The Day of the Jackal

Last night I watched one of my favorite films, the 1973 classic The Day of the Jackal. Based on the Frederick Forsyth novel, it's the fictional story of an assassination attempt on Charles de Gaulle in 1963. A group known as OAS, upset that de Gaulle had given independence to Algeria, had tried to kill him in 1962 but failed. Those who were not captured realized that they were now recognizable and any future attempt would have to come from an outsider. With this in mind, they hire a man known only as the Jackal, whose credentials include killing Rafael Trujillo in 1961. Unfortunately for the OAS, the Jackal demands half a million dollars for the job, forcing them to rob some banks to acquire the money. This alerts the French authorities who suspect they're up to no good. They put their top detective on the case. Somehow the Jackal manages to stay one step ahead and eludes capture. He actually gets a shot off during the Liberation Day festivities, but he misses. Seconds later the detective catches up with him and shoots him dead. There is never a dull moment in this movie. The authorities pull out all the stops to find the Jackal, and the Jackal is constantly tweaking his game plan to stay one step ahead.