Today marks the 48^th anniversary of that tragic day in 1963 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated while riding in a cavalcade in Dallas, Texas. For innumerable conspiracy theorists, filmmakers and historians the Kennedy assassination has long been a popular subject of speculation. Now Oscar-winning documentarian Errol Morris offers this curious “cautionary tale” about one of the tragedy’s most peculiar elements: The Umbrella Man. 

On a bright and sunny day in Dallas, one lone figure dressed in black stood with an open umbrella, seeming to be a foreboding beacon for what was about to unfold right in front of him. In Morris’ NY Times-commissioned short The Umbrella Man, Josiah “Tink” Thompson, quirky yet charismatic author of 6 Seconds in Dallas: A Micro-Study of the Kennedy Assassination, reveals the truth of this mysterious figure who has inspired a spiraling series of fantastical narratives. Clocking in at only six minutes and 36 seconds, Morris’ thought provoking short is a must-see for his fans, who will relish in his trademark macabre sense of humor, and history buffs, who are sure to be intrigued by this strange (but true) story.

You can view the video in full at The New York Times:

What do you make of The Umbrella Man?