Killing Kennedy (2013) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

The film interweaves Lee Harvey Oswald's radicalization with John F. Kennedy's political crisis and the events leading to the Dallas assassination.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Celebration Interrupted

The film opens with Oswald carrying a suspicious package, then shifts to Kennedy's welcoming motorcade in Dallas. Gunfire abruptly transforms public celebration into impending tragedy.

Key Events

• Curtain Rod Package — Lee Harvey Oswald carries a package described as containing curtain rods. Characters: Lee Harvey Oswald Location: Unspecified setting
• Dallas Welcomes Kennedy — A cheering crowd welcomes Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy during the Dallas motorcade. Characters: John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson Location: Dallas motorcade route
• Gunfire Interrupts Celebration — Gunfire suddenly interrupts the public celebration and foreshadows the tragedy. Characters: John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson Location: Dallas motorcade route

The Making of a Radical

Oswald announces his intention to renounce American citizenship and declares his Marxist rejection of democratic and capitalist society. Richard Snyder warns him, but Oswald remains determined.

Key Events

• Oswald Visits Snyder — Oswald tells Snyder that he intends to renounce his American citizenship. Characters: Lee Harvey Oswald, Richard Snyder Location: Richard Snyder's office
• Oswald Claims Marxism — Oswald declares himself a Marxist and rejects democratic and capitalist society. Characters: Lee Harvey Oswald, Richard Snyder Location: Richard Snyder's office
• Snyder Warns Oswald — Snyder warns that Oswald's decision could make him a traitor and be difficult to reverse. Characters: Lee Harvey Oswald, Richard Snyder Location: Richard Snyder's office
• Return From Soviet Union — Oswald returns from the Soviet Union and faces questions about his past. Characters: Lee Harvey Oswald Location: United States
• Political Beliefs Questioned — Oswald is questioned about his beliefs, foreign activities, and possible intelligence connections. Characters: Lee Harvey Oswald Location: Interview setting
• Oswald Refuses Explanation — Oswald refuses to explain his political and overseas history. Characters: Lee Harvey Oswald Location: Interview setting

Crisis at Home and Abroad

Oswald's return from the Soviet Union brings questioning and domestic strain. At the same time, Kennedy manages the Cuban crisis while Oswald displays a pistol and discusses political violence.

Key Events

• Domestic Tensions — Oswald's troubled home life is shown as political tension affects his relationship with Marina. Characters: Lee Harvey Oswald, Marina Oswald Location: Oswald household
• Pistol Displayed — Oswald displays a pistol to Marina and discusses political violence. Characters: Lee Harvey Oswald, Marina Oswald Location: Oswald household
• Cuban Crisis Escalates — John F. Kennedy confronts the danger of nuclear war during the Cuban crisis. Characters: John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy Location: White House
• Diplomatic Communication — Kennedy instructs Robert to communicate with the Soviet ambassador. Characters: John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy Location: White House
• Missiles Withdrawn — The Cuban crisis is resolved when the Soviet missiles are withdrawn. Characters: John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy Location: Washington

Dallas Draws Near

After an embassy rejection, Oswald claims he has no home and eventually settles in Dallas. Intelligence concerns and the approaching motorcade increase the sense of surveillance and danger.

Key Events

• Embassy Rejection — After being rejected at a foreign embassy, Oswald claims that he has no home. Characters: Lee Harvey Oswald Location: Foreign embassy
• Dallas Lodgings Found — Oswald later finds work and lodgings in Dallas. Characters: Lee Harvey Oswald Location: Dallas
• Intelligence Search — Intelligence concerns lead an agent to search for Oswald through his Dallas connections. Characters: Lee Harvey Oswald Location: Dallas residence

The Fatal Window

Witnesses report shots from a building overlooking the motorcade, and Kennedy is critically wounded. The immediate reactions of Jacqueline, Robert, and Kenny lead into the beginning of the investigation.

Key Events

• Motorcade Underway — The presidential motorcade moves through Dallas as witnesses observe the route. Characters: John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson Location: Dallas motorcade route
• Rifleman Reported — Witnesses report shots from a building and describe a rifleman in a window. Characters: John F. Kennedy Location: Building overlooking motorcade route
• Kennedy Is Wounded — John F. Kennedy is critically wounded during the Dallas attack. Characters: John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy Location: Presidential motorcade
• Emergency Telephone News — Robert F. Kennedy receives the telephone news that the president has been critically wounded. Characters: Robert F. Kennedy, John F. Kennedy Location: Robert F. Kennedy's location
• Kenny Seeks Direction — Kenny O'Donnell struggles to determine what to do after the shooting. Characters: Kenny O'Donnell, John F. Kennedy Location: Dallas crisis scene
• Jacqueline Stays Behind — Jacqueline refuses to leave Kennedy and tries to reach him as doctors fight to save his life. Characters: Jacqueline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy Location: Emergency medical setting
• Investigation Begins — Dallas descends into chaos as the assassination investigation begins. Characters: Lee Harvey Oswald, John F. Kennedy Location: Dallas

Story Breakdown

• Dallas Foreshadowing — The opening contrasts Oswald's suspicious package with Kennedy's public welcome before gunfire interrupts the celebration.
  • Curtain Rod Package — Oswald carries a package described as containing curtain rods.
  • Motorcade Gunfire — A Dallas celebration is suddenly interrupted by gunfire.
• Oswald's Radical Turn — Oswald publicly rejects his former national and political identity and embraces Marxist beliefs.
  • Citizenship Renunciation — Oswald tells Richard Snyder that he intends to renounce American citizenship.
  • Marxist Declaration — He claims to reject democratic and capitalist society.
• Snyder's Warning — Richard Snyder challenges Oswald's decision and warns him about its lasting consequences.
  • Traitor Warning — Snyder says the decision could make Oswald a traitor.
  • Defiant Choice — Oswald insists that he has already made up his mind.
• Return and Suspicion — Oswald's return from the Soviet Union produces questions about his beliefs, activities, and possible connections.
  • Political Questioning — Oswald is questioned about his ideology and activities abroad.
  • Refused Explanation — He refuses to explain his past.
• Violence at Home — Oswald's troubled domestic life reveals the growing presence of revolutionary violence in his private world.
  • Household Strain — The plot shows difficult living conditions involving Oswald and Marina.
  • Pistol Display — Oswald shows Marina a pistol while discussing political violence.
• Cuban Missile Crisis — Kennedy confronts the danger of nuclear war and uses Robert F. Kennedy as a diplomatic intermediary.
  • Nuclear Danger — Kennedy faces the threat posed by Soviet missiles.
  • Missile Withdrawal — The crisis ends when the Soviet missiles are withdrawn.
• Oswald in Dallas — After rejection abroad, Oswald claims rootlessness and establishes himself in Dallas.
  • No Home Claimed — Oswald says he has no home after an embassy rejection.
  • Work and Lodging — He finds employment and lodgings in Dallas.
• Assassination Aftermath — The Dallas shooting wounds Kennedy, devastates those around him, and begins the investigation.
  • Critical Wounding — Kennedy is critically wounded after shots are reported from a building.
  • Investigation Begins — Dallas falls into chaos as the assassination investigation starts.

Directed by

Nelson McCormick

Key Cast

• Rob Lowe — John F. Kennedy
• Will Rothhaar — Lee Harvey Oswald
• Ginnifer Goodwin — Jacqueline Kennedy
• Michelle Trachtenberg — Marina Oswald
• Jack Noseworthy — Robert F. Kennedy