Before Oliver Stone's "JFK", there was Executive Action (1973) now on DVD

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070046/

http://www.deepdiscount.com/viewproduct.htm?productId=21276578


The subject of a secret conspiracy to assassinate JFK is the theme of this drama. This was Robert Ryan's last film.

A group of men from the government, military, and industry conspire to assassinate President John F. Kennedy, out of concern that JFK might pull US forces out of Vietnam.

"Executive Action" story writer Mark Lane previously produced the Emile de Antonio documentary "Rush to Judgment" (1967). Both the film and the Mark Lane book it was based on refuted the Warren Commission's report on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and advanced Lane's own conspiracy theory. Lane posited that had Kennedy won the 1964 election, he would have ended all US involvement in the Vietnam conflict. Right-wing forces, fearing this, felt an assassination was necessary to protect US interests.

The 1973 film preceded "JFK" in mixing black & white documentary footage with staged fictional color film, shot on location. This low-budget film was released around the tenth anniversary of the November 22, 1963 assassination.

[ailsagirl]

1. EXCELLENT MOVIE-- highly, highly recommended

Thanks for posting

[dflprincess]

2. I second that

I watched it a couple months ago - it was chilling.

[ailsagirl]

19. Yes, unlike Stone's splashy "JFK," this is in a class of its own.

And "chilling" is the word alright...

Nothing against Stone-- this film was just more taut, more
edgy, IMO.

[csziggy]

3. Thank you! I saw that movie in the theatre when it was first released

But I have not been able to remember the title in the last few years. Now I can look for the DVD and watch it again - something I have wanted to do for a long time.

[libnnc]

4. Netflix has it. Added to my queue. n/t

[Octafish]

5. A main idea was the Reich feared a Kennedy dynasty.

The ultimate motive for the assassinations of President Kennedy and Senator Kennedy was the fact the Kennedys were a political dynasty. I remember a scene in the film where there was a chart on an easel. On it were three names and dates, writ large:

John F. Kennedy 1961-1969
Robert F. Kennedy 1969-1977
Edward M. Kennedy 1977-1985.

If JFK had been re-elected, there's a good case to be made that Bobby would've replaced LBJ on the ticket in 1964. As things have turned out, the only dynasty I see around is named "Bush." And they are so far from the Kennedys, I'd think there'd been a coup in 1963.

Look forward to seeing the film again. Thank you for the heads-up, Omaha Steve!

[defendandprotect]

23. It unmasked corporate/elite willingness to overturn the US government . . .

in their coup on JFK ---

And, it quite well revealed the mechanics of how the JFK assassination was pulled off ---

[Jakes Progress]

6. Now that was a scary movie.

Probably because it is so plausible.

[MinM]

7. Burt Lancaster was the man when it came to this genre:

Seven Days in May (1964) with John Frankenheimer, who had an interesting career as well.
Executive Action (1973)
Twilight's Last Gleaming (1978)
The Osterman Weekend (1983)

-more-

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/MinM/2

:kick:'n R

[MinM]

15. Donald Sutherland wanted it subtitled "Conspiracy In America"

Executive Action:

Conspiracy
In
America


Mark Lane the man who wrote Executive Action (1973), gives some background on that movie at the 37 minute mark here:

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/MinM/2

[Omaha Steve]

8. Can I get one more R?

This post is worth it.

[Trailrider1951]

10. No problemo!

K&R. Thanks, Steve.

[Omaha Steve]

12. Thank you too

I'm hoping more people see this.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

9. Thank you! I'm going to have to check this out! I loved Robert Ryan. BTW...He was a friend of Woody

Guthrie and was one of the narrators for The Woody Guthrie Memorial Concert that was held at Carnegie Hall in 1968. Great Concert!

[libnnc]

11. Did not know that about Robert Ryan

Interesting. I love Hollywood trivia.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

13. Here's some more...he was a supporter of those blacklisted in Hollywood

and started an anti-nuke group too. He was very cool.

BTW... Will Geer, of The Walton Family fame, was also a narrator!

