Waco, the Big Lie

1993 documentary film by Linda Thompson
Waco, the Big Lie
The film claims that footage shows a tank with a flamethrower (circled), however it's been claimed that this footage has been manipulated.
Directed byLinda Thompson
Production
company
American Justice Federation
Running time
31 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Waco, the Big Lie is a 1993 American documentary film directed by Linda Thompson that presents video-based analysis regarding the Waco siege. The first film made about the Waco siege, Waco, the Big Lie gained significant notoriety when it was viewed during the trial of American domestic terrorist Timothy McVeigh. As part of the defense, McVeigh's lawyers showed Waco, the Big Lie to the jury.[1]

In 1994, the film was followed by a feature-length sequel titled Waco II, the Big Lie Continues, aimed at addressing criticisms of the original.

Thompson's films made a number of controversial allegations, the most famous of which was her claim that footage of an armored vehicle breaking through the outer walls of the compound[2] showed a flamethrower attached to the vehicle, setting fire to the building. As a response to Thompson, filmmaker Michael McNulty released footage to support his counter-claim that the appearance of light was a reflection on aluminized insulation that was torn from the wall and snagged on the vehicle. McNulty accused Thompson of "creative editing" in his film Waco: An Apparent Deviation. Thompson worked from a VHS copy of the surveillance tape; McNulty was given access to a beta original. However, McNulty in turn was later accused of having digitally altered his footage, an allegation he denied.[3]

John Young of the Waco Tribune-Herald criticized the film, questioning the evidence behind Thompson's claims.[4]

References

  1. ^ "People in the News: Timothy McVeigh: The Path to Death Row", transcript of program broadcast on CNN, June 9, 2001, 11:30 p.m. ET.
  2. ^ Passage of Waco, the Big Lie showing the tank scene
  3. ^ "Sources of Information: Veracity of American Justice Federation Videos". Waco Holocaust Electronic Museum. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  4. ^ Young, John (12 January 1994). "Cynical deceit: Waco: The Big Lie dupes many". Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved 15 July 2015.

External links

  • Waco, the Big Lie at IMDb Edit this at Wikidata
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Branch Davidians
Leadership
  • Clive Doyle
  • David Koresh
  • Wayne Martin
  • Charles Pace
  • Benjamin L. Roden
  • Lois Roden
  • Amo Bishop Roden
  • George Roden
  • Steve Schneider
Other Davidians
HistoryDoctrineWaco siegeInvestigationBooks and Publications
  • A Place Called Waco: A Survivor's Story
  • Armageddon in Waco: Critical Perspectives on the Branch Davidian Conflict
  • The Ashes of Waco: An Investigation
  • The Branch Davidians of Waco: The History and Beliefs of an Apocalyptic Sect
  • The Davidian Massacre: Disturbing Questions About Waco That Must Be Answered
  • From the Ashes: Making Sense of Waco
  • Why Waco?: Cults and the Battle for Religious Freedom in America
Documentaries
  • Waco, the Big Lie
  • Waco II, the Big Lie Continues
  • Waco: The Rules of Engagement
  • Waco: A New Revelation
  • Waco: An Apparent Deviation
  • Day 51: The True Story of Waco
  • America Wake Up (Or Waco)
  • The Assault on Waco
  • Inside Waco
Television
  • In the Line of Duty: Ambush in Waco (1993)
  • Waco (2018)
  • Waco: American Apocalypse (2023)
  • Waco: The Aftermath (2023)
  • WikiSource
  • WikiCommons


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