In the early 1960s, many French were furious that DeGaulle had abandoned Algeria. Some former legionnaires attempted to assassinate him. The efforts had all failed and the Secret Army Organization (OAS) is too infiltrated with spies and turncoats to launch another attempt. Thus, they decided to hire an outsider. The Jackal (Edward Fox) has a brief meeting with the top men of the OAS and agrees to assassinate DeGaulle for $500,000, half in advance. They accept. The Jackal immediately sets about planning the assassination. He gets a passport in a different name, he has a gunsmith make a special rifle that can be smuggled across the border, he scouts potential locations where he can take his shot.
Meanwhile, the French authorities know something is up. The OAS has taken to robbing banks. Why do they need the money? None of those captured know, only that it was ordered. Then there is the oddity that the commanders are all in hiding, protected by layers of bodyguards. The interrogation of the one man who connects the leaders to the outside world gains precious little other than "Jackal" and foreigner. From this tiny clue, Deputy Commissioner Claude Lebel (Michael Lonsdale) gets on the trail of the Jackal.
The Jackal has made extensive preparations. He has additional passports to change identity. In this pre-computer world, it took a small army to sort through the paperwork housed at government offices. Of course, the Jackal also has sources. There was a leak at the French Ministry and the Jackal knew his cover was blown and he needed to move and change identities. Lebel was mere hours behind him now. Despite the dire circumstances, DeGaulle refused to change his schedule.
An excellent thriller that feels very real. Though the Jackal and Lebel are the central figures, the cast of characters is vast. Even so, it is a tight story that keeps the focus. Fred Zinnemann also directed such greats as High Noon (1952), From Here to Eternity (1953), and A Man for All Seasons (1966).
Highly recommended.
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