Zapruder Film of Kennedy Assassination

Zapruder Film of Kennedy Assassination (1963)

It's impossible to "review" this 39-second clip but I think it's safe to say it's probably the most shocking and violent footage that was out there up until 9/11 hit. There's no denying the importance of this film and it's easy to say it's one of the most important bits of footage ever captured and one really has to wonder what would history be like had Abraham Zapruder not been there in Dallas that day filming. I mean, can you imagine if this footage was never shot or if it was never released to the public? These 39-seconds are without question rather hard to watch and it's just amazing that all the key moments of the assassination are captured and at such a good location. I've heard rumors from various conspiracy theories that there's actually more footage but there were bits and pieces removed that clearly showed that there were more shots fired. How true this here actually is will never be know just like the countless other theories out there. There's no audio but that's probably a good thing. Can you imagine the screams and all the chaos that would have been captured even perhaps the words of Zapruder?

I remember when various stills from this film were printed in LIFE magazine but the actual head shot images were apparently forbidden to be seen at the time. Now this historic piece of film is available to all. It only lasts a few seconds but the important roll it has played in history is legendary. So many theories, questions, debates etc. about the assassination of the 35th president of the United States have been raised over the years and they almost always center around this small strip of film.

This is quite possibly the most monumental piece of live footage ever captured by an amateur photographer. The film of JFK's fatal shooting is, in itself, not particularly entertaining or interesting unless it is in a re-mastered and "shake-free" form. However, the impact of this film on the controversy surrounding one of the most famous assassinations in world history cannot be denied.

The best showcase for this piece of film can be found in Oliver Stone's brilliant film, JFK.

It's the magic of the motion picture. Film has given us the ability to enjoy the memorable performances of actors and actresses long gone, to experience the culture of another era and, indeed, to relive pivotal moments in history over and over again, whether we wish to or not. The assassination of US President John F. Kennedy at 12:30 PM (Central Standard Time) on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas was a horrific moment in American history. For decades, endless debate has raged over the true circumstances of his death, spawning countless conspiracy theories and accusations of a CIA cover-up.

There are films and still photographs taken by at least fourteen photographers in Dealey Plaza during the assassination. Of these, the footage recorded by private citizen Abraham Zapruder is the most complete visual recording of the incident. I'm not one to subscribe to these often-ridiculous conspiracy theories, so now I'll just present the facts: Zapruder captured the scene with a Model 414 PD Bell and Howell Zoomatic Director Series Camera that operated via a spring-wound mechanism, which filmed at an average frame rate of 18.3 frames per second, and recorded on Kodak Kodachrome II 8 mm movie safety film. The footage of the assassination itself runs for a total of 486 frames, or 26.6 seconds. Kennedy's limousine is visible in 343 of the frames, or 18.7 seconds.

The most infamous image contained in the film is the final fatal shot to President Kennedy's head, almost exactly as the limousine passes directly in front of (and slightly below) Zapruder's position. It is truly a horrid thing to be watching, but sheer morbid human curiosity makes us simply incapable of averting our gaze. Pleasant this film is not, but its significance to American history is irrefutable.

Definitely one of the few inherently valuable films that is hard to watch/stomach, since it's admittedly an actual snuff film - thankfully, this wasn't Zapruder or Kennedy's intention. All they and everyone else wanted was completely different from what Lee Harvey Oswald wanted. I mourn for everyone involved in this awful tragedy, and this film is crucial evidence that no one should go through this inhumanity. I'm only giving this a recommendation solely because of its historical importance/international impact, as well as its crucial role as evidence for investigators/historians trying to prevent future tragedies. Other than that, I'm so genuinely horrified/disturbed by this truly sickening crime that I need to marathon lighter fare for the rest of my life.