Kennedy (1983 Mini-Series)
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Episodes: B-
Martin Sheen leads a very good cast in Kennedy, a
1983 TV mini-series that remains one of the most interesting takes on their
story yet. Focusing on JFK’s White
House years, the three-parts run 310 minutes, but they add up to time well
spent. The only problem is there is the
kind of artificial limit to this that smacks of commercial network TV limits. Otherwise, it is a good watch, thanks in
part to a solid supporting cast that includes John Shea, E.G. Marshall,
Geraldine Fitzgerald, Vincent Gardenia, and Blair Brown also star.
The mini-series is nicely paced and very watchable
considering how many things have been done on the subject since and how old it
is. Sheen is now known as the president
on TV’s The West Wing, but that does not hurt his work here. Jim Goddard’s directing deserves credit for
always treating the material down to Reg Gadney’s teleplay, seriously
enough. Though it does show its age
enough here and there to hold it back overall, that more of the story has
transpired since and it could have gone further, this Kennedy is
competent entertainment that pulls less punches than you’d think.
The 1.33 X 1 full frame image was shot on film and
cinematographer Ernie Vincze, A.S.C., does a good job of creating a look that
makes you believe the time period without overdoing it. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is good for its
age and Richard Hartley’s score is not bad.
Extras include four speeches: The JFK Inaugural Speech (15:31) is in a
good color print. The black and white One
Week In October is narrated by Gary Merrill, runs 29:17 and is
essentially a propaganda piece that says some people could survive a nuclear
confrontation and offers others half-truths.
One Day In Berlin offers JFK’s famous Berlin Wall speech,
was shot in black and white, running 9:18.
Then there is the reel on his last two days covering him up to the
assassination. It runs 7:23. This is a nice bonus such a set
deserves. Catch it.
- Nicholas Sheffo
