@adamkentisaac]

Before securing the job: "It will be much more difficult than any other job because De Gaulle has the best security service in the world." After securing the job: "One will have the cooperation of De Gaulle...he won't listen to his own security service!"

[@stevetheduck1425]

He IS the smartest man in the room.

[@brianforbes8325]

@@stevetheduck1425 True, but why didn't he pick up his coat from the bed when he was ready to leave the room? Leaving it behind means the intelligence and security services could trace it to him, unless Rodin and the others burned it?

[@celtspeaksgoth7251]

It's also a dig at the US services who failed to protect JFK a few months after this fictional attempt on De Gaulle. That seems emphasised by FF's next book The Odessa File which although set in Germany tellingly opens with their reaction to the JFK assassination that very day.

[@Beppo85]

@@brianforbes8325 It’s probably just a movie gaffe.

[@LucasMartinsS]

@@brianforbes8325 check 3:14 he has the coat in his left hand

[@nicholasowens2351]

he goes for his coat on the bed, and then doesnt pick it back up when he goes out of the door. briliant film however , and how the detectives work on catching him. also had they had a period of some weeks before they began robbing the banks to fund the jackals pay, they may never have caught him in time.

[@musicalme27]

I love Eric Porter; so happy to see him here.

[@darryljf7215]

Agreed. It was a very strong opening ten minutes or so based on some truth as I understand it.

[@Anabsurdsuggestion]

No one sported a cravat better than Fox.

[@paulinecolraine4726]

I so enjoy Frederick Forsyths books. So sorry I missed the movie.

[@cliffordmorgan1382]

Back in the day this flim was always on boxing day in uk good memorys

[@CaruthersHodge]

This clip is certainly Edward Fox's scene, vital to his introduction in the film and a well deserved opportunity for Fox as an actor. I also note the flawless work here of Eric Porter.

[@Tarotgal8205]

Superb acting. Clear and crisp dialogue. Memorable movie.

[@walsingham-xxiii]

This is one of the greatest films in the history of cinema. There isn’t an ounce of fat on it.
The blocking at the end of this scene as the four move to the door is almost balletic.

[@abrarahmed1888]

Guilty pleasure of mine and have watched many repeated times. Especially loved the sartorial elegance of his suits and the cravat

[@pumi63]

this part was made for Fox and yes he would have made a brilliant Bond , suave , posh , funny and deadly too Brocolli and Saltzman's loss i guess ......

[@billmasters385]

Also great in a Bridge Too Far.

[@MichaelLee-tt7gm]

Eric Porter (Rodin) played Professor Moriarty in the later British TV series.

[@suspiciouschicken]

I love how his accent changes throughout this entire scene making it nearly impossible to pinpoint where he is from

[@nev707]

Saw this when it first came out.
Never miss it when it comes around again.
Forsyth is a great writer.

[@user-ou9hr3uy3s]

Ed Fox like all his family fantastic actor One of my favourite films of all time.!

[@paulreddy3851]

I read the book and watched this movie three times. Edward Fox was simply brilliant as the assassin.

[@SkuliBragason-xc7jl]

One of my favorite films , maybe the best.

[@blockmasterscott]

I just love how Fox is cool and ruthless in this movie and jovial in his other films. 😂😂😂

[@davidweihe6052]

Obviously, you have not seen many movies with Edward Fox. A comedian, he ain’t.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@davidweihe6052 _Battle of Britain_ he plays a bit of a wag.

[@baronromanvonungern-sternb3076]

The best scene in the movie. Masterpiece play.

[@davebudge4526]

Edward Fox's posture is very striking in this film great posture, great hair.

[@bernbsy]

They don't write movies like this anymore. Fox comes across as a such a gentlemen professional when he's but a cold blooded killer. Brilliant film.

[@cannavaras]

The new tv series looks good. This scene takes place on a park bench but is almost word for word (with a change of target) the same. Eddie Redmayne is great in the role.

[@pauldavies5611]

A very fine movie. Full of action yet marvelously understated as only the British can do.

