The Day of the Jackal : Edward Fox, underrated ?

Edward Fox, underrated ?

I saw Edward Fox in this movie and became a fan of the man's acting immediatly. I think he is wonderful, he is one of my favourite actors. I own The Day of the Jackal, A Bridge Too Far, Return from the River Kwai, Never Say Never Again, Force 10 from Navarone, Gandhi and I enjoyed his performance in every one of these movies. However, I have the feeling not a lot of people know of him. Anyone here who agrees that he is brilliant?

"What If" is a game for scholars.
Timothy Dalton, The Lion in Winter (1968)

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Re: Edward Fox, underrated ?

He's a very good actor and I like most of his performances, although I've rarely seen him play outside of the usual stiff upper lip character type - no doubt there are other films of his I need to see. I prefer his brother James, he seems to have more range than Edward and I've seen more of his work.

I haven't had a horse shot out from under me in thirty years... Still a thrill!

Re: Edward Fox, underrated ?

he is too unddrrated.Like Michel lonsdale

Re: Edward Fox, underrated ?

I read the book before the film was made and Edward Fox was almost exactly how I had visualized the Jackal in manner and appearance. Fox never became a huge star but he is an excellent and successful actor with a steady and long career.

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Re: Edward Fox, underrated ?

His brother James was in King Rat.

"I just speak GOODER than you!"

Re: Edward Fox, underrated ?

Very underrated.


and he was the perfect choice for the Jackal imo

Re: Edward Fox, underrated ?

Except for TDOTJ Fox hasn't really stood out much to me.

Re: Edward Fox, underrated ?

Edward Fox is very famous in Britain - mostly for Edward and Mrs Simpson

Re: Edward Fox, underrated ?

Seen Jackel last night and it struck me from watching his performance that Fox would have made a pretty good Bond if he had ever gotten the role.Or a good Bond villain.

Re: Edward Fox, underrated ?

Interestingly he did get cast as "M" in Never Say Never Again (1983), though that wasn't an official Bond franchise picture.

According to his IMDb page Fox said this about Daniel Craig being cast as Bond:
"So ugly! He is utterly wrong for Bond. The opposite of what Fleming intended, and I knew Fleming."

Fox might have been better-looking than Craig who I agree is a bit on the ugly side compared to all the other Bonds but Fox is only 5'8" and a bit too slight in physique to carry it off. From what I've heard Fleming's Bond wasn't anything like Sean Connery either, who before Craig was the most physical Bond portrayer.

IMO Bond villains except for Goldfinger have been pretty forgetable, like all the theme songs after For Your Eyes Only. The best opponent Bond has had was the Robert Shaw character in From Russia With Love.

Re: Edward Fox, underrated ?

Don't forget "Performance" with Mick Jagger!

Re: Edward Fox, underrated ?

That was James Fox. James Fox had a nervous breakdown after three things happened - his father's death, his starring in Performance and his taking the hallucinogen DMT. He became an evangelical Christian and didn't return to acting for many years.

Edward Fox is one of my favorite actors of all time. I will see anything with him in it, though this is one of his best roles. He is also something of an ideal man to me if I could have any man I wanted.

Re: Edward Fox, underrated ?

Just to clarify....Edward Fox was in Verhoeven's "Soldier of Orange". Edward's brother, James Fox was in "King Rat". Both excellent films and both excellent actors.

Re: Edward Fox, underrated ?

Edawrd Fox was Great in the Day of the Jackal and playing King Edward V111. Apart from these roles he has been stereotyped as a stiff upper lipped Englishmand whilst his brother James was seen as more versatile.

Its that man again!!

Re: Edward Fox, underrated ?

I agree, Edward Fox is one of my favorite actors! Also check him out in Paul Verhoeven's "Soldier of Orange" as the English officer; a rather tongue-in-cheek performance.

Re: Edward Fox, underrated ?

Edward Fox is a theatre actor, really.
There, he feels good !

Re: Edward Fox, underrated ?

Other than the differing clothing for any given role I find that his voice rarely changes. Always the same. Therefore easily identified. I have even heard James Mason using different voices. Yes his brother has a bit more depth and an ability to be other characters. I find Edwards voice a bit strident forced and Horrocks was actually still the Jackal to me.
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