1960s movie puts the focus on jumping

The 1969 movie The Gypsy Moths went down a treat with SA’s still emerging skydiving community. Not only was the feature film’s aerial footage an inspiration in an era when freefall movies were a rarity but the movie, playing on Adelaide’s big cinema screens, also gave the sport a valuable profile boost.

While the Metro Goldwyn Mayer movie, starring Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr and Gene Hackman, played to the then still prevalent “daredevil / barnstorming” image of parachuting, it nevertheless helped our early promotions. The SASPC mounted a foyer display in the old Metro theatre in Hindley Street during the movie’s run.
A digital copy of the original film is safely tucked away – highlights were available for viewing at the SASPC 50th in 2011.

»» In the meantime, here’s taste of the movie action »»

ve skydiver skydiving parachute parachuting parachutist freefall Adelaide South Australia