[Mme. Defarge]

14. Currently reading "JFK and the Unspeakable"

by James Douglass. Same premise, extremely well documented, utterly chilling. Especially poignant was the account of how Robert Kennedy appealed to Khrushchev for help during the Cuban Missile crisis because he feared our military was about to stage a coup against President Kennedy; Khrushchev agreed to help him by backing off first. This was a result of the ongoing secret communications between the two leaders, initiated by Kennedy in his quest for peace and the avoidance of total nuclear annihilation.

It wasn't just Kennedy's stance on Viet Nam that put him at odds with the Pentagon and the CIA -- and most of his administration for that matter -- but also his overtures to Khrushchev, and eventually Castro, to carry on a dialog about peace, and ways to co-exist in the midst of our differences. With the Joint Chiefs apparently planning a nuclear first strike against the Soviet Union and the CIA determined to overthrow Castro, it appears that Kennedy and Khrushchev were each putting a finger in the holes in the dike.

Simply unbelievable. And a cautionary tale of we are really up against today.

[defendandprotect]

24. IKE didn't make it clear....but he had also been betrayed by CIA and Pentagon . . .

The U-2 flight was but one example ---

the Pentagon made sure it came down in order to stop the Paris Peace Summit ---

[stranger81]

16. Thanks for the recommendation! K&R [n/t]

[MilesColtrane]

17. In other news...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FORD_FBI_FILE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


Ford informs Hoover that dissent on Warren Commission would be "no problem".

Aug 9, 12:31 PM EDT

Ford told FBI about panel's doubts on JFK murder

By MICHAEL J. SNIFFEN
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former President Ford secretly advised the FBI that two of his fellow members on the Warren Commission doubted the FBI's conclusion that John F. Kennedy was shot from the sixth floor of the Texas Book Depository in Dallas, according to newly released records from Ford's FBI files.

-snip-

The new details were included in 500 pages of the FBI's large file on Ford, released in part this past week in response to requests under the Freedom of Information Act that The Associated Press and others made on the day Ford died in December 2006. The FBI intends to release additional documents about Ford in several batches, all with parts censored for law enforcement and privacy reasons.

-snip-

It was also well-known Ford was an outspoken proponent of the bureau's conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald killed Kennedy acting alone.

"Two members of the commission brought up the fact that they still were not convinced that the President had been shot from the sixth floor window of the Texas Book Depository," DeLoach wrote. "These members failed to understand the trajectory of the slugs that killed the President. He stated he felt this point would be discussed further but, of course, would represent no problem."

There was no explanation of what Ford meant by "no problem."

[MinM]

21. Mole exposed doubts on JFK assassination

Mole exposed doubts on JFK assassination | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press

WASHINGTON -- More intrigue about the death of President John F. Kennedy:

Former President Gerald R. Ford secretly advised the FBI that two of his fellow members on the Warren Commission doubted the FBI's conclusion that Kennedy was shot from the sixth floor of the Texas Book Depository in Dallas. This is according to newly released records from Ford's FBI files.

Ford, then a Republican congressman from Grand Rapids, also told a senior FBI official about internal panel disputes over hiring staff, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren's timetable for completing the final report on the assassination and what panel members said about the FBI.

In turn, Assistant FBI Director Cartha (Deke) DeLoach confidentially advised Ford of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover's position on panel disputes, discussed where leaks were coming from and, with Hoover's personal approval, loaned him a bureau briefcase with a lock so he could securely take the FBI report on the 1963 assassination with him on a ski trip...
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080810/NEWS07/808100406/1009/NEWS07

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/?az=archives&j=4168&page=2

[defendandprotect]

25. Ford moved the JFK wound . . . from his RIGHT SHOULDER . . . .

up to the back of his neck --- !!!

Had to be done in order to create a "magic bullet" theory ---

[MinM]

18. Executive Action (1973) video

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x167731

[Riddler]

20. Thanks for the info! I saw it when it first came out and loved it. Had forgotten all about it.

[defendandprotect]

22. Fantastic movie which pretty much said it all in 1973 --- !!!!

Beware, however, because they made another movie with same title --- just coincidentally!

[ailsagirl]

26. kick