Gypsy Girl

Hayley Mills was never more appealing than as the sweet-natured, arrested-development country girl who is more at home playing with village children than living with her rather unpleasant mother. As she is the sort of fragile, other-worldly spirit that one fears will come to mischief in this cruel world, the viewer is mightily relieved when she is taken up by the gypsies - at least this particular brand of comparatively gentle gypsies - as their simple way of life seems better suited to her future than "ordinary" growing up and marriage to a "normal" person would be. With the gorgeous and kindly gypsy boy (played by the stunningly attractive Ian McShane), Brydie feels loved and safe; and one senses that their life together will be relatively uncomplicated by modern annoyances. (It is something of a parallel to the George Hamilton/Yvette Mimieux romance in "Light in the Piazza," made a few years earlier.) I loved this film, and wished to enter into the pretty-but-now-mostly-vanished English countryside of the time. John Mills and Hayley worked together well on several occasions, and of course, Mother Mary's story was charming. Highly recommended for anyone with an ounce of romance in their souls.

I first saw this film in the early 70's when I was still in my teens. I remember it was called Gypsy Girl (the alternate title) and was a great and touching story. However, I just purchased the film from a Professional Source and it is missing the song Gypsy Girl, sung so beautifully by Hayley Mills. I think it set the stage for the story just wonderfully. In the 80s it aired on Life Channel and the song was there. My VHS was a little snowy, which prompted me to purchase a new DVD of it. Well, the one I just received does not have the song and is called Sky West and Crooked.

I think either title is clever, but the song was lovely. Wonder if anyone has an inkling of why it was missing.

That said, I loved the touching romance between Brydie and Roiban. I would love to have seen more of their romance and finally getting together. The vicar was very kind and wanted the best for Brydie.

I am lucky as a 14-year-old to know this movie even exists, I was looking through Netflix and stumbled upon it. I found this movie positively delightful. Young handsome Gypsy boy Roibin, played by Ian McShane, falls instantly in love with the pretty fair haired Brydie White, played by Hayley Mills, who in time also returns his affections. It's sad to say that this movie is a forgotten classic. And that it is a miracle that someone as young as me even knows it exists, much less actually seen it. The beginning song that I hear is sung by Hayley Mills sets the mood just right. But I will not let this movie continue to be forgotten so easily. I will try my best to remind the world of this adorable button nose 17-year-old village girl and dashing dark-skinned boy. So in return to those who read these reviews and would actually like to see it, to you I leave a gift,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xH4JN1u32o&feature=related

That's right, Sky West And Crooked completely on YouTube. Enjoy!

I've seen every movie Hayley Mills was in (except for "The Truth About Spring"), from age 20 and under, and I like this one the best. You won't find this on video--it aired here on t.v. at about 3:00 am, and I was lucky to tape it. Just like anonymous from N.Y. said, you almost watch this movie more for the many interesting people than for the plot. The plot itself is pretty simple--Brydie White is a 17 year old girl who meets a gypsy named Roibin, and the two fall instantly in love, almost like their under a spell. However, it's the personalities that the characters are given that make this story different. Brydie is an innocent, somewhat simple girl, who's friends with all the children in the village. Hayley Mills was excellent in her portrayal of this lonely girl. Ian McShane did a good job as well, forever gazing about with those soulful eyes. The song sung at the beginning of the movie sets the right mood from the start. Another thing that I liked about "Gypsy Girl" was that throughout the movie Brydie and Roibin's love stayed innocent. If at all possible, try to track down this movie, or ask a local t.v. station to air it. It's a shame that such a beautiful film has only been seen by a few.

This is, in fact, a forgotten film (note the absence of a video or DVD) and a largely underappreciated one. I have found on many occasions Mills's Disney films to be very syrupy and cloying; this one proves beyond that shadow of a doubt that she could act. Obviously, her father, who directed the film, had some knowledge of her capabilities. This performance, and the loving, detailed depiction of the British countryside (mentioned in the other user comments) overwhelm any other minor errors in technical knowhow (the sound and cinematography are not the best) and pacing. This is not a perfect film. One could better describe it as a rough, uncut diamond of a film -- and those are the most valuable of all.