My Boy Jack

David Haig plays literary legend Rudyard Kipling and Daniel Radcliffe is his son Jack in this 2007 BBC TV-movie adaptation of Haig's 1997 stage play. Rudyard campaigned for Britain to enter World War I, appealing to men's patriotism to serve king and country. Naturally, Jack is determined to join the British army and make his papa proud. But there's a problem: Jack is unfit for service due to bad eyesight, so Rudyard uses his influence to get his son a commission. When Jack goes missing in action, his mother Caroline (Kim Cattrall) leads a family campaign to find out what happened to her son, and Rudyard is forced to face the real-world consequences of his nationalist ideals. Although Radcliffe only appears in a few scenes—a supporting role but an adult part, his first while making the Harry Potter films—he performs with conviction and distinction. Radcliffe will likely be the draw for this movie (he is the only actor featured on the DVD cover)—which was directed by Brian Kirk and originally aired in the U.S. on PBS's Masterpiece—but the entire cast (including future Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan as Jack's sister, Elsie) is excellent, and the drama, while admittedly downbeat, offers an interesting perspective on World War I. Extras include cast interviews, deleted scenes, and a segment on WWI featuring historian Niall Ferguson. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)