MovieChat Forums > The Day of the Jackal (1973) Discussion > Edward Fox, underrated ?

Edward Fox, underrated ?

posted 15 years ago by Boromir007
18 replies | jump to latest

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)

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Hancock_the_Superb 15 years ago

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!

[–] joonas2058932 15 years ago

he is too unddrrated.Like Michel lonsdale

[–] e76549 15 years ago

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.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Hancock_the_Superb 14 years ago

His brother James was in King Rat.

"I just speak GOODER than you!"

[–] Ate_Arms 14 years ago

Very underrated.

and he was the perfect choice for the Jackal imo

[–] turtletommy 14 years ago

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

[–] fatherc-703-289913 14 years ago

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

[–] patpatterson 14 years ago

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.

[–] turtletommy 14 years ago

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.

[–] obbie 14 years ago

Don't forget "Performance" with Mick Jagger!

[–] Clemencedane 14 years ago

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.

[–] lisajohn-4 13 years ago

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.

[–] Prismark10 13 years ago

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!!