MovieChat Forums > The Day of the Jackal (1973) Discussion > Probably the best ever adaptation of a F...

Probably the best ever adaptation of a Frederic Forsyth novel

posted 10 years ago by q_leo_rahman
5 replies | jump to latest

This film actually captures the "documentary thriller" feel that is Forsyth’s trademark. Most of the other films that were adapted from his work haven't been so good, instead coming off as standard thrillers.

THE ODESSA FILE 1974 - the Nazism was toned down, perhaps understandably. But Jon Voigt gives a fairly good performance.

THE DOGS OF WAR 1980 - a standard thriller, nothing too great or impressive about it.

THE 4TH PROTOCOL 1987 – Perhaps the second-best after JACKAL, it sometimes acts like a OO7 film but overall it takes itself seriously enough.

ICON 2005 – Another mediocre thriller, which is sad because the performances are better than the script.

To be fair, most of Forsyth’s stories delve into deep political matters that could prove troublesome and controversial for the governments in these stories. JACKAL worked because it was a fairly historical matter, while most of Forsyth’s tales were fairly contemporary. Still, it’s tense enough and handled real enough to work really well.

07/08/06... 786... the sentinel of Allah has arrived.

[–] Hancock_the_Superb 10 years ago

Odessa File's pretty mediocre. They changed some plot elements around and added some unnecessary action scenes, mostly to the story's detriment. I was particularly gulled that they excised Miller's entire speech denouncing Rauschman at the end. Granted the book isn't Forsyth's best, but the movie removed the parts that did work.

The Dogs of War - I liked it more than you. Like Odessa, it made some major changes to the original story, namely making Shannon more sympathetic and focusing on the regime's evil. But it worked well-enough on its own terms.

Haven't seen the other two.

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[–] turtletommy 10 years ago

Definitely TDOTJ is the best adaptation of his novels, and I also have a much higher opinion of THE DOGS OF WAR film than the OP- I enjoy it quite a bit- a lean taut war film with another memorable performance by Christopher Walken. It's been so long since I read the novel that I can't comment about the adaptation.

[–] grendelkhan 9 years ago

I enjoy The Fourth Protocol, which Forsyth adapted himself; but, as Michael Caine pointed out to him, there is a big difference between writing dialogue in a novel and for the screen.

Icon had a rather ludicrous plan to counter the right-wing plot, so adapting it was never going to be good, without jettisoning large parts of the novel.

The Deceiver would have made for a good film, though I doubt modern film is up to the task.

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[–] q_leo_rahman 9 years ago

I also have a much higher opinion of THE DOGS OF WAR film than the OP- I enjoy it quite a bit- a lean taut war film with another memorable performance by Christopher Walken. It's been so long since I read the novel that I can't comment about the adaptation.

I resaw it and it wasn't too bad. Walken is fairly good in the role.

But the novel was fairly technical and meticulous in its setup, akin to a documentary, so doing that in a thriller/war film may not have worked out.

I enjoy The Fourth Protocol, which Forsyth adapted himself; but, as Michael Caine pointed out to him, there is a big difference between writing dialogue in a novel and for the screen.

That's very interesting.

07/08/06... 786... the sentinel of Allah has arrived.

[–] 9 years ago

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