The 14

I just watched this movie on TV in Sydney.

I perused over the few reviews here and I feel reviewer should say what they feel about movies rather that ''tell you what you should believe it is". I think it's ok to voice your opinion but it's not when you tell people what they should think.

I was hot and cold about it, but more often warm to it.

It's a beautiful story and it has its moments. Then hearing it's inspired by true events does add something about it. Now having said this, I read to reviews from people who are actually related to the real people that inspired the film.

One should understand that films have several duties. It's nice to stick to the facts, but it is also important to make it interesting.

Then people who review it are of all background, all age and also with their own tastes, again affected by a variation of factors. I'm in my 80, so can relate more to these days. I have seen dreadful stories from UK concerning welfare ruthless bureaucracy ... My origin is French and I have seen similar movies such as "les 400 coups" and despite some negative outcomes I liked them.

I was quite surprised to find out that Alun Armstrong was Tommy in this story.

I recognised his face in the cast as I know him from "New Tricks" although I could not figure out who was Tommy. I just imagine that he was one of the little ones.

Well for me it was a very interesting story.

But it is probably a genre and an era that would not suit some people.

Like a previous reviewer on here, I'm also fascinated by this film as it is about my family (my grandfather's cousin was the father of the 14). My mom gets very cross that they set it in London when it is actually Birmingham though! Perhaps it wouldn't appeal with Brummie accents? We are still happy that they made a film though despite the discrepancies. If the person who wrote the review would like to get in touch I would be happy to pass their details onto my mom as she has traced the family tree quite thoroughly :)

How I found this movie was through my appreciation of the Bee Gees music. I had heard that their song Melody Fair was the theme song in the movie Melody. From there I looked up Mark Lester and Jack Wild, who were both in the movie Melody, and I found this movie listed on IMDb. I found it on YouTube and finished watching it a few moments ago! I think this movie was touching and the acting was quite convincing even from the kids who were truly acting like troubled, undisciplined kids, rather than actors with lines. This movie definitely interested me enough to where I would love to find out what happened to the kids.

This is not so much a review of the film "The 14" it's more a report on how shocked I was when I read that Jack Wild had died, and HOW he died - very sad. I work for Channel Nine in Sydney, Australia and this film was aired on their GEM network which shows a lot of old and sometimes obscure movies. If you want to watch a well made and moving film then this is it. Apart from the performances I think the Directing by David Hemmings is superb.

I read recently that Jack Wild sent an open letter to Daniel Radcliffe warning him of the perils of becoming a child star. I hope he heeds his warning.

Dull, dreary & horrible. I have tried more than once to watch it but it isn't worth the time.