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      The Gypsy Moths

      R Released Aug 28, 1969 1h 50m Drama List
      Reviews 42% 500+ Ratings Audience Score Three men who work in a skydiving performance group -- burned-out Mike (Burt Lancaster), outgoing showman Joe (Gene Hackman) and rookie Malcolm (Scott Wilson) -- find work in a small Kansas town and lodging at the home of Malcolm's Uncle John (William Windom) and Aunt Elizabeth (Deborah Kerr). The couple are in the midst of a marital crisis, and when Elizabeth meets the dashing Mike, everyone is surprised by their passionate and dangerous love affair. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Nov 21 Buy Now

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      Audience Reviews

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      Steve D I didn't find it remotely interesting. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 04/17/24 Full Review Lori F Would have been a pretty good movie But the sex scenes ruined it. It wasn't necessary. It was quite morose actually Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/26/24 Full Review Red T I could've gave it a 3 but here's my logic: The acting is just ok. Surprisingly no one has any real chemistry, charm, or humor except for Hackman who is the only consistently good thing in this. Whenever the camera is on him it's good. Lancaster & Carr have presence but no chemistry. Lancaster almost has no dialogue in this and no character which was bizarre. He doesn't even say anything for like 20 minutes in. Everyone is pretty one dimensional. The music isn't good. While it's memorable it sounds so out of place and feels like its the theme song for a 70's soap opera and not for a thriller/drama about skydivers. The cinematography isn't bad but its frustrating. First off, Frankenheimer's style doesn't fit the romance drama moments which is most of the film. His style is suited for action/thrillers or movies with surreal plots to them. This doesn't have that at all and it feels distinct but out of place. Second, the romance/drama scenes are just ok/boring. Finally, the skydiving scenes are hit or miss. Some are cool but the projection shots take you out of the experience and more importantly they aren't that distinct. Once you've seen one or two jumps you've kind of seen them all and they look very similar (there is 6-7 jumps in this). So it loses its excitement. Finally the biggest flaws is the subpar pacing and editing. After the first 2 minute jump the next hour is nothing but romance/drama followed by nonstop sky diving which feels like its trying to over compensate for going so slow the first hour. This feels like this is trying to be something similar to Rush (2011) and can't figure out how to make the skydiving thriller elements and romance drama work together. It literally feels like someone took a romance drama and a skydiving thriller and pasted them together. And the odd thing is the skydiving scenes don't even have any buildup they just follow in nonstop rapid succession which is bizarre. I honestly thought the movie skipped a scene because of how abrupt it cuts to the next one. This is majority a romance drama also ironically. Karr & Lancaster's romance felt like it could've been cut almost completely, it doesn't make it clear why he decided to not pull his cord, it jumps around constantly with the three romance's and never makes them feel like they compliment each other, and the strip club scene feels so out of place and drags a bit also. Skip this mess. This should be remade with Ron Howard directing and Tom Cruise starring. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 07/13/23 Full Review ashley h The Gypsy Moths is an okay film. It is about three skydivers and their travelling thrill show who barnstorm through a small midwestern town one Fourth of July weekend. Burt Lancaster and Gene Hackman give decent performances. The screenplay is a little slow in places. John Frankenheimer did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the action and drama. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review delysid d one of the many great hidden gems of the great hackman! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/17/20 Full Review Audience Member John Frankenheimer's somber account of daredevil skydivers features a fine cast. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      The Gypsy Moths

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      Critics Reviews

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      David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...an erratic endeavor that succeeds predominantly as a showcase for several above-average performances... Rated: 2.5/4 Aug 10, 2019 Full Review Penelope Houston The Spectator It is a sympathetic piece of quiet movie-making, a bit undersized perhaps for John Frankenheimer but certainly not such a tiddler as to make one feel he should have thrown it back. Jul 18, 2018 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews The film has a satisfying honesty to it and outstanding Ingmar Bergman-like performances from Lancaster, Kerr and Hackman. Rated: B+ Jan 5, 2015 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Three men who work in a skydiving performance group -- burned-out Mike (Burt Lancaster), outgoing showman Joe (Gene Hackman) and rookie Malcolm (Scott Wilson) -- find work in a small Kansas town and lodging at the home of Malcolm's Uncle John (William Windom) and Aunt Elizabeth (Deborah Kerr). The couple are in the midst of a marital crisis, and when Elizabeth meets the dashing Mike, everyone is surprised by their passionate and dangerous love affair.
      Director
      John Frankenheimer
      Producer
      Edward Lewis
      Screenwriter
      William Hanley, James Drought
      Distributor
      Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
      Production Co
      Metro Goldwyn Mayer
      Rating
      R
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Aug 28, 1969, Wide
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Nov 21, 2016
      Runtime
      1h 50m
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