The Gypsy Moths

Directed by John Frankenheimer, The Gypsy Moths follows a trio of traveling skydivers (Burt Lancaster’s Mike, Gene Hackman’s Joe, and Scott Wilson’s Malcolm) as they arrive in a small town to perform their act over the Independence Day weekend – with the story primarily detailing the melodrama that ensues between the protagonists and several locals (including Deborah Kerr’s Elizabeth and Bonnie Bedelia’s Annie). There’s ultimately little doubt that The Gypsy Moths fares much, much better in its first half than in its second, as filmmaker Frankenheimer does a superb job of initially establishing the various characters and their small-town environs – with the effectiveness of the picture’s early sequences heightened by compelling visuals and strong performances. (In terms of the latter, Hackman’s almost impossibly charming work here remains an ongoing highlight.) And although the early skydiving sequences are admittedly rather exciting, The Gypsy Moths‘ growing emphasis on such moments – there is, towards the end, a skydiving segment that seems to go on and on and on – paves the way for a final stretch that can’t help but feel anticlimactic and needlessly protracted. The end result is an erratic endeavor that succeeds predominantly as a showcase for several above-average performances, although, to be fair, the skydiving cinematography is (or seems to be) groundbreaking in terms of its authenticity and realism.

**1/2 out of ****