Product Details

• Actors: James Earl Jones, Ralph Abernathy, McGeorge Bundy, Carol Channing, Norman Cousins
• Directors: Bruce Halford
• Writers: Bruce Halford
• Producers: Bruce Halford
• Format: Black & White, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: View Video
• VHS Release Date: August 1, 1996
• Run Time: 52 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301520203
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #419,333 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This 1988 documentary narrated by actor James Earl Jones provides a generally admiring overview of the Kennedy years coupled with a touching look at how a shocked nation reacted to the death of JFK. Notables including former President Gerald Ford, former Speaker of the House Thomas "Tip" O'Neill, violinist Isaac Stern, and historian and Kennedy confidante Arthur Schlesinger Jr. reminisce about Kennedy, remembering how he inspired them and how his death touched them deeply. Home movies of the Kennedy family provide some biographical color. Rarely seen breaking news coverage aired only on a local Dallas station and interviews with witnesses to the assassination, including home movie buff Abraham Zapruder (who had just taken his famed film of Kennedy's motorcade), show the immediate reaction to the tragedy. This documentary is competently assembled, and while it doesn't provide any particularly surprising insights, it does offer a reasonably balanced look at Kennedy's achievements and lasting legacy. --Robert J. McNamara

Product Description

WINNER OF... -The American Video Conference/Billboard Magazine
-The National Education Film & Video Festival
-The International Film & TV Festival of NY
-The V.S.D.A. "Homer" Awards- Finalist

"There have been countless programs made that profile the late President, but this is by far the most comprehensive and the most effective." BILLBOARD MAGAZINE.

This moving documentary looks back on the remarkable life of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, and combines the tragedy of his untimely death with the remembrances of those who knew him best, and those who knew him not at all.

James Earl Jones reviews the brief life of JFK. His triumphs. His failures. His inspiration and contribution to our history. The story is told through previously unseen and rare video and home movies, and by many people who were there, ordinary people.

The story is built around the exclusive historic videotape from WFAA, the Dallas station whose studios are located so near the infamous "grassy knoll" where the President was shot.

We see the events as they happened, from JFK's arrival in Dallas to his funeral in Washington four days later.

Woven throughout historic footage are the recollections of Gerald Ford, Coretta King, Tip O'Neil, Peter, Paul and Mary, Isaac Stern, Arthur Schlesinger Jr., Ted Kennedy and others. All remembering a man who had touched them.

John F. Kennedy, one of America's most loved and respected Presidents, provided us with hope and a dream of something better. V.I.E.W. Video is proud to offer this enhanced DVD presentation, with additional footage of speeches & news conferences, a biography of JFK, and other bonus features. This Video preserves the memory of his youth, his career and that infamous day in history.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 1988 historically documentary on Kennedy's life and death, November 22, 2001

By 

Professor Wilbur Hamilton "The Wilbur" (Hamilton, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: JFK: The Day the Nation Cried (DVD)

This is the first-ever DVD edition of this 1988 documentary on the assassination hosted by James Earl Jones, produced by WFAA, ABC's Dallas affiliate. During the 25th anniversary, this documentary aired on ABC, and it is unique because it mostly deals with everything America "lost" in 1963 as opposed to the minute-by-minute details of the assassination. In fact, Kennedy's actual death is not mentioned till near the end of this 50 minute documentary. The majority of the program deals with Kennedy's rise to the presidency and his time in office. Other than some slanted references about "a man with a rifle in a window," this documentary remains pleasantly unbiased. It is the life and death of JFK from a historical perspective. The only bonus feature is an edited newsreel of sorts that offers about ten additional minutes of (mostly poor quality) black and white footage of JFK (only 30 secs. about the assassination, though). Overall, this DVD edition is worth it to have all the vintage news footage in a digital format. If you are interested in the details of the actual assassination, buy "The Men Who Killed Kennedy" on DVD instead.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very good tribute to JFK (and some great vintage footage, too), December 18, 2005

By 

Vince Palamara "SECRET SERVICE/JFK/STEELERS/M... (South Park/Bethel Park, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: JFK: The Day the Nation Cried (DVD)

I recommend this dvd for all lovers of JFK. I especially liked the comments of Dave Powers, Red Fay, and Carol Channing. That said, the main reason to get this dvd is for the vintage footage, especially the high-quality segment from Love Field 11/22/63 wherein Secret Service agent Henry J. Rybka is waved off the rear area of the limousine by ATSAIC/ Shift Leader Emory P. Roberts (as discovered by myself in 1991 and shown on The Men Who Killed Kennedy, again by myself, in 2003).
Vince Palamara-JFK/ Secret Service expert (History Channel, author of two books, in over 30 other author's books, etc.)
Pittsburgh, PA

BEST JFK ASSASSINATION BOOK: ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
BEST JFK SECRET SERVICE BOOK: SURVIVOR'S GUILT BY YOURS TRULY :)

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good tape, July 17, 2002

By 

O. Rios (Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jfk: Day the Nation Cried [VHS] (VHS Tape)

this tape only briefly mentions on JFK's assassination. it mostly talks about his life and how he rose to power. James Earl Jones is the narrator and also talks very briefly about JFK's assassination.
still a good tape for those who liked Kennedy.