King of the Gypsies (1978)

Director:

Frank Pierson

Writers:

Peter Maas (book), Frank Pierson (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Sterling Hayden, Susan Sarandon, Judd Hirsch

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sterling Hayden	...	King Zharko Stepanowicz
Shelley Winters	...	Queen Rachel
Susan Sarandon	...	Rose
Judd Hirsch	...	Groffo
Eric Roberts	...	Dave
Brooke Shields	...	Tita
Annette O'Toole	...	Sharon
Annie Potts	...	Persa
Michael V. Gazzo	...	Spiro Giorgio
Antonia Rey	...	Danitza Giorgio
Stephen Mendillo	...	Adolf
Daniel Spira	...	Zio Miller
Joe Zaloom	...	Rui Ilanovitch
Lou Cevetillo	...	Pete Stepanowicz
Zvee Scooler	...	Phuro (as Svee Scooler)

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

grandson | heritage | psychological drama | father son relationship | generation gap | 

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Taglines:

HIS time is here and he must carry on the tradition of ruling with vengeance!

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 February 1979 (France)

Also Known As:

A cigányok királya

Filming Locations:

Hillside, New Jersey, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dino De Laurentiis Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Movie Debut of Eric Roberts.

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Soundtracks

"Ridin'"
By Pegasus and Rick Galaher
Performed by Pegasus

User Reviews

Good Rainy Day Viewing

This movie was panned by critics, but it seems to have gained cult status among those who like 70s films.

I liked it simply for its fascinating subject--Gypsies in modern day urban America.

This is certainly not a definitive study of the culture, but it is exciting and most of the acting is solid. Roberts and Shields are incredibly beautiful, and the cinematography has that ripe, but overcast look you see in so many films released during the era. Stephane Grapelli's violin in the background adds weight to the glorious score.

The biggest downside is Sterling Hayden's performance. His voice tends to rupture and bark in its heaviness; it lacks nuance. Also, I sometimes felt embarrassed for Sarandon. Though she was perfectly cast, she seems embarrassed herself at times; there is a brief scene where she has to dance, and her body language suggests she's thinking "Do I still have time to reconsider?" Another problem is the continuity. Where was the script supervisor? Shield's character was supposedly born in the 1940s, but when we see her again as a young teenager, it is clearly the late 1970s. You hear Disco in the background, see the long leather coats, and wait for John Travolta to