The Day of the Jackal (French title: Chacal) is a 1973 thriller/suspense film directed by Fred Zinnemann (Behold a Pale Horse, From Here to Eternity, High Noon) and based on the 1971 Frederick Forsyth novel of the same name. The film stars Edward Fox as a mysterious assassin known only as "The Jackal" and follows his plot to assassinate French President Charles De Gaulle and the efforts of the French authorities to stop him. The Jackal, a 1997 thriller loosely inspired by the film and its original novel, starred Bruce Willis and Richard Gere.
The following guns were used in the movie The Day of the Jackal:
A Mle 1892 Revolver is used by a French officer to deliver the coup de grâce to Lieutenant Colonel Jean Bastien-Thiry (Jean Sorel) after his execution by firing squad in the film's introduction.
A Walther P38 pistol is used by an Organisation de l'armée secrète (OAS) terrorist during a series of bank robberies that are orchestrated to pay the Jackal's fee.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingM928A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine and simplified rear sight - .45 ACPError creating thumbnail: File missingThe OAS terrorist fires the M1928A1 Thompson at De Gaulle's car. It's hard to tell in this image if there is a Cutts compensator, but the position of the bolt actuator and the simplified rear sight are clear.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe OAS terrorists watch as De Gaulle's convoy speeds away. The Cutts compensator is visible here.
MAT-49
Various gendarmes and police officers throughout the movie are armed with MAT-49 submachine guns. Inspector Claude Lebel (Michael Lonsdale) uses a MAT-49 during the film's finale when he confronts the Jackal.
A third OAS terrorist uses a Chatellerault M1924/29 machine gun to shoot at De Gaulle's Citroen DS, riddling the car with bullets but failing to prevent its escape.
French gendarmes are seen with MAS-49/56 rifles when they surround a hotel that the Jackal is suspected of hiding in. Later, soldiers taking part in the Liberation Day Parade also carry MAS-49/56 rifles. Some of these rifles are the longer MAS-49 easily identified by the long handguards and lack of integral grenade launcher/muzzle brake.
The Jackal (Edward Fox) uses a custom made sniper rifle in the .22 caliber created by an Italian gunsmith as part of his plan to assassinate Charles De Gaulle. The rifle is fitted with a suppressor, telescopic sight, and is disguised within a set of crutches.
