The Gypsy Moths (1969)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

John Frankenheimer

Writers:

William Hanley (screenplay)
James Drought (novel)

Release Date:

28 August 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Action

Tagline:

When you turn on by falling free... when jumping is not only w way to live, but a way to die, too... you're a Gypsy Moth.

Plot:

Three skydivers and their travelling thrill show barnstorm through a small midwestern town one Fourth of July weekend.

Plot Keywords:

Skydiving | Adultery | Suicide | Female Nudity | Based On Novel

Cast

Burt Lancaster	...	Mike Rettig
Deborah Kerr	...	Elizabeth Brandon
Gene Hackman	...	Joe Browdy
Scott Wilson	...	Malcolm Webson
William Windom	...	V. John Brandon
Bonnie Bedelia	...	Annie Burke
Sheree North	...	Waitress
Carl Reindel	...	Pilot
Ford Rainey	...	Stand Owner
John Napier	...	Dick Donford

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG (TV rating) | West Germany:18 (f) | Canada:14A (video rating) | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Abilene, Kansas, USA

Company:

John Frankenheimer Productions Inc.

Trivia:

TCM occasionally plays a 15-minute long documentary short entitled "The Sky Divers", narrated by Wink Martindale, on the making-of this film. The short is also provided on the Warner_Home_Video DVD, often cited as simply a "Behind-the-scenes documentary" featurette.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the parachute jump that opens the film, the Gypsy Moths jump from the exact same plane flown by the same pilot they meet and hire -- supposedly for the first time -- in another town several days later.

Quotes:

Malcolm Webson: Remember what you always said when I first started with you? "Be careful." That's what you always said. "That's what's important in this business kid. BE careful."
Mike Rettig: Is that what I always said?
Malcolm Webson: Why are you taking so many chances now? What are you trying to prove?

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Sky Divers (1969)

Fascinating, if flawed film

Yes, the movie does miss greatness. But it is far from a failure. As a slice of American with fascinating characters (yes, I like and cared about them), this film is worth seeing. True, there are problems. The husband in particular comes off as emotionally dead, yet I have known of men like that. The wife (Deborah Kerr) comes off almost as hopeless; worse, it is never clear what she wants or what is driving her. Yet, here again I have known marriages like this. I suspect modern viewers will want to be shown the underly rage and desperation of these characters, which has to be present, but like Days of Heaven, they are muted. No doubt, It would have helped if the film had been longer. Nevertheless, it works with great photography and stunt work and is well worth a look. BTW for those who are interested (this is an R-Rated movie after all) even at 48 years, Deborah Kerr looks great nude. I know if I had been the husband in the movie, I sure would have kept trying.