[@andyetheridge]

One of my top five movies, books great too!

[@paultaylor7082]

A brilliant picture, made even more realistic with the reality that several assassination attempts were actually made on De Gaulle's life. Well acted by Edward Fox and expertly directed by Fred Zinneman, in one of his last pictures.

[@Marvin-dg8vj]

Gripping thriller .Tense all the way through

[@bkatbamna]

What a wonderful movie. I love the part where the UK security service thinks they know the actual identity of the assassin but in actuality, no one knows.

[@joliecide]

Bloody awesome scene.

[@DMBall]

A great story, both as a novel and movie.. Even though one knows in advance how it will end, the suspense is terrific.

[@panagdimi]

That's why they say it's not about the destination it's the journey that matters 😉

[@user-cc6nb5th6x]

One of my favorite movies and books. In a perverse way you want the Jackal to succeed.

[@michaeldonovan4793]

One of the greatest films of all time..

[@dfaj4409]

best spy thriller movie

[@deanodog3667]

What a movie , never see likes of it again !!

[@Tosca721]

"The Battle of Algiers" is an incredible film and gives some background to the story leading up to this. Algiers was a French colony and the Algerians had to fight for years to get their freedom back.

[@psychopigeon8973]

I assume it's not a coincidence that they cast Jean Martin as part of the coup, a throw back to his character in BoA perhaps

[@oldschool1993]

Algeria was not a French colony, it was divided into 4 departments of France and Algerians were French citizens.

[@SteveJauncey]

The film is online and we'll worth watching

[@jdkloosterman9379]

"We are not terrrorists, you understand. We are patriots."
Hm. That sounds familiar.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

"You see, not only have your own efforts failed, but you've rather ... queered the pitch for everyone else." Damn, that is classic ZING.

[@user-cc6nb5th6x]

Love it! Chutzpah in spades.

[@joeboyd8702]

Great book. Very educational.

[@donkemp8151]

Edward Fox was great as XXX Corps Commander in A Bridge Too Far.

[@lordtherapeutics]

Every man should aspire to emulate Edward Fox’s style in the film.

[@nickmitsialis]

Ah indeed==physically fit, well dressed, impeccable manners, too.Now, all we need is the upright posture and deep voice of Christopher Lee thrown in for good measure==sadly, I will never measure up.

[@lordtherapeutics]

@@nickmitsialis I couldn’t agree with you more about Christopher Lee too!

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

You mean ... no more Crocs, tattoos, drawstring shorts, beer belly, goiterneck, and permaballcap?

[@nickmitsialis]

​@@RideAcrossTheRiver well...honestly that sounds more like my fashion choice on my days off

[@lindsayheyes925]

Fox's portrayal of The Jackal is enigmatic, he is not the man you see, and I wondered about that:
He has the physical ease of an athlete, the manners and social skill of a Guards officer, and the military skills of an SOE Operator. Yet he reminds me of Terry Thomas' characters - they look like ex-officers, but you get the impression that they had been at most Sergeants who had adopted the mannerisms of their superiors.
The Jackal is too athletic to have been a recently retired British Army officer - and way too immoral; He is ten years too young to have served in SOE - and he's not speaking French, so he wasn't in the French Foreign Legion; He knows an underworld armourer when a soldier would rarely have such a contact - but a policeman might.
Fox left me with the impression of an orphan from colonial Hong Kong or Singapore who'd joined the British Army to fight in Malaya or Korea, and been trained as a sniper. For his advancement, he'd cultivated the persona of a Guards Officer. He'd perhaps joined the colonial Police, where his deception would not be easy to detect. So I see a bent copper with criminality running through him like letters through a stick of rock, losing his job when his chosen colony gained independence - and becoming an assassin because he couldn't fit in with mercenaries (they'd've been too curious about his past - and he's a loner, not a team player). He is Macchiavellian, callous (but not sadistic), narcissistic, and - for all his urbanity - antisocial. His motivation is his hedonism.