The Gypsy Moths
| The Gypsy Moths | |
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The Gypsy Moths Movie poster
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| Directed by | John Frankenheimer |
| Produced by | Hal Landers Bobby Roberts Edward Lewis (executive) |
| Screenplay by | William Hanley |
| Based on |
The Gypsy Moths novel by James Drought |
| Starring |
Burt Lancaster Deborah Kerr Gene Hackman Scott Wilson |
| Music by | Elmer Bernstein |
| Cinematography | Philip H. Lathrop |
| Edited by | Henry Berman |
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Production
company |
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
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| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
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Release date
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Running time
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107 min./110 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English language |
The Gypsy Moths is a 1969 American drama film, based on the novel of the same name by James Drought and directed by John Frankenheimer. The film tells the story of three barnstorming skydivers and their effect on a Midwestern American town, focusing on the differences in values between the town folk and the hard-living skydivers.
The Gypsy Moths starred Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr. The film also features Gene Hackman, (fresh from his role in Bonnie and Clyde) (1967). Kerr had worked previously with Lancaster in From Here to Eternity (1953) and Separate Tables (1958). The film had the only nude love scene in her movie career.
Elmer Bernstein composed the score.
A skydiving team called the Gypsy Moths visits a small town in Kansas to put on a show. Their leader, Mike Rettig (Burt Lancaster), is accompanied by his partners, Joe Browdy (Hackman) and Malcolm Webson (Scott Wilson).
The skydivers stay at the home of Malcolm's uncle and aunt, John and Elizabeth Brandon (William Windom and Deborah Kerr). Distractions begin almost immediately when Mike becomes romantically involved with Elizabeth, whose husband overhears her making love with Mike in their home. Malcolm falls for local student Annie Burke (Bonnie Bedelia), a boarder in the Brandon house, while Joe takes an interest in a topless dancer.
Mike eventually asks Elizabeth to leave town with him, but she declines. During the next skydiving exhibition, Mike intends to do a spectacular "cape jump" stunt, but fails to pull the ripcord, and hits the ground at over 200 miles per hour. Although nobody wants to discuss it, there is a suspicion that he committed suicide. That night, Annie consoles Malcolm, and they make love. Before the team leaves for good, they have to bury Mike. To pay for the funeral, Malcolm does the same stunt that killed Mike. He leaves by train that night without attending Mike's funeral.
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Wikipedia