Introduction

Dog Jack is a 2010 film based on the book of the same name by Florence W. Biros.

The film is inspired by the true story of the mascot of the 102nd Pennsylvania Regiment during the American Civil War.

Outline

The story revolves around a boy named Jed (Benjamin Gardner) – and was accompanied by his dog Jack (the namesake of the story) who escape from slavery on their master’s plantation to join the Union Army during the American Civil War, and have to face their former master on the battlefield.

The dog became the regiment’s mascot during the war, who was so prized by his regiment for his skills in battle, that he was twice exchanged for a Confederate prisoner of war.

Trivia

• The film was shot mostly in and around the borough of Darlington, Pennsylvania just outside the city of Pittsburgh. Other locations included North Freedom, Wisconsin, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois.
• It was an official selection in the St. Louis International Film Festival, Black Harvest Film Festival, San Francisco Black Film Festival, and the International Family Film Festival.
• It won Best Drama at the San Diego Black Film Festival.
• It premiered at Pittsburgh’s Soldiers and Sailors National Military Museum and Memorial, which was one of the shooting locations of the film.
• Dog Jack had a limited theatrical release before releasing nationwide on DVD 31 January 2012 by Screen Media Films, available at Redbox, Family Video, Walmart, Target, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, among others.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s): Edward T. McDougal.
• Producer(s): Donald Albert.
• Writer(s): Florence Biros and Edward T. McDougal.
• Distributor(s): Screen Media Films.
• Release Date: 29 August 2010.
• Running Time: 104 minutes.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.