There were 16 videos taken by witnesses at Dealey Plaza just before, during, or in the immediate aftermath of the Kennedy assassination.
Captured complete assassination sequence Abraham Zapruder Film
Captured partial assassination sequence Orville Nix Film Mary Muchmore Film Charles Bronson Film
Filming during assassination but not pointing at President Dave Wiegman Film Elsie Dorman Film



Note: I’ve made a playlist on YouTube if you want to watch all clips back-to-back.

The Abraham Zapruder Film

jfk-conspiracy-abraham-zapruder-film
Click on image to watch
Video Running Time : 31 seconds


WARNING: Contains Graphic Images

The famous film of the assassination taken by Abraham Zapruder from a pedestal along Elm Street. It is the only film to capture the complete assassination sequence, including the fatal head shot at frame 313. (z313)

The film was kept mostly hidden from the public until March 1975 when it was shown in all its graphic details on ABC’s Good Night America.

The outrage caused by the film led to the creation of the House Select Committee on Assassinations.

Why did Dan Rather lie when he reported Kennedy being thrown forward?

What to look for?

  • JFK’s back-and-to-the-left movement following the fatal head shot at z313.
  • Kennedy already reaching for his throat when the limo comes into view at z225 after having been struck by the Magic Bullet. The Warren Commission claimed the Magic Bullet hit Kennedy at z210, the moment a giant oak tree no longer obscured the view from the Sniper’s Nest.
  • Governor Connally’s reaction to that same bullet is delayed until z238. Connally is still holding his hat at z268, despite his wrist being allegedly shattered at that point. No blood is yet visible anywhere on Connelly.

Zapruder POV of the assassination sequence. (JFK Reloaded computer simulation)

Digitally Restored Zapruder Frames (Robin Unger’s JFK Assassination Photo Galleries)


The Orville Nix Film

jfk-conspiracy-orville-nix-film
Click on image to watch
Video Running Time : 4 minutes 26 seconds

The second most famous film of the Kennedy assassination was shot by Orville Nix from the the opposite side of Zapruder near the corner of Main and Houston Street. Nix captured the head shot. (n197 = z313)

Orville Nix believe that the shots came from the Grassy Knoll area. The original copy of the Nix film is currently missing.

What to look for?



Zapruder/ Muchmore/ Nix frame synchronisation
Download Individual Nix Frames
Nix vs. Zapruder comparison video
Mark Lane interview with Orville Nix
Nix POV of the assassination sequence (JFK Reloaded computer simulation)
Nix Film headshot sequence shown at ¼ speed:

The Mary Muchmore Film

Click on image to watch
Video Running Time : 2 Minutes 19 seconds

Mary Muchmore was one of the closest witness to the assassination and managed to capture the last few seconds including the head shot. (m567 = z313)

What to look for?

  • Rear brake light turning on due to Secret Service Agent William Greer braking just before fatal head shot.
  • Presidential limousine slowing down.
  • Secret Service Agent Clint Hill catching up to the Presidential limousine.
  • Badge Man, a second shooter, possibly visible near the retaining wall.



See Zapruder/ Muchmore/ Nix frame synchronisation
Muchmore POV of the assassination sequence (JFK Reloaded computer simulation)

The Charles Bronson Film

jfk-conspiracy-charles-bronson-film
Click on image to watch
Video Running Time : 2 Minutes 7 seconds

Charles Bronson took this film from near the corner of Houston and Main streets. He captured the fatal head shot from afar (B254 = z313) and got a shot of the Texas School Book Depository.

What to look for?

  • No movement in Sniper’s Nest on the 6th floor on the Texas School Book Depository



Assassination sequence from Bronson’s POV (JFK Reloaded computer simulation)

The Dave Wiegman Film

jfk-conspiracy-dave-wiegman-film
Click on image to watch
Video Running Time : 2 Minutes 47 seconds

Dave Wiegman was a cameraman for NBC and was part of the motorcade in ‘Press Car 1’ (6th car behind Kennedy). Wiegman was filming at the time of the assassination sequence (w89 = z313), but was pointing his camera towards the doorway of the Texas School Book Depository. Wiegman then jumped out of the press car and continued filming while running towards the Grassy Knoll.

