The Zapruder film has been called the most important 26 seconds of film in history. Consisting of only 486 frames of 8-millimeter Bell + Howell home movie footage, it was shot on the fateful day of the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas on November 22, 1963, by a dressmaker named Abraham Zapruder. Twenty-six seconds that included a historic, horrific, all-too-clear vision of a presidential assassination. For long it was deemed to be the only film footage existing of that brutal historic event.
But now we learn that there may be another film record of the incident.
A lawsuit has been filed by the heirs of Orville Nix, a Dallas maintenance worker who recorded a home movie capturing the assassination.
The family alleges that the US government has concealed this crucial footage for decades, and they are now seeking its return. The question is, why was this precious historic record kept from the public?
The significance of Nix’s original film, if it resurfaces today, cannot be overstated, according to CIA expert author Jefferson Morley. With recent advancements in digital image analysis technology, it could prove to be a breakthrough in solving the long-vexed question of whether JFK was killed by a “single shooter” or whether there was another sniper concealed in Dealey Plaza. The debate has been the subject of countless books, articles and speculation.
In 1979, the House Select Committee on Assassinations released its final report. It contained a shocking finding: “Scientific acoustical evidence establishes a high probability that two gunmen fired at President John F. Kennedy.” But this claim has never been confirmed or debunked. The mystery has persisted despite endless scrutiny of the Zapruder film and all other evidence available.
According to sources, Nix’s film, shot from the middle of Dealey Plaza, provides an unparalleled, clear view of the infamous “grassy knoll” where the presidential motorcade was ambushed on Elm Street in Dallas on November 22, 1963. Some researchers suspect that this specific location served as a strategic point for concealed snipers.
In 1978, as part of their investigation, the House Select Committee on Assassinations thoroughly examined Nix’s original film, enlisting the expertise of photo analysts for a detailed analysis. Based on their review, the committee concluded that Kennedy’s assassination was likely the result of a conspiracy involving “two gunmen.” However, technological limitations at the time cast doubt on the presence of these alleged shooters in Nix’s footage. Subsequently, the original film went missing, leaving behind only imperfect copies.
Nearly 50 years later, the Nix family remains hopeful that advanced computer image analysis of the original frames could potentially unveil hidden truths. While a previous lawsuit in 2015 was dismissed on jurisdictional grounds, the family has now returned to court with a comprehensive 52-page filing. The lawsuit meticulously traces the convoluted journey of the original film since its creation.
In 1963, Nix sold a 25-year license of the film to the UPI press agency for $5,000, with the understanding that it would be returned in 1988. Following Nix’s death in 1972, the film rights were transferred to his wife and son, who were unaware when the House Special Committee on Assassinations subpoenaed the original film from UPI in 1978.
The lawsuit exposes allegations of government mismanagement of this invaluable historical artifact, including claims of deceptive actions by officials from the National Archives and Records Administration.
Renowned photo expert Kenneth Castleman emphasizes the urgency of utilizing modern techniques to digitize the deteriorating Nix film before it reaches the end of its lifespan. The family is seeking $29.7 million in compensatory damages and the release of the film. As this legal battle unfolds, time is of the essence.
The fact of the matter is that, for one reason or another, deliberately or through mismanagement, it was kept from the public. The release of the Nix film could potentially shed new light on the long-standing mysteries surrounding President Kennedy’s assassination.
