In 1973 this story was only looking back 10 years, and in 1973 this was a fast-paced gripping film. But 25 years later The Day of the Jackal is slow and smart, but has a very poor ending.

The film, based on the novel by Frederick Forsyth, takes place in the early 1960s. A group of disgruntled soldiers have decided to assassinate President Charles De Gaulle. So the bad guys hire a hit man (Edward Fox). He contracts out the job of building a special gun with exploding bullets. Then the writer had a brain fart.

So the killer, and true professional in his business, decides to screw some woman he meets in a hotel. Then he decides to follow her home, screw her again and then kill her. He leaves a huge trail behind him. Sorry, not buying it.

OK, so there is one good character, Inspector Thomas (Tony Britton) who is very good. The end, weeeeellll, it doesn't make sense. I can't buy it either.

Dust Bag Full

Film Facts

Cast
• Edward Fox
• Terence Alexander
• Michel Auclair
• Alan Badel
• Tony Britton
• Denis Carey
• Adrien Cayla-Legrand
• Cyril Cusack
• Maurice Denham
• Vernon Dobtcheff
• Jacques Francois
• Olga Georges-Picot
• Raymond Gerome
• Barrie Ingham
• Derek Jacobi
• Michel Lonsdale
• Jean Martin
• Ronald Pickup
• Eric Porter
• Anton Rodgers
• Delphine Seyrig
• Donald Sinden
• Jean Sorel
• David Swift
• Timothy West
• Bernard Archard
• Jacques Alric
• Colette Berge
• Edmond Bernard
• Gerard Buhr
• Philippe Leotard
• Maurice Teynac
• Van Doude
• Nicolas Vogel
• Edward Hardwicke

Directed by Fred Zinnemann

Released in 1973

MPAA Rating: PG

Reviewed by Mongo