The Oswald Films: An Outline
by Martin Shackelford
The Oswald Films:An Outline by Martin Shackelford (July 1993)
[updated 4-25-96]
Pre-Assassination. Speculative Films
There may exist
presently unknown footage of several types which show Lee Harvey Oswald.
One possible type is home movie footage, taken either by members of the
Oswald family, or by relatives, or by people who knew Lee Oswald
(schoolmates and their families, Civil Air Patrol cadets, etc.). A second
possible type is home movie footage taken when Oswald was abroad, by
tourists on the 2 ships, in Europe or in the Soviet Union or Mexico, or
by people who knew him in the Soviet Union (there may be families in
possession of such footage who have no idea Oswald is even in it; the
Monica Kramer photos of Oswald in the Soviet Union turned up only after
an intensive search of tourist photos taken during the relevant time
period). A third possible type is footage shot covertly by or for the
KGB, the CIA or other intelligence organizations.1.
1. The Home Movie (11-22-62)
In one of the many ironic twists in this case, the
first known motion picture footage of Lee Harvey Oswald was taken one
year to the day before the Kennedy Assassination. It was a home movie
taken by his brother Robert Oswald's wife Vada when the family gathered
that year to celebrate Thanksgiving. Two color frames published in the
October 17, 1967 LOOK Magazine excerpt from Robert's book show a smiling
Lee Oswald seated on a couch near his half-brother John Pic and Pic's
wife, with Marina standing near Lee, and Robert playing with his sons on
the floor in the foreground. The two frames are also available from The
Collector's Archives (Box 2, Beaconsfield, Quebec H9W 5T6). On November
26, 1990, the film was shown on "Hard Copy," a tabloid television show
featuring an interview with Robert Oswald, under the title "Oswald's Home
Movie." This may also be available on video from The Collector's
Archives.
2. The New Orleans films
Oswald's activities in New Orleans attracted the attention of both tourists
and a professional cameraman.
2a. The Jack Martin Film (8-9-63)
In another of those aforementioned ironic twists, a tourist named Jack
Martin was in Dallas in August 1963. His film records his view from the
airplane. Next, he visits General Edwin Walker, under whom he had served,
allegedly target of an assassination attempt by Lee Oswald in April of
that year. The film documents the scene of that attempt: the window
through which the shot was fired, the bullet hole, and the wall from
behind which it was most likely fired, ending with shots of Walker's
flag and mailbox, and a nearby building under construction (allegedly
also photographed by Oswald prior to the attempt!) . Then we see the
entrance to a movie theater, cypress trees, a seal at the edge of a pool,
and the statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Park in New Orleans.
Aroused by a commotion on Canal Street, Martin crossed to see what was
happening, and began filming. We see Lee Oswald, leaflets in hand,
standing on the sidewalk, being harangued by anti-Castro militants
including Carlos Bringuier. Four police officers are seen arriving. The
film ends with a view of the yellow leaflets scattered on the sidewalk
after Bringuier knocked them out of Oswald's hands, and a brief aerial
view of a subdivision. Parts of the film have only been used, to my
knowledge, on the French television documentary, "Le Mystere Kennedy."
The documentary is available on video, and frames from the film as well,
from The Collector's Archives. A still from this film was finally
published in Robert Groden's 1995 book, The Search for Lee Harvey Oswald,
an essential photo archive on Oswald.
2b. The James Doyle Film (8-9-63)
James Doyle was a 16 year old teenager, visiting
New Orleans with his family in early August 1963. His film begins in
Lafayette Park, New Orleans, and includes a view of the Andrew Jackson
statue. He, too, then noticed a commotion along Canal Street, crossed
over to investigate, and began filming. Lee Oswald, back to the camera,
is talking with Carlos Bringuier, when a police officer arrives, pushes
Bringuier aside, and talks with Oswald, who gestures. Oswald is then seen
through the crowd, under arrest, obscured, moving to the left, and we see
him and the officer at curbside. The film ends with harbor views. To my
knowledge, this film has only appeared in one television program, the
British "Dispatches: The Day the Dream Died," available (as are frames)
from The Collector's Archives or from All That Video (405 Hopkins Court,
North Wales PA 19434, phone (213) 361-1365.) A still from this film was
also first published in the 1995 Groden book.
2c. The Johann Rush Films (8-12 & 16-63)
Johann Rush was a news
cameraman for WDSU-TV in New Orleans in the August of 1963. He was on
hand on August 12 when Lee Oswald appeared at the New Orleans courthouse
for sentencing after his August 9 arrest. Rush filmed Oswald's approach,
then Oswald posed for the camera in a courthouse corridor. The footage
also includes Carlos Bringuier and the Cubans. Rush next filmed Oswald's
leafleting at the International Trade Mart on August 16. This is the
footage which shows Oswald and two colleagues (one of them Charles Steele
Jr.) distributing leaflets, a figure in the background alleged to be
Clay Shaw, and two foreground figures alleged to be Charles Rogers and
Chauncey Holt. I won't attempt to catalog the sources in which bits of
this footage appears, although the videotape "The Two Kennedys" (MPI Home
Video, 1-800-323-0442, may still carry this title, or try The Collector's
Archives) is a good source, and stills from the footage appear in many
places.
2d. The WWL-TV Film (8-16-63)
The most famous still, however, is from a brief bit of footage also taken
during the August 16 leafleting, but by a rival cameraman for WWL-TV
named Mike O'Connor, and shows Oswald thrusting a leaflet toward a
passerby. Captioned "Garner Deposition Exhibit 1," it appears in the
Warren Report, and the footage is used in various documentaries.
