The Gypsy Moths (1969)

Let's be realistic.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

There is definitely an excellent idea hidden in the background of the film. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find it.

Trio of male sky-divers touring the Midwest prepare for a jump in a small Kansas town, where their benefactor is an unhappily married woman with life regrets. Despite a tag-line that suggests parachutists "turn on" by falling free--as well the appearance of go-go girls in pasties and also a lovemaking scene between Burt Lancaster and a nude Deborah Kerr--"The Gypsy Moths" doesn't have a youthful spirit, nor does it offer its audience much of a lift (everyone is so downcast). This dim, square adaptation of James Drought's novel is rather a condescending portrait of lives in a rural community. The actors have been encouraged by director John Frankenheimer to deliver the melodramatic material with the utmost seriousness, and before long the narrative is grounded (literally and figuratively). Despite being reunited with Lancaster, her "From Here to Eternity" love-interest, Kerr seems misplaced; she's stiff and drably solemn. Lancaster is surprisingly subdued or contemplative, which works to draw the viewer in, and yet his character's fast attachment to Kerr isn't convincing. Aerial footage of the trio's Kansas jump is a long time coming; Frankenheimer is much more interested in pitting man against man, man against woman, wife against husband. It feels about as real as a TV soap opera. ** from ****

Actor & director combo Burt Lancaster and John Frankenheimer team for this appealing film that explores the lives of three sky divers, played by Lancaster, Gene Hackman, and Scott Wilson. They come to a small Midwest town named Bridgeville where they stun the locals with their aerial feats. Meanwhile, they affect the lives of some of the local woman. Mike Rettig (Lancaster) finds himself falling for Elizabeth Brandon (Deborah Kerr), who happens to be the aunt of Malcolm Webson (Wilson).Fundamentally, this is a good story (scripted by William Hanley, based on the novel by James Drought) well told, and it's punctuated by absolutely dazzling sky diving footage. Some viewers may wish there was more of this type of thing in the movie and less romance. The film flirts with melodrama (such as a back story involving Elizabeth) but Frankenheimer and the actors help keep it on an even keel.It's the cast that makes this worth watching. The majority of the performances are agreeably subtle, with the exception of Hackman, who's playing the extrovert of the group anyway. Lancaster and Kerr have a very alluring sex scene; both actors look incredibly good. Hackman strikes up a relationship with a hottie waitress (Sheree North) while Wilson is attracted to the college student (Bonnie Bedelia) who's boarding with the Brandons. North absolutely sears the screen. William Windom is good as Kerrs' husband whose aloof nature is a factor in her being turned on by Lancaster.Frankenheimer gets great use out of the real Midwestern locations (this was filmed in various parts of Kansas); the movie is definitely a real slice of Americana. Overall it's endearing enough and exciting enough to make it an okay view; it's ultimately rather predictable, but it remains watchable throughout.Seven out of 10.

On a 4th of July weekend , three air stunt parachutists (Burt Lancaster, Gene Hackman and Scott Wilson as Malcolm though John Phillip Law was first cast but had to be replaced because of an injury to his wrist) arrive to carry out their skills at a small Kansas town located in Midwest . The trio of barnstorming skydivers are hosted at house ownership a dysfunctional and unhappy marriage (Deborah Kerr , William Windom) . The inhabitants of the small town feel both attracted and threatened to the skydivers . Meanwhile , they go to a top-less club (according to director the dancers in the go-go club were local Kansas girls, not city girls, because they looked authentic) where meet a sexy woman (Sheree North) . At the end takes place a dangerous fall to death, as when jumping is not only a way to live, but a way to die, too . This dramatic picture is packed with skydiving , romance , love story and the drama is maintained throughout. The picture relies heavily on the doomed romance that flares up between Elizabeth well played by Deborah Kerr and Rettig magnificently performed by Burt Lancaster until a surprising final when tension explodes with an impressive skydiving show . Interesting screenplay which manages to catch the growing ambivalent and disillusionment of travellers in search of money and the quiet desperation of a marriage ; it was written by Willian Hanley , based on the novel by James Drought . There aren't special effects but ¨stunts¨ who make it astounding . Experienced but amateur skydivers, most with several thousand jumps to their credit , were brought in from California to double for the actors . During the filming at the airfield in Benton, Kansas, the director , wanted to get a real, horrified reaction from the extras playing the audience, so he had a Mannequin dressed like a skydiver and tied it under a helicopter which ascended a couple of hundred feet, then released the dummy . The skydiving equipment the Gypsy Moths use in the film was sport parachuting state-of-the-art for the late 1960's . The picture collaborated to create the ¨ skydiving genre film ¨ , thus many years later were shot various movies about this sport : ¨Break Point¨ (Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves) , ¨Terminal velocity¨ (with Charlie Sheen and Natassja Kinski) and ¨Cutaway¨ (Tom Berenger and Stephen Baldwin) . Appropriate cinematography by Philip Lathrop with good aerial scenes though is necessary a perfect remastering . Adequate musical score fitting to tension by the master Elmer Bernstein .The motion picture was compellingly directed by John Frankenheimer , though being slow-pace, and some moments boring . It is considered to be one of Frankenheimer's less satisfying works and failed at box office ; however being one of John Frankenheimer's two favorites of the films he has directed . In the beginning he worked for TV and turned to the cinema industry with The Young Stranger (1957) . Disappointed his with first feature film experience he came back to his successful television career directing a total of 152 live television shows in the 50s. He took another opportunity to change to the big screen , collaborating with Burt Lancaster in The Young Savages (1961) and Birdman of Alcatraz(62) ending up becoming a successful director well-known by his skills with actors and expressing on movies his views on important social deeds and philosophical events and film-making some classics as ¨The Manchurian candidate , Seven days of May and The Train¨. Rating : 6 , well worth seeing. The flick will appeal to Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr fans .

Does anyone remember the topless dancer Patty Wright? Today she has crossed over into adult films and goes by the name of Patty Plenty. It is definitely Patty because it was me. I was nearly 20 when the movie came out. John Frankenheimer joined me into SAG and I still pay my dues as Patty Lynn Wright. I went on to be a Las Vegas Showgirl for many years. The movie was filmed mostly around Wichita Kansas where I grew up as a child. I have been a member of Screen Actors Guild for many years. I live now in both Malibu and Hawaii. I hope that I hear from someone that does remember some of the cast that did not get credited. I do have many films but they are rated adult in nature. John was a wonderful man and made as we all know many great films.