016 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1992

HOME TECH VIDEO Life, Times and Assassination of J.F.K.

By DENNIS HUNT worAct LinNED IS INFS FAST THAT HIT. SFIHtt Al Wst MCHt.AI OR riArE !E TrE )10 TIMES STAFF WRITER ince director- writer Oliver Stone's "JFK" has become so TWAOZICMORATIVE 21.11.112f1 Scontroversial and popular— grossing more than $50 million so far—video retailers have reported a surge in interest in videos about former President John F. Kennedy and his 1963 assassination. Here's a guide to J.F.K. videos, all-available for rent or sale in the $10 to $20 range. The assassination videos: • "Who Didn't Kill JFK" (3-G). Fascinating, 50-minute documen- tary challenging the authenticity of - the back-yard photos of Lee Harvey Oswald posing with a rifle. It argues, like Stone's film, that the photos were doctored—without speculating on culprits. • "JFK: The Day the Nation Ciied" (VIEW). An often gripping overview of J.F.K., combining re- membrances by people such as former President Gerald Ford and Coretta Scott King with assassina- tion-related footage shot by a Dal- "Who Didn't Kill JFK" argues that pictures of Oswald were doctored; las TV station, covering the period "The Video Album" offers Rose Kennedy reminiscing about J.F.K. from his arrival in Dallas up to his funeral. . "Reasonable Doubt: The Single Bullet Theory" (Kultur). Compel- ling hourlong documentary tackles `JFK' Review in Washingtonian the Warren Commission report, focusing on what facts were over- ashingtonian magazine, which killed a favorable review of looked—maybe intentionally. WOliver Stone's "JFK" last month only to see its movie critic i "Best Evidence: The Research resign in protest, will publish a favorable review of the film Video" (Rhino). Riveting half- submitted by a new critic for its March editions, editor Jack A. hour video, hosted by David Lip- Limpert said Thursday. ton. takes a medical approach, "I would agree with critics that an editor has no right to charging doctoring of medical re- substitute his judgment [for theirs]," Limpert said. "I guess what I ports as well as pre-autopsy tam- was reacting to was that Stone was selling this as journalism and as pering with Kennedy's body. history when I thought it was bad journalism and bad history." • "Declassified: The Plot to Kill Limpert drew fire from film critics nationwide when he killed a President Kennedy" (VidAmeri- capsule review of "JFK" submitted by Pat Dowell, who had ca). In one intriguing hour, assem- written: "If you didn't already doubt the Warren Commission bled by ex-CBS documentary film- report, you will after seeing Oliver Stone's brilliantly crafted maker John Sharnik, it builds a indictment of history as an official story." She gave it 31/2 stars. strong case, using FBI and CIA Her replacement, Jayne Blanchard, writes: "Oliver Stone's files, that the mob orchestrated controversial rabble-rousing examination of the Kennedy assassi- Kennedy's murder. Arguably the nation polarizes audiences—you either love it or hate it. But best of the assassination-theory beyond Stone's manipulative style and heavy politics, there is videos. excellent acting, led by Kevin Costner, a riveting detective story, • "Four Days in November" and a reminder that democracy is a participatory sport." She also (MGM/UA). David Wolper and gave it 31/2 stars. Mel Stuart's 1964, two-hour docu- "[Limpert] still doesn't like the film," Blanchard said, "and he mentary about the assassination doesn't think it is a fair and accurate depiction of Washington, but and its aftermath is still one of the my review doesn't take sides, it judges the movie as a movie and is most thorough, harrowing ac- not the last word on assassination lore. He seems more comfortable counts of that tragedy. Offers re- with that." vealing glimpses of Oswald and his —ROBERT W. WELKOS killer, Jack Ruby. Please see JFK, F17 LOS ANGELES TIMES

