The Day of the Jackal (film)
Updated: 12/10/2025, 10:28:10 AM Wikipedia source
The Day of the Jackal is a 1973 political thriller film directed by Fred Zinnemann and starring Edward Fox and Michael Lonsdale. Based on the 1971 novel by Frederick Forsyth, the film is about a professional assassin known only as the "Jackal" who is hired to assassinate French president Charles de Gaulle in the summer of 1963. It stars Edward Fox as the title character, with Michael Lonsdale, Derek Jacobi, Terence Alexander, Michel Auclair, Alan Badel, Donald Sinden, Tony Britton, Cyril Cusack, Maurice Denham and Delphine Seyrig. The musical score was composed by Georges Delerue. A co-production of the United Kingdom and France, The Day of the Jackal received positive reviews and went on to win the BAFTA Award for Best Editing (Ralph Kemplen), five additional nominations (including Best Film and Best Direction), two Golden Globe Award nominations, and one Oscar nomination. The film grossed $16,056,255 at the North American box office, returning $8,525,000 in rentals to the studio. In 1999, the British Film Institute ranked it the 74th greatest British film of the 20th century. A remake of the film was released in 1997. A TV adaptation of the novel and film aired on Sky Atlantic in 2024.
Infobox
Directed by
Fred Zinnemann
Screenplay by
Kenneth Ross
Based on
The Day of the Jackal(1971 novel)by Frederick Forsyth
Produced by
John Woolf
Starring
mw- Edward Fox Alan Badel Tony Britton Cyril Cusack Derek Jacobi Michael Lonsdale Eric Porter Delphine Seyrig
Cinematography
Jean Tournier
Edited by
Ralph Kemplen
Music by
Georges Delerue
Productioncompanies
Warwick Film ProductionsUniversal Productions France
Distributed by
Universal Pictures
Release dates
16 May 1973 (1973-05-16) (New York premiere) 14 June 1973 (1973-06-14) (U.K.) 14 September 1973 (1973-09-14) (France)
Running time
142 minutes
Countries
United KingdomFrance
Language
English
Box office
$16,056,255
Tables
· Production › List of locations
150 Rue de Rennes, Paris 6, France
150 Rue de Rennes, Paris 6, France
Location
150 Rue de Rennes, Paris 6, France
Sequence
Assassination sequence
Archives nationales, Hôtel de Soubise, 60 rue des Francs-Bourgeois, Paris 3
Archives nationales, Hôtel de Soubise, 60 rue des Francs-Bourgeois, Paris 3
Location
Archives nationales, Hôtel de Soubise, 60 rue des Francs-Bourgeois, Paris 3
Sequence
As the Élysée Palace
Boulevard de la Reine, Versailles, France
Boulevard de la Reine, Versailles, France
Location
Boulevard de la Reine, Versailles, France
Sequence
Bank, as "Banque de Grenoble", in fact, a savings bank
Boulevard Marguerite-de-Rochechouart, Montmartre, Paris, France
Boulevard Marguerite-de-Rochechouart, Montmartre, Paris, France
Location
Boulevard Marguerite-de-Rochechouart, Montmartre, Paris, France
Sequence
Masked robbers flee in getaway car
Boulevard des Batignolles, Paris 17
Boulevard des Batignolles, Paris 17
Location
Boulevard des Batignolles, Paris 17
Sequence
OAS contacts Denise
Boulogne Studios, avenue Jean-Baptiste Clément, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
Boulogne Studios, avenue Jean-Baptiste Clément, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
Location
Boulogne Studios, avenue Jean-Baptiste Clément, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
Sequence
Studio
British Museum, Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London, England
British Museum, Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London, England
Location
British Museum, Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London, England
Sequence
The Jackal reads Le Figaro
Champs-Élysées, Paris 8
Champs-Élysées, Paris 8
Location
Champs-Élysées, Paris 8
Sequence
Military parade
Château du Saussay, Ballancourt-sur-Essonne, Essonne, France
Château du Saussay, Ballancourt-sur-Essonne, Essonne, France
Location
Château du Saussay, Ballancourt-sur-Essonne, Essonne, France
Sequence
Madame Colette de Montpellier's chateau
Entrevaux, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France
Entrevaux, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France
Location
Entrevaux, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France
Sequence
The Jackal drives by toward Paris
French Riviera, Alpes-Maritimes, France
French Riviera, Alpes-Maritimes, France
