It should be noted that since this was taken off the camera original, this version of the Zapruder film is three frames short of the 486 known to exist. Life Magazine claims that they had damaged three of the frames beyond repair when taking images off this for publication. Given that there were at three first generation copies available, it seems odd that MPI opted not to use them.
Also missing are the few test frames Zapruder took of some of his employees before setting out for his spot on Dealey Plaza. You'll have to search YouTube to find those but they are out there.
Those reservations aside, this is an excellent DVD product and should prove very useful for those interested in the JFK assassination. There's enough detail to see not only the moment where the second bullet deforms Governor Connelly's suit as it emerges from his chest but you can also see Kennedy's head move slightly forward just as the upper right front or his head explodes - making it reasonably plausible that Oswald could've acted alone.
One should note that JFK's head does not move "back and to the left" as described in Oliver Stones film but is thrown sideways to the left along with his upper torso. Indeed his head doesn't actually move much when you factor in the motion of his upper torso. One can make out the moment when all neurological function ceases.
Another detail of note is the reaction of the two Secret Service agents in the front seat. The driver looks back a couple of times before the both of them duck down after the fatal shot. Some conspiracy sites interpret this as the car coming to a violent stop during the shooting even though the limousine can clearly be seen to be moving at all times.
Included in this DVD is an interview with Abraham Zapruder mere minutes after the shooting and the 1975 'premiere' of the Zapruder film on Geraldo Rivera's Good Night America show as well as a talk show interview with the man from Life Magazine in charge of securing the film rights from Zapruder.
The Good Night America segment splices the Zupruder film into a sequence of other films to form a sort of narrative. Too bad there isn't a DVD or CD-ROM out there that weaves all of the available assassination footage into a high-quality cross-referencable media product.
* Note to the reviewer above * I don't believe the film was ever aired on Dallas TV. Zapruder himself was interviewed and the station seems to have made arrangements to process the film but nothing on the DVD says it was actually aired. Zaprurder did show the film to members of the press in order to bid out its usage rights with Life magazine securing all of them.
Also missing are the few test frames Zapruder took of some of his employees before setting out for his spot on Dealey Plaza. You'll have to search YouTube to find those but they are out there.
Those reservations aside, this is an excellent DVD product and should prove very useful for those interested in the JFK assassination. There's enough detail to see not only the moment where the second bullet deforms Governor Connelly's suit as it emerges from his chest but you can also see Kennedy's head move slightly forward just as the upper right front or his head explodes - making it reasonably plausible that Oswald could've acted alone.
One should note that JFK's head does not move "back and to the left" as described in Oliver Stones film but is thrown sideways to the left along with his upper torso. Indeed his head doesn't actually move much when you factor in the motion of his upper torso. One can make out the moment when all neurological function ceases.
Another detail of note is the reaction of the two Secret Service agents in the front seat. The driver looks back a couple of times before the both of them duck down after the fatal shot. Some conspiracy sites interpret this as the car coming to a violent stop during the shooting even though the limousine can clearly be seen to be moving at all times.
Included in this DVD is an interview with Abraham Zapruder mere minutes after the shooting and the 1975 'premiere' of the Zapruder film on Geraldo Rivera's Good Night America show as well as a talk show interview with the man from Life Magazine in charge of securing the film rights from Zapruder.
The Good Night America segment splices the Zupruder film into a sequence of other films to form a sort of narrative. Too bad there isn't a DVD or CD-ROM out there that weaves all of the available assassination footage into a high-quality cross-referencable media product.
* Note to the reviewer above * I don't believe the film was ever aired on Dallas TV. Zapruder himself was interviewed and the station seems to have made arrangements to process the film but nothing on the DVD says it was actually aired. Zaprurder did show the film to members of the press in order to bid out its usage rights with Life magazine securing all of them.