My Boy Jack |  | Director: Brian Kirk
Actors: David Haig, Daniel Radcliffe, Kim Cattrall, Carey Mulligan, Julian Wadham
Studio: BBC Warner
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy New: $12.77
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Rating:  34 reviews
Sales Rank: 10787
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 93 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 1000037030
UPC: 883929009350
EAN: 0883929009350
ASIN: B0011FDVGI
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Release Date: April 22, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Its 1915 and World War I has been declared. Aged only 17, Kiplings son, like most of his generation, is swept up in the enthusiasm to fight the Germans, a mood stoked vigorously by his father. Jack is cripplingly short sighted and the army has rejected him twice, rendering him too myopic even for an army suffering thousands of casualties a week and desperate for recruits. Yet Rudyard is undeterred |
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Product Description
Its 1915 and World War I has been declared. Aged only 17 Kiplings son like most of his generation is swept up in the enthusiasm to fight the Germans a mood stoked vigorously by his father. Jack is cripplingly short sighted and the army has rejected him twice rendering him too myopic even for an army suffering thousands of casualties a week and desperate for recruits. Yet Rudyard is undeterred determined that his son should go to the front like countless other sons and fight for the values that he Kipling espouses so publicly. Using his fame and influence Kipling persuades Lord Roberts on his death bed to get Jack a commission in the Irish guards. This intervention is barely tolerated by Carrie and daughter Elise (Carey Mulligan) as they disagree that Jack is fit to fight and fear for his safety on the front line. Jack is instantly popular with his troop he is a great leader and trains tirelessly to overcome the disability that is his eyesight. Six months later Jack sails to France as a lieutenant. Jack went missing in action during the Battle of Loos and his mother and father carried out an increasingly desperate search for him spanning many years and many miles.Running Time: 93 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/BBC UPC: 883929009350 Manufacturer No: 1000037030
Amazon.com
As affecting as it is thought-provoking, ITV's My Boy Jack illustrates the dangers of unbridled patriotism. To grow up the child of a famous author is burden enough, but when the boy must embody the beliefs of the man, the consequences can be devastating. In the case of John "Jack" Kipling (Harry Potter's Daniel Radcliffe in his most mature role to date), 17-year-old son of Rudyard Kipling (Four Weddings and a Funeral's David Haig), his father's passion for King and Country leads to a preventable tragedy. Based on Haig's play, the proceedings begin in 1914, prior to the outbreak of World War II. Jack attempts to join the army and the navy, but both reject him due to severe shortsightedness, so Kipling Sr. pulls strings to place him with the Irish Guards. Jack's sister, Elsie (Bleak House's Carey Mulligan), and American-born mother, Caroline (a brunette Kim Cattrall), would rather he serve the war effort at home. Through hard work and determination, Jack scales the ranks from private to lieutenant, but goes missing in France, and many months pass before the family solves the mystery of his disappearance. In the end, My Boy Jack, which aired in England on Remembrance Day, concerns itself more with paying tribute than apportioning blame, and Haig skillfully portrays Kipling's guilt in putting his son in harm's way and pride in a brave soldier who "played his part properly." Special features include interviews and deleted scenes. Parental advisory suggested due to situation-appropriate language and teen smoking. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 34
 Quite realistic January 30, 2010
Bradley F. Smith (Miami Beach, FL)
If you know anything at all about WWI, you will find this British drama effectively realistic in its depiction of the naive fervor that affected young men drawn to serve their countries in the Great War. Here, Harry Potter goes off as the son of Rudyard Kipling, one of the most fervent war-boosters. Like millions of others, he lasts two weeks before being mowed down. The dynamic here is a father-son story. But the bigger story is spot on accurate about the nature of battle, if not the specific details. Don't worry about that. This is a great combo of history and drama.
 Powerful and Moving December 27, 2009
Nate is my fake name (MA, USA)
I won't comment on the historical accuracies or inaccuracies of this film (for example, obviously we cannot know what Jack's final moments were exactly like; the only reason this gets a 4). While the changing of events in otherwise historical films can severely detract from the quality of the work, I do not believe that was the case here, as I feel this is much more about the characters than anything else.
I purchased this because I am a long time fan of Kipling, and the first thing I thought of when I saw this movie in the store was, "Hey, that's the name of a Kipling poem!" I picked it up, read the back of the case, and bought it.
The acting is superb. Daniel Radcliffe, otherwise known for his work in the Harry Potter movies, pulls of this dramatic role powerfully and believably. Haig's performance as the senior Kipling is incredibly moving. First, I was appalled at how he glorified war and the state, and then I felt pity for his loss and heartbreak, but the important thing is that in both cases I FELT it, and I BELIEVED it. This was truly some of the best acting I've seen this year.
The anguish that Jack's parents felt was powerful and moving, and Haig's reciting of the poem at the end of the movie literally gave me goosebumps and, yes I'll admit, brought a few tears to my eyes.
I highly recommend this movie. 4.5 stars
Vanity on parade September 3, 2009
LV (FRANKLIN, MA USA)
I could try to come up with solid and convincing reasons why this M/P Theatre offering really grabbed me, but all that matters is that it did. Kipling is portrayed very much as a British Teddy Roosevelt, bully bully, pacifists are traitors, damn the torpedoes,..... you know. And it all very predictably comes back to haunt him through his manipulation of his son. But the filming , performances, and themes all combine for an engrossing film, even if it is predictable. I kept thinking what a terribly difficult way to come face to face with one's ego, and understand yourself better. One of the very last things that Kipling says is that he let his son down, meaning that he did not see clearly and do right by him. This is one of those films where you can see it coming a mile away, and yet you're held transfixed.
Really Smashing!! July 9, 2009
P. Jacobs (Oregon)
If I were giving out awards, I would love to give several to this production. The most smashing male performance in the film was that of David Haig. Rudyard would have been proud of him. The thing that I love about this movie is the attention to detail, from the realism of the trenches to the costuming and the fact that they actually filmed it at the Kipling home, makes this production of "My Boy Jack" one of the best films made.
Daniel Radcliffe was the natural pick for Harry Potter; and all of us fans have watched him grow from a small boy to the man that he portayed in this movie put out a fine, fine performance as the young man that went to war for King and Country.
I cannot say enough about Kim Catrall that played Jack's mother. She impressed me and I believe that it was her finest role to this point.
It really conveys the impact, not only losing a son, but losing a brother and a cherished member of a family to war.
review:MY BOY JACK April 18, 2009
John J. Ryan
I am familiar with WW1 info and Kiplings life.The movie is an accurate depiction of what transpired with his son Jack.Production values and acting are first rate.Pls. note that Jacks body was not found by the end of the movie,and indeed his remains were not found until several years ago.(it is unfortunate that there is now some dispute about this.)Of course the Kipling family was long dead when his supposed body was found,joining thousands and thousands of families in the same grief.
John
Showing reviews 1-5 of 34
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