Location
French Riviera, Alpes-Maritimes, France
Gare d'Austerlitz, Place Valhubert, Quai d'Austerlitz, Paris 13
Gare d'Austerlitz, Place Valhubert, Quai d'Austerlitz, Paris 13
Location
Gare d'Austerlitz, Place Valhubert, Quai d'Austerlitz, Paris 13
Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London
Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London
Location
Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London
Hôtel de Beauveau, Place Beauvau, Paris 8
Hôtel de Beauveau, Place Beauvau, Paris 8
Location
Hôtel de Beauveau, Place Beauvau, Paris 8
Sequence
Ministry of Interior
Hotel Colombia, Genoa, Liguria, Italy
Hotel Colombia, Genoa, Liguria, Italy
Location
Hotel Colombia, Genoa, Liguria, Italy
Hotel Negresco, 37 Promenade des Anglais, Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France
Hotel Negresco, 37 Promenade des Anglais, Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France
Location
Hotel Negresco, 37 Promenade des Anglais, Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France
Sequence
Jackal learns that his cover is blown
Imperia, Liguria, Italy
Imperia, Liguria, Italy
Location
Imperia, Liguria, Italy
La Bastide de Tourtour, Tourtour, Var, France
La Bastide de Tourtour, Tourtour, Var, France
Location
La Bastide de Tourtour, Tourtour, Var, France
Sequence
Hotel where the Jackal meets Colette
Limousin, France
Limousin, France
Location
Limousin, France
Piazza San Silvestro, Rome
Piazza San Silvestro, Rome
Location
Piazza San Silvestro, Rome
Sequence
Wolenski in the real central Post Office
Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England
Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England
Location
Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England
Sequence
Studio
Place Charles Michels, Paris 15
Place Charles Michels, Paris 15
Location
Place Charles Michels, Paris 15
Sequence
Van attacked
Place du 18 juin 1940, Paris 6
Place du 18 juin 1940, Paris 6
Location
Place du 18 juin 1940, Paris 6
Sequence
Final assassination sequence
Place Vauban, Paris 7
Place Vauban, Paris 7
Location
Place Vauban, Paris 7
Sequence
Biker stops to place phone call
Prater Park, Vienna, Austria
Prater Park, Vienna, Austria
Location
Prater Park, Vienna, Austria
Sequence
"Pension Kleist", Rendezvous with OAS heads
Quai d'Austerlitz, Paris 13
Quai d'Austerlitz, Paris 13
Location
Quai d'Austerlitz, Paris 13
Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris
Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris
Location
Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris
Sequence
Outside the Palais de l'Élysée
Rue de Monttessuy, Paris 7
Rue de Monttessuy, Paris 7
Location
Rue de Monttessuy, Paris 7
Sequence
Robbers blow up bank security van
Scotland Yard, Whitehall, London
Scotland Yard, Whitehall, London
Location
Scotland Yard, Whitehall, London
Sequence
UK police
Somerset House, Strand, London
Somerset House, Strand, London
Location
Somerset House, Strand, London
Sequence
The Jackal obtains a birth certificate
St. James's Park, London
St. James's Park, London
Location
St. James's Park, London
St. Mary's Church, Farnham Royal, England
St. Mary's Church, Farnham Royal, England
Location
St. Mary's Church, Farnham Royal, England
Sequence
"St Marks, Sambourne Fishley", the Jackal finds Duggan's gravestone
Ventimiglia, Liguria, Italy
Ventimiglia, Liguria, Italy
Location
Ventimiglia, Liguria, Italy
Sequence
Before crossing the border into France
Veynes, Hautes-Alpes, France
Veynes, Hautes-Alpes, France
Location
Veynes, Hautes-Alpes, France
Sequence
Train station, as Tulle station
Via di Panico, Rome
Via di Panico, Rome
Location
Via di Panico, Rome
Sequence
Kidnapping of Wolenski
Via Stefano Dondero, Genoa
Via Stefano Dondero, Genoa
Location
Via Stefano Dondero, Genoa
Sequence
Garage under railway line
Victoria Embankment, Westminster, London
Victoria Embankment, Westminster, London
Location
Victoria Embankment, Westminster, London
Sequence
UK police
| Location | Sequence |
| 150 Rue de Rennes, Paris 6, France | Assassination sequence |
| Archives nationales, Hôtel de Soubise, 60 rue des Francs-Bourgeois, Paris 3 | As the Élysée Palace |
| Boulevard de la Reine, Versailles, France | Bank, as "Banque de Grenoble", in fact, a savings bank |
| Boulevard Marguerite-de-Rochechouart, Montmartre, Paris, France | Masked robbers flee in getaway car |