JFK • "The Speeches of John F. Ken- nedy" ( MPI ). This one-hour sam- Continued from F16 pling of his campaign and presi- • "The Plot to Kill JFK: Rush to dential speeches—some quite Judgment" ( MPI). Based on the stirring—gives you a good feel for book by Mark Lane, this one-hour, the Kennedy charisma and for his 1965 documentary—slow in spots political ideology. and spellbinding in others—argues • "Thank You, Mr. President" that the Warren Commission's (Worldvision). Narrated by E.G. probe was' ore of a cover-up of a Marshall, this somewhat engaging, conspiracy than an investigation. hourlong, 1984 documentary fea- • "The Two Kennedys" ( MPI). tures excerpts from Kennedy press A 115-minute documentary con- conferences, emphasizing his wit tending that the Kennedy brothers and illuminating his policies. It's were murdered via a conspiracy valuable because it drums home spearheaded by the likes of the the point that J.F.K. was the first mob and oil barons. Holds your president to use TV extensively. interest but it's not as exciting as • "The Kennedys" (MPI). Aided its theme and point of view would by rare footage, narrator Cliff Rob- suggest. ertson presents a thorough, enter- • "Marilyn: Say Goodbye to the taining, 100-minute history of the President" (Key Video). J.F.K. Kennedy clan, going all the way isn't the major focus, but this back to Ireland in the mid-1800s. absorbing, no-holds-barred, 71- The fictional dramas: minute BBC documentary from • "Executive Action" (Warner, 1985 is a must-see. It probes Mari- 19'73). This semi-documentary ef- lyn Monroe's affairs with John and fort, starring Burt Lancaster and Bobby Kennedy while charging Robert Ryan, tries to be a thriller that those liaisons were shadowed but, due to director David Miller's both by the Mafia and Teamsters snail pacing, lacks any charge. leader Jimmy Hoffa, a bitter Ken- Co-written by assassination theo- nedy enemy. rist Mark -Lane, it blames the The videos about Kennedy's life murder on rich right-wingers. and White House years: • "Kennedy: The Presidential • "JFK Remembered" (Ves- Years" (Starmaker Entertain- tron). An hourlong ABC News ment). This 278-minute, 1983 documentary, hosted by Peter Jen- mini-series features nings. focusing on Kennedy's as J.F.K. and Blair Brown as Jack- White House days. Laced with ie. It's both an admirable summary interviews of politicians, historians of his presidency and decent dra- and friends, it's an informative, ma. Sheen's J.F.K., imitation, how- balanced analysis of the key politi- ever, sometimes borders on paro- cal events of his Administration. dy. • "John F. Kennedy: The Com- • "" memorative Video Album" (CBS- (MPI). Starring William Devane Fox). This is a made-for-video, (as J.F.K.) and Martin Sheen (this 110-minute documentary based on time playing Bobby), this 1974, CBS News footage, accentuating 155-minute TV movie is a surpris- the positive. The accounts of Ken- ingly taut dramatization of the 1962 nedy's presidency and assassina- . tion are presented more vividly in • "PT 109" (Warner). An exces- other videos but this offers Rose sively long 1963 drama starring Kennedy reminiscing about her Cliff Robertson, it chronicles Ken- son's boyhood. nedy's heroics as a PT boat com- • "The Life and Times of John F. mander in the Pacific during World Kennedy" (Kodak). Narrated by War II. Routine war movie with Cliff Robertson, this hour don- Kennedy portrayed as insufferably inentary might have been called noble. ",`Saint John." It's pleasant, folksy • "LBJ: The Early Years" fluff—the way friends and family (Fries). Kennedy is just a back- would like J.F.K. remembered. ground figure in this 96-minute • "Life in Camelot: The Kennedy account of Lyndon Johnson's life Years" (HBO). More fluff, this before he became President. Ran- time made in conjunction with Life dy Quaid gives one of the best Magazine, making use of its photo performances of his career as archives. The most interesting Johnson—who, in the Oliver Stone footage in this one-hour documen- movie, is mentioned as a possible tary deals with Kennedy in the conspirator. '50s—particularly his courtship of Jackie and his senatorial campaign in Massachusetts.