While the moments and hours after John F. Kennedy’s tragic assassination were some of the most formative and important for our country, that story has rarely, and only partially, been told. Based on the bestselling book by Steven M. Gillon, The Kennedy Assassination-24 Hours After is a thoroughly fascinating near real-time account of this pivotal day in history told from the point-of-view of Vice President Lyndon Johnson that uses stunning details uncovered in newly public documents to reveal a vice president thrust into the role of commander-in-chief forced to make critical decisions with limited information.
From the moment Lyndon B. Johnson was told of JFK’s death (after a security aide had already ordered a casket), to his decision to take the oath of office on Air Force One alongside the former First Lady (before getting her approval), to the return to his home for a full briefing of what happened that day (long after it was televised to the world), “24 Hours After” uncovers a shocking and little documented story examining the unusual incidents and events surrounding one of the most critical days in American history.
Release Date: January 26, 2010
Running Time: 94 Minutes
The Kennedy Assassination-24 Hours After is much more interesting than the previous JFK documentary that was reviewed yesterday. This documentary has voice over narration as well as narration by the author of the book this documentary has been adapted from, Steven Gillion. There are interviews shared with historians and eyewitnesses (some including secret service agents), and audio transcripts heard of conversations between those in authority that are truly heartbreaking to hear.
The documentary opens up 30 minutes before the assassination and it doesn’t take long to get to the moment of the 3 shootings. Graphic video of the shootings is shown, so beware. The documentary then takes viewers on the road to the hospital as well as what went on in the hospital. Apparently everyone, including the public knew more the President’s assassination than Vice President, Lyndon Johnson. The documentary has no issue sharing the dislike towards Johnson and his insensitivity towards those who worked with JFK, despite his wife’s kind condolences. Surprisingly only briefly mentions suspect, Lee Harvey Oswald.
The latter half of the documentary really focuses on the unfortunate transfer of power between administrations. Overall, what is different about this documentary is that there is new information from files that were opened to public in 2009 that are shared in this documentary and the cinematography style goes back and forth from present day to the 1960’s which is quite nice. This is a wonderful documentary that has been very well edited and very well narrated, though graphic in its video of the shootings, viewers will come away learning so much about the 24 hours after the assassination.
Own The Kennedy Assassination-24 Hours After today.