The Day of the Jackal : The things I learned from watching Day of the Jackal

The things I learned from watching Day of the Jackal

If you wait long enough at the airport, someone more or less your double will show up.

You can steal an arrivee's passport from his carry-on bag without arousing suspicion even if you're the only person standing next to him.

Weasel-faced guys who smart off with every sentence can be trusted with incriminating evidence.

Getting a little off an upper-class married woman is perfectly ok if you're on the lam...she won't testify against you, won't describe you or report you to the police, and after being told by the police you're dangterous she won't show any apprehension about being romantically involved with you.

I only have Clarol, dear.

Re: The things I learned from watching Day of the Jackal

These posts suck.

Re: The things I learned from watching Day of the Jackal

When announcing a manhunt in a homicide case the French TV news will blithely describe a suspect as "the murderer" before he has even been tried (let alone convicted) of that crime.

Re: The things I learned from watching Day of the Jackal

You can repaint, total and desert a rented car and not have to worry about returning it.

Officials who demand to look at your papers are waaaaay too grumpy and not very attenutive.



Re: The things I learned from watching Day of the Jackal

If you are the President of France, duck a lot.


He's not hiding in this stove
Oh, ho he's hiding in the stove, eh

Re: The things I learned from watching Day of the Jackal

Tap *ALL* the lines. It's the only way to be sure.

If she looks too good to be true (or vice versa) she is.

And the most important:

You begin by realizing that you are the most important man in France.

Re: The things I learned from watching Day of the Jackal

#1 Thing I learned: "things I learned from watching" posts are done by folks who think they have all the answers.

Enrique Sanchez

Re: The things I learned from watching Day of the Jackal

I sort of agree, although as a way of showing up the flaws or absurdities in a film it has a good side. This is not a film with many flaws, however.


"Chicken soup - with a *beep* straw."

Re: The things I learned from watching Day of the Jackal

You can wake up French Inspectors by shaking their foot.

Members of the French Board of Ministry smoke a lot of cigarettes.

You can kill a woman just by touching her neck.

If you are an English assassin and want to look cool, wear an ascot.

Melons are good for target practice.

Three guys firing a barrage of automatic weapons at several passing cars and motorcycles won't hit anybody.

Re: The things I learned from watching Day of the Jackal


Three guys firing a barrage of automatic weapons at several passing cars and motorcycles won't hit anybody.


You are objecting to a part of the film which is based on fact. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Bastien-Thiry#Assassination_attempt. Just another case of reality taking advantage of the privilege to not be plausible.

Re: The things I learned from watching Day of the Jackal

Who says I'm objecting? Like the thread title says, "Things I learned..."

Re: The things I learned from watching Day of the Jackal

If you're a professional, don't accept a job from an organization that's riddled with informants, queered the pitch for everyone else, and doesn't have enough cash on hand to pay your fee.

When your organization robs some banks for a secret operation, don't rob the banks in the country where you're running the secret op. It'll attract the attention of the authorities and the small-fry will ID your organization.

When planning an assassination, it's not a good idea to shoot a politician in the middle of a small army with tanks, jets, heavy weapons, and snipers on every rooftop.

When the top leadership hides from the French authorities, don't use a mail courier that's actually seen the Jackal or heard his code-name.

Don't blackmail a customer after you've told him you're all alone and no one knows where your studio is located.

When reporting the state secrets of your lover, don't use his home landline, and learn to talk in code.

When crossing the Italian border into France, and you're thoroughly searched in a customs room where all the men have the same color skin and hair as you, that's a clue. Turn your car around and go back home.

When staying at a French hotel, never pass up a chance for some prime, grade A bootie.

When you're getting ready to shoot de Gaulle, make sure you have a secondary weapon that can fire more then one bullet without pausing to reload, in case you're interrupted.









Re: The things I learned from watching Day of the Jackal

When you're getting ready to shoot de Gaulle, make sure you have a secondary weapon that can fire more then one bullet without pausing to reload, in case you're interrupted.

To be fair, the logistics of the assassination attempt meant the Jackal couldn't exactly carry a six-shooter as a backup weapon, because the police were stopping and searching people in the steet.

Re: The things I learned from watching Day of the Jackal

Guy Standeven is in every other British film that was made and released in the 1970's.

Yes, this is really me.

Re: The things I learned from watching Day of the Jackal

That the orig. is far better than the remake.

"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall
Top