| Boulevard des Batignolles, Paris 17 | OAS contacts Denise |
| Boulogne Studios, avenue Jean-Baptiste Clément, Boulogne-Billancourt, France | Studio |
| British Museum, Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London, England | The Jackal reads Le Figaro |
| Champs-Élysées, Paris 8 | Military parade |
| Château du Saussay, Ballancourt-sur-Essonne, Essonne, France | Madame Colette de Montpellier's chateau |
| Entrevaux, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France | The Jackal drives by toward Paris |
| French Riviera, Alpes-Maritimes, France | |
| Gare d'Austerlitz, Place Valhubert, Quai d'Austerlitz, Paris 13 | |
| Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London | |
| Hôtel de Beauveau, Place Beauvau, Paris 8 | Ministry of Interior |
| Hotel Colombia, Genoa, Liguria, Italy | |
| Hotel Negresco, 37 Promenade des Anglais, Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France | Jackal learns that his cover is blown |
| Imperia, Liguria, Italy | |
| La Bastide de Tourtour, Tourtour, Var, France | Hotel where the Jackal meets Colette |
| Limousin, France | |
| Piazza San Silvestro, Rome | Wolenski in the real central Post Office |
| Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England | Studio |
| Place Charles Michels, Paris 15 | Van attacked |
| Place du 18 juin 1940, Paris 6 | Final assassination sequence |
| Place Vauban, Paris 7 | Biker stops to place phone call |
| Prater Park, Vienna, Austria | "Pension Kleist", Rendezvous with OAS heads |
| Quai d'Austerlitz, Paris 13 | |
| Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris | Outside the Palais de l'Élysée |
| Rue de Monttessuy, Paris 7 | Robbers blow up bank security van |
| Scotland Yard, Whitehall, London | UK police |
| Somerset House, Strand, London | The Jackal obtains a birth certificate |
| St. James's Park, London | |
| St. Mary's Church, Farnham Royal, England | "St Marks, Sambourne Fishley", the Jackal finds Duggan's gravestone |
| Ventimiglia, Liguria, Italy | Before crossing the border into France |
| Veynes, Hautes-Alpes, France | Train station, as Tulle station |
| Via di Panico, Rome | Kidnapping of Wolenski |
| Via Stefano Dondero, Genoa | Garage under railway line |
| Victoria Embankment, Westminster, London | UK police |
· Awards and nominations
Academy Awards, 1974
Academy Awards, 1974
Award
Academy Awards, 1974
Category
Best Film Editing
Nominee(s)
Ralph Kemplen
Result
Nominated
American Cinema Editors Awards, 1974
American Cinema Editors Awards, 1974
Award
American Cinema Editors Awards, 1974
Category
Best Edited Feature Film – Dramatic
Nominee(s)
Nominated
BAFTA Awards, 1974
BAFTA Awards, 1974
Award
BAFTA Awards, 1974
Category
Best Film Editing
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Film
Best Film
Award
Best Film
Category
The Day of the Jackal
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Direction
Best Direction
Award
Best Direction
Category
Fred Zinnemann
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Category
Kenneth Ross
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Sound Track
Best Sound Track
Award
Best Sound Track
Category
Nicholas Stevenson, Bob Allen
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Award
Best Supporting Actor
Category
Michael Lonsdale
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actress
Award
Best Supporting Actress
Category
Delphine Seyrig
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Golden Globe Awards, 1974
Golden Globe Awards, 1974
Award
Golden Globe Awards, 1974
Category
Best Director
Nominee(s)
Fred Zinnemann
Result
Nominated
Best Motion Picture, Drama
Best Motion Picture, Drama
Award
Best Motion Picture, Drama
Category
The Day of the Jackal
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Category
Kenneth Ross
Nominee(s)
Nominated
| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| Academy Awards, 1974 | Best Film Editing | Ralph Kemplen | Nominated |
| American Cinema Editors Awards, 1974 | Best Edited Feature Film – Dramatic | Nominated | |
| BAFTA Awards, 1974 | Best Film Editing | Won | |
| Best Film | The Day of the Jackal | Nominated | |
| Best Direction | Fred Zinnemann | Nominated | |
| Best Screenplay | Kenneth Ross | Nominated | |
