The Beniker Gang

I saw this movie a few times in the 1980s as a child and teen, and it always stuck with me. I think as a kid who didn't really have much family, and that I did not being the best for a child, and now estranged as an adult, I felt a lot of empathy with the characters, and wanted them to be together since they had found 'family' and didn't want to be parted.

This movie shows, not tells, a lot of the issues with the sad fact some kids are just not wanted, some have no relatives after mom and dad die, and some are terrified of strangers taking them against their will to foster or adopt. Kids who've faced more adversity than many adults at such young ages cannot be dismissed from the decision making process about their futures. 'I've lived in more homes than anyone here, seems I have more experience than anyone.' (Paraphrased)

There is no single or perfect solution to kids without homes or families who love them and can care for them, so maybe letting them learn to care for each other is not so crazy, when one is a legal adult graduated out of the system, and able to support them all.

I think this movie is made with a lot of heart, the kids are believable, and so are, sadly, the nosey and controlling adults in the town in which they take refuge after their orphanage escape.

I saw this movie as a kid (now you can guess about how old I am), and saw it recently, and it's still fun to watch. A little fairytale-like. Andrew McCarthy was the male equivalent of Molly Ringwald in the 80's. Just a fun light-weighted way to pass an hour and a half.

One of the worst of all 1980's family oriented films. This one stars Andrew McCarthy as the eldest and leader of a group of orphans who gradually begin to work together as if they're an actual family. This kind of film has been made so many times before and after this one that it's not even remotely interesting anymore.

Its been awhile since I have seen this movie but reading the places where The Beniker Gang was filmed at, I noticed one town was missing. Parts of this movie were filmed in Winchester, Virginia. I noticed the Winchester Star newspaper box in the movie.

I also seem to remember a scene of a car with a bumper sticker that said "Shenandoah County...Q102". Q102 is Winchester's country music radio station and they have been calling themselves "Shenandoah Country" since 1982. They still do to this day.

Oddly around the same time Beniker was filmed, just a few miles away in nearby Martinsburg, West Virginia another movie was being filmed.

The Patsy Cline bio-flick Sweet Dreams with Jessica Lange.

I thought this was a good film with an emotional storyline based on a 'family' of five orphans. The five realise they have a special bond together, and see themselves as a family. Arthur, the leader of the family is 18 and has an unusual job but it pays the bills. There are two teen boys, one teenage girl and a six year old boy. They all decide to leave their orphanage so they won't be fostered and then separated from each other. On the run, they eventually find their dream house and have the time of their lives finally living as a family at last. However, they encounter problems when their neighbours suspect that they are runaways without parents and Arthur and the rest of them have to fight to stay together. There is a great bond between these orphans which makes it a good film to watch, especially for the family.