A Private Battle was adapted by the ubiquitous John Gay from the posthumously published memoirs of historical author Cornelius Ryan. At the height of his fame, Ryan (
Jack Warden) is stricken with prostate cancer. During his last four deteriorating years, Ryan keeps a secret record of the events leading up to his inevitable demise.
Anne Jackson costars as Ryan's wife Katie, who discovered the notebook and published it on the occasion of Ryan's death. A Private Battle also delves into Ryan's personal problems with his alienated teenaged son (David Stockton)--a fact which gave the publicity boys an excuse to misleadingly advertise this TV movie, suggesting that Ryan's illness was treatable but his family troubles were not. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide