The Gypsy Moths

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The Gypsy Moths ★★ 1969

It's not actually about a bug infestation. Instead, it's a Frankenheimer melodrama about three barnstorming skydivers arriving in a small Kansas town to give an exhibition. They're staying with the aunt (Kerr) and uncle (Windom) of young Malcolm (Wilson) and Aunt Elizabeth is immediately drawn to fatalistic, taciturn leader Mike Rettig (Lancaster). After their one-night stand, Rettig is scheduled to perform an extremely risky jump, but tragedy strikes. Because Malcolm and Joe (Hackman) need money to bury Mike, Malcolm decides to perform the same stunt to draw a big crowd. 106m/C VHS, DVD . Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr, Gene Hackman, Scott Wilson, William Windom, Bonnie Bedelia, Sheree North, Ford Rainey; D: John Frankenheimer; W: William Hanley; C: Philip Lathrop; M: Elmer Bernstein.