DOCUMENTARY FILM - JOHN F. KENNEDY: YEARS OF LIGHTNING, DAY OF DRUMS

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, the Library will be showing “John F. Kennedy: Years of Lightning, Day of Drums”,   a film that has been newly released in the U.S. Made by the United States Information Agency in 1964 as a memorial tribute to President Kennedy to be shown overseas, this film captures the spirit and vitality of his presidency with excerpts from many of his speeches as well as color footage of his swearing in and inaugural address. The film was originally not intended for viewing by the general public; however, the quality of the film was considered so outstanding that a special act of Congress allowed it to be shown in regular motion picture theaters. Two years after the film's actual completion, it made its debut in regular movie houses.

The film concentrates on President Kennedy's public achievements in office, among them the launching of the Peace Corps, the successful resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the successful attempt to put American astronauts into outer space, the beginning of the Alliance for Progress, the signing of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, and Kennedy's original drafting of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, alternating coverage of these achievements with somber footage of the funeral procession carrying Kennedy's casket.

Written and directed by Bruce Herschensohn, who also composed the music.
Narrated by Gregory Peck
Running Time: 90 minutes
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release date: November 12, 2013

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