What to look for?

  • Oswald not in doorway. (according to his alibi, he would have been in the lunch room at this time)

The Elsie Dorman Film

jfk-conspiracy-elsie-dorman-film
Click on image to watch
Video Running Time : 1 Minute 24 seconds

Elsie Dorman took her footage from the 4th floor of the Texas School Book Depository where she worked as a mail supervisor for the Scott, Foresman Publishing Company. Dorman had an excellent vantage point, but unfortunately, she wasn’t proficient at using her husband’s new Kodak camera. (FPS 16.8) The film is shaky out of focus. Note that cameras at the time were not equipped with microphones, the films are not useful for determining how many shots were fired on November 22nd.

She did not capture the assassination sequence, although her camera was running at the moment of the fatal headshot, she was filming bystanders on the sidewalk at that time. Her film is nevertheless valuable for establishing timelines. (d408 = z313)

What to look for?

  • Tina Towner holding her camera on the corner of Elm and Houston Streets. (See the Towner film here)



Dorman POV of the assassination sequence (JFK Reloaded computer simulation)

The Elsie Dorman Gallery (Robin Unger’s JFK Assassination Photo Galleries)


The Robert Hughes Film

jfk-conspiracy-robert-hughes-film
Click on image to watch
Video Running Time : 2 Minutes 55 seconds

Robert Hughes was located on the corner of Houston and Main streets. He shot Kennedy’s limo as it was coming down Main Street and turning unto Houston Street. From this location, Hughes was able to get footage of the Texas School Book Depository moments before the fatal shots. It shows an empty Sniper’s Nest,lending support to Oswald’s Alibi.

He films the rest of the motorcade of Houston street and then stops filming until he realizes that something happened and points his camera towards the Grassy Knoll. He then walks to the Grassy Knoll and captures footage of the railway parking lot and the Texas School Book Depository.

The film also shows motorcycle police officer H.B. McLain making the turn from Main Street unto Houston Street. According to acoustic evidence presented to the House Select Committees on Assassination by Bolt Beranek and Newman, H.B. McLain’s CB radio, stuck in the on position, had transmitted audio of the gunshots to the Dallas Police Department’s Dictabelt machine and recorded.

However, the Hughes film also shows that Bolt Beranek and Newman had greatly overestimated the speed at which Officer McLain traveled and that he could not have been where they say he was, casting doubt on the acoustic evidence.

What to look for?



Assassination sequence from Hugues’ POV (JFK Reloaded computer simulation)

The Robert Hughes Gallery (Robin Unger’s JFK Assassination Photo Galleries)


The Tina Towner Film

jfk-conspiracy-tina-towner-film
Click on image to watch
Video Running Time : 2 Minutes 22 seconds

13-year old Tina Towner was standing on the corner of Elm Street and Houston Street. She shot the Presidential limo as it was making the turn from Houston Street onto Elm Street with the Texas School Book Depository seen in the background. She did not catch the assassination itself. The film is damaged moments before the first shot and stops just over 10 seconds before the final headshot.

Towner used a Sears Tower Varizoom (FPS 22.8)

What to look for?



Assassination sequence from Towner’s POV (JFK Reloaded computer simulation)


The Mark Bell Film

jfk-conspiracy-mark-bell-film
Click on image to watch
Video Running Time : 3 Minutes 2 seconds

Mark Bell was standing close to Houston Street and Main Street. He caught the Presidential limousine passing in front of the Texas School Book Depository while the limo is turning from Houston Street to Elm Street. The film also shows the aftermath of the assassination with the motorcade speeding off under the underpass towards Parkland Hospital.

What to look for?

  • The Babushka Lady can be seen standing calmly despite everyone around her attempting to take cover.
  • Badge Man, the shooter allegedly present in the Orville Nix film and the Moorman Photograph is not visible near the retaining wall.



