Film 'November 1963' Proposes Mob Role in JFK Assassination

A new film titled "November 1963" presents a compelling theory that the Chicago mob, led by Sam Giancana, played a central role in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The narrative, which opens in theaters on December 4, suggests that the fatal shot was not fired by Lee Harvey Oswald, but by mob associate Johnny Roselli from the infamous grassy knoll in Dallas.

The story originates from Nicki Celozzi, a Hollywood screenwriter and distant relative of Giancana. Celozzi recounts being told the tale by his great-uncle, Pepe Giancana, outside their family car dealership. Pepe, who was Sam Giancana's brother, claimed that the assassination was a mob hit. Celozzi noted that his mother advised him to keep quiet about the revelation because key figures from that era were still alive.

According to the film's premise, Giancana and other mob leaders helped secure Illinois votes to elect JFK in 1960. In exchange, they expected the White House to ease its grip on organized crime. However, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy intensified the crackdown, which the mob viewed as a breach of an unwritten contract. Celozzi explained that the mob did not see Kennedy as a president, but rather as someone who had wronged them.

John Travolta stars in the film as Johnny Roselli, a figure described as both a socialite and a sharpshooter who was implicated in various CIA plots against Fidel Castro. Travolta, who was nine years old when Kennedy was killed, described the experience of playing the role as a challenge. He stated that while it was not fun to portray, he enjoyed the process of committing to the character's atrocities without necessarily feeling good about them.

Travolta maintains that the film is not forcing a specific idea but is simply telling a story. When asked if he personally believes the premise, he called it the best presentation he had seen so far. The movie aligns with the findings of the House Select Committee, which concluded that a fourth shot was likely fired by a second gunman from the grassy knoll.

Stephen Fagin, head curator at the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas, noted that public skepticism regarding Oswald acting alone remains high. He cited a Gallup survey from three years ago showing that 65% of Americans do not believe Oswald was a lone gunman. Fagin argued that the idea of a disgruntled ex-Marine using a cheap rifle to alter history is deeply unsatisfying to many people.

While Fagin does not necessarily confirm mob involvement, he acknowledged that the murder of Jack Ruby, who had low-level mob ties, two days after the assassination made it appear as if the mob was silencing witnesses. The aftermath was further muddied by the 1975 murder of Sam Giancana in his Chicago home and the discovery of Roselli's body in an oil drum the following year.

Bonnie Giancana, Sam's daughter, said she had no doubt her father was involved in the assassination. She described her father as a wonderful and caregiving person in private but noted that he had no regard for the Kennedy family. When asked what she would say to the Kennedys, she expressed her sorrow for his death but added that there was nothing more to say that would make a difference.

The film draws on historical locations, including Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse in Chicago. Beneath this 131-year-old building lies the remnants of Frank Nitti's hideout, a known associate of Al Capone. During a tour of the secret passageway, Celozzi discovered a photo of his great-uncle, Sam Giancana, further connecting his personal history to the underworld legend.

Like the eternal flame at Arlington National Cemetery, theories about the assassination continue to burn. Celozzi hopes the film will encourage audiences to consider that this story might have been known all along, but people chose not to hear it. The release of "November 1963" keeps the debate alive regarding who truly stole the hopes of a generation.