2e. The Mike Lala Film (8-21-63)
The final bit of New
Orleans footage was taken by cameraman Mike Lala during an interview of
Oswald at WDSU-TV on August 21. It shows Oswald in left profile as he
speaks. In the semi-fictional film "Executive Action"(1973, National
General Pictures, Warner Home Video),, the footage is used as a training
film for an Oswald impostor. As with the other New Orleans TV footage, it
is widely excerpted. The Collector's Archives offers two frames from the
film. Post-Assassination
3. The Ron Reiland Film (11-22-63)
WFAA-TV cameraman Ron Reiland was filming at the site of the Tippit
shooting when police were called to the Texas Theater, and Reiland went with
them. As a result, he got the only footage of Oswald's arrest. One dimly lit
scene shows Oswald being held by police inside the Texas Theater
(underexposed, this appears only on "The Kennedy Tapes," which contains
the complete Reiland footage, and on "Films From the Sixth Floor"
videotape, which includes the films from the Dallas Book Depository
exhibits). He then photographed Oswald being led out, placed into a
police car, and driven away.
4. The Arrival Film (11-22-63)
An NBC cameraman filmed Oswald when he arrived at Dallas Police
headquarters, and was led into the Homicide Division offices, past
witness and co-worker Billy Lovelady.
5. The "Press Conference" Films (11-22-63)
Various footage exists from the late-night showing
of Oswald to the press, and this is some of the best-known footage of
Oswald in custody. After the video ends on one film, the audio track
continues with Oswald's voice for a short time longer.
6. The Hallway Films (11-22 to 24-63)
Soon, the Dallas Police Department
hallways were swarming with reporters and cameramen. There is footage of
Oswald being led from room to room at Police Headquarters taken by ABC,,
NBC, CBS, local stations, and foreign cameramen. This includes the
footage of Oswald's various denials: "I didn't shoot anybody, no sir."
"I don't know what you people have been told, but I emphatically deny
these charges." his statement that this was all happening "because I
lived in the Soviet Union," etc. A great many of these films are included
in the series "The Men Who Killed Kennedy" (Time-Life Video). There is
also Hearst newsreel footage of Oswald in the hallway.
7. The Shooting Films (11-24-63)
ABC footage shows Oswald being led off the
jail elevator, and through the jail office area. Another piece of footage
shows Oswald from behind as he moves out toward newsmen in the jail
basement. Then a number of cameras (including the three networks and
Hearst newsreel) captured him from the front as he is led out, and Jack
Ruby lunges forward and shoots him. He is then out of the scene briefly.
Most of this footage is also widely available.
8. The Post-Shooting Films (11-24-63)
When the ambulance arrives, Oswald is brought out on
a stretcher, and loaded into it. We see Oswald inside as the ambulance
drives away. We next see footage of the ambulance arriving at Parkland
Hospital with Oswald, Oswald being pulled out on the stretcher, and
rushed into the hospital. This is the last known footage of Oswald alive,
as well as the last publicly available. It is widely available.
9. The Exhumation Autopsy Videotape (10-4-81)
Lee Oswald's body was exhumed
on October 4, 1981 at the request of British author Michael Eddowes, with
the cooperation of Marina Oswald and over the objections of Robert
Oswald. A partial autopsy was performed at Baylor Pathology Laboratories,
and the procedure was videotaped. Following a lengthy dispute about
possession of the videotape, it is my understanding that Marina Oswald
regained possession of it. There are no plans to make it available to
researchers, but it may enter the record at some point in the future.
Some Commercial Video Sources of Oswald Footage
"Executive Action" (Warner)
Fictional film includes a variety of New Orleans and Dallas
Oswald footage.
"The Two Kennedys" (MPI)
Includes much of the WDSU footage taken in New Orleans,
as well as some of the Dallas footage.
"John F. Kennedy" (CBS)
This has appeared under various titles, and includes Oswald
Dallas footage.
"The Plot to Kill JFK: Rush to Judgment"(MPI)
includes some Dallas footage of Oswald.
"Four Days in November" (MGM/UA)
This 1964 Wolper documentary includes a variety of the Dallas
Oswald footage.
"The Men Who Killed Kennedy" (Time-Life)
Parts 1, 4 and 5 of this 5-volume set include much of the professional
Oswald footage, except for the Johann Rush footage.
"Films from the Sixth Floor,"
Available from the exhibit in the Book Depository, includes
much good Oswald footage in the segment "Crisis Hours," including
the rare footage of Oswald still inside the Texas Theater.
"Man Against Humanity"(Front Row)
This low-budget video includes most of the New
Orleans WDSU footage, as well as some Dallas footage.
"Declassified: The Plot to Kill President Kennedy"
an edited version of the Anthony Summers documentary, also includes
a variety of Oswald footage from New Orleans and Dallas.
"Texas News: John F. Kennedy" (Independent Historical Films)
includes Oswald Dallas footage.
"The JFK Assassination: The Jim Garrison Tapes" (Vestron)
includes a variety of New Orleans and Dallas Oswald footage.
"Who Killed JFK? Facts, not Fiction"(CBS)
includes a variety of New Orleans and Dallas footage.
"Beyond "JFK": The Question of Conspiracy"(Warner)
includes much of the New Orleans footage.
"The Assassination of JFK"(MPI)
also includes much of the New Orleans, and some Dallas footage.