Bell POV of the assassination sequence (JFK Reloaded computer simulation)

The Mark Bell Gallery (Robin Unger’s JFK Assassination Photo Galleries)


The John Martin Film

jfk-conspiracy-john-martin-film
Click on image to watch
Video Running Time : 25 seconds

The John Martin film first shows the motorcade taking the corner from Main Street onto Houston Street then taking the corner onto Elm Street with trees and branches obstructing his shot. He then moves to a third location and gets the aftermath of the assassination.

What to look for?

  • Crowd’s reaction to the shooting



Assassination sequence from Martin’s POV (JFK Reloaded computer simulation)

The Malcolm Couch Film

jfk-conspiracy-malcolm-couch-film
Click on image to watch
Video Running Time : 2 Minutes 7 seconds

Malcolm Couch was a cameraman for WFAA TV, a Dallas news outlet. He was part of the presidential motorcade in Press Car 3, eight cars behind Kennedy. Couch was not filming during the assassination. He testified to the Warren Commission to having seen a rifle being pulled back from a 6th or 7th floor window of the Texas School Book Depository.

What to look for?

  • Dallas police officer Marion L. Baker setting down his motorcycle and running into the Texas School Book Depository.

Baker would then meet with Superintendent Roy Truly and run towards the roof encountering Oswald calmly sipping on a cola. This would later become a crucial point is establishing means, and opportunity for Oswald’s in absentia prosecution by the Warren Commission.



Individual frames from here.


The Patsy Paschall Film

jfk-conspiracy-patsy-paschall-film
Click on image to watch
Video Running Time : 1 Minute 41 seconds

Patsy Paschall was on the third floor of the Houston Street courthouse. It shows the motorcade coming down Houston Street underneath her building as well as the chaos following the shootings.

What to look for?

  • Possible movement behind the fence. 😕



The Patsy Paschall Film by Greg Jaynes
Paschall POV of the assassination sequence, 2nd location (JFK Reloaded computer simulation)

The James Darnell Film

jfk-conspiracy-james-darnell-film
Click on image to watch
Video Running Time : 3 Minutes

The footage taken by James Darnell shows the aftermath of the assassination only. Nevertheless, is very interesting historical footage. It begins with assassination witness Bill Newmans pounding the ground in anger. Darnell also walks behind the knoll and films the chaotic scene. He also captures Dallas Deputy Sheriff Roger Craig looking for evidence of a shooter on the knoll.

What to look for?

  • Dallas police officer Roger Craig examining the Grassy Knoll area.

The George Jefferies Film

jfk-conspiracy-george-jefferies-film
Click on image to watch
Video Running Time : 40 seconds

This George Jefferies film emerged publicly in early 2007 and shows the motorcade going down Main Street a few blocks from Dealey Plaza minutes before the assassination.

It also shows footage of the School Book Depository taken at an unknown time following the assassination.

What to look for?

  • Nice footage of Jack and Jackie Kennedy on Main Street.

The Jack Daniel Film

jfk-conspiracy-jack-daniel-film
Click on image to watch
Video Running Time : 22 seconds

Jack W. Daniel was standing just past the Triple Overpass and caught the limo as it was speeding up following the shooting. His kids are seen in the foreground waving, unaware of what had just happened.

What to look for?

  • Confusing scene of the Presidential limo zooming past the Daniels.

The Charles Mentesana Film

jfk-conspiracy-charles-mentesana-film
Click on image to watch
Video Running Time : 1 Minute 45 seconds

The Charles Mentesana film is traditionally not part of the Assassination film canon, but it does show interesting footage of police organizing themselves, as well as footage of the Texas School Book Depository and the Dal-Tex Building. (Where Larry Florer would be arrested moments later)

What to look for?

  • Dallas Police removing a rifle from the roof of the Texas School Book Depository. (disputed claim: Possibly a police shotgun – but anyway, you have something to look for 😉 ).