| Best Sound Track | Nicholas Stevenson, Bob Allen | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Michael Lonsdale | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Delphine Seyrig | Nominated | |
| Golden Globe Awards, 1974 | Best Director | Fred Zinnemann | Nominated |
| Best Motion Picture, Drama | The Day of the Jackal | Nominated | |
| Best Screenplay | Kenneth Ross | Nominated |
References
- Ross was later nominated for an Edgar Award for his screenplay of Black Sunday (1977). His other credits include the pla
- "The Day of the Jackal"https://web.archive.org/web/20120711154012/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b6a88663c
- Catholic Heraldhttps://archive.catholicherald.co.uk/article/20th-july-1973/6/unpretentious-perfectionist
- History.comhttps://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/citroen-helps-de-gaulle-survive-assassination-attempt
- "The Day of the Jackal, Box Office Information"https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Day-of-the-Jackal-The#tab=summary
- Variety
- "British Film Institute - Top 100 British Films"https://www.cinemarealm.com/best-of-cinema/top-100-british-films/
- The Times
- AFI Catalog of Feature Filmshttps://catalog.afi.com/Film/54876-THE-DAYOFTHEJACKAL?sid=88e99139-ddc3-428c-84bf-4398f4d251b5&sr=9.532975&cp=1&pos=0
- "The Day of the Jackal - Articles"https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/19895/the-day-of-the-jackal#articles-reviews
- Fred Zinnemann: Interviewshttps://books.google.com/books?id=SiK_3d6a7DQC&pg=PA32
- "The Day of the Jackal - Trivia"https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069947/trivia/?ref_=tt_ov_ql_3
- "The Day of the Jackal film locations"https://web.archive.org/web/20081007004529/http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/d/dayofjackal.html
- The Outsider: My Life in Intrigue
- "The Day of the Jackal"https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/day_of_the_jackal
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-day-of-the-jackal/
- Ebert, Rogerhttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-day-of-the-jackal-1973
- Chicago Sun-Timeshttps://web.archive.org/web/20050421052048/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19730730/REVIEWS/301010309/1023
- "Ten Best Lists by Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert"https://www.innermind.com/misc/s_e_top.htm
- TIME Magazinehttps://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,910648,00.html
- Philadelphia Inquirerhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-pat-garrett-an/103756315/
- MacLeans Magazinehttps://web.archive.org/web/20221122190720/https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1973/8/1/the-greening-of-the-western
- St. Louis Post Dispatchhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-pat-garrett-and/103472147/
- Film Frenzyhttps://thefilmfrenzy.com/2018/09/26/american-animals-the-day-of-the-jackal-exorcist-ii-the-heretic-among-new-home-entertainment-titles/
- The Spectatorhttps://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/23rd-june-1973/22/cinema
- Empirehttps://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/day-jackal-review/
- TV Guidehttps://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-day-of-the-jackal/review/2000204234/
- The San Bernardino Sunhttps://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19730601.1.44&srpos=17&e=------197-en--20--1--txt-txIN-%22Bernard+Drew%22+gannett-PAGE---1973---1
- Far Out Magazinehttps://faroutmagazine.co.uk/akira-kurosawa-100-favourite-films-list/
- The Films of Fred Zinnemann: Critical Perspectiveshttps://books.google.com/books?id=X2rpAGzeD-cC&q=%22would+the+audience+sit+still%22&pg=PA20
- "Tømmerflåden"https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13062762/
- "Kenneth Ross - writer, author - biography, photo, best movies and TV shows"https://en.kinorium.com/name/557848/
- The New York Timeshttps://web.archive.org/web/20160306180916/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/61917/The-Day-of-the-Jackal/awards
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/2nd-jackal-raises-hackles-1117435875/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/1997/film/news/helmer-takes-new-shot-at-jackal-111662338/
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-10-28-ca-58620-story.html