The Gypsy Moths is a 1969 drama film directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Burt Lancaster, Gene Hackman, and Deborah Kerr. The film is based on the novel of the same name by James Drought.
The story follows three skydivers - Mike Rettig (Burt Lancaster), Joe Browdy (Gene Hackman), and Malcolm Webson (Scott Wilson) - who perform a traveling thrill show. They arrive in a small town in Kansas on the Fourth of July weekend to put on a show.
In town, Mike meets and starts a romantic relationship with local divorcee and mother of two, Elizabeth Brandon (Deborah Kerr), but his reckless nature and commitment to the show threaten their budding love. Joe, on the other hand, gets involved with a younger woman, Annie Burke (Bonnie Bedelia), whose father disapproves of their relationship.
As the skydivers perform their dangerous stunts, tensions rise and secrets are revealed, leading to a tragic finale. The film explores themes of love, risk-taking, and mortality.