Next November marks the sad occasion of the 50th anniversary of JFK's assassination, an event which still evokes very strong feelings. And of course to commemorate that day the true American way, there's going to be a movie (and probably a number of TV specials and countless reruns of Oliver Stone's "JFK"). And no, we're not talking about "Parkland" which Tom Hanks was recently announced to produce. Instead, it's "The Kennedy Detail," which as the title suggests, at least offers up a different angle on the affair.
Based on the New York Times best-selling book by former Secert Service agent Gerald Blaine and award-winning journalist Lisa McCubbin, the film will present events before, during and after the slaying in Dallas through the eyes of the men tasked with protecting the President. It will show a President who enjoyed interacting with audiences, and didn't like to be too closely guarded, often jumping to crowds with little notice to his agents. It will also explore the fatigue on the agents during JFK's travels through Texas, why they chose an open car and re-routing the motorcade and of course, their shock when he was killed. It definitely is at least an different and arguably more human look at the assassination, rather than one that once again drags out the various conspiracies around what actually happened.
TV and film director Stephen Gyllenhall (yep, Dad to Maggie and Jake and the man behind "Paris Trout," "Losing Isiah" and many more) is writing and directing, and is currently in the midst of research. The plan is to get the film completed in time for a November 2013 release. [Deadline]
What a load of hogwash this will be.
The author of the book wasn't in Dallas on November 22, 1963. His book is not accurate. He blames JFK for his own death saying the President ordered the Secret Service to back off from their protection of the presidential limousine during the Dallas motorcade. This is a myth. There is no evidence that JFK made this order, for the agents to stay off the limousine. Watch any film of Dealey Plaza and you'll see the agents on the backup car standing still, watching their president die. Only Clint Hill, Mrs. Kennedy's agent, made a move during the assassination and he also rode on the back of the limousine several times during the motorcade when the crowds got too close. This is what they are trained to do and expected to do. Also, most of the agents went to a all night speakeasy in Fort Worth during the early hours of November 22, 1963. The owner and assistant manager has stated the agents were drinking. Not one of them were punished for this behavior.
This film will present pure propaganda. JFK did NOT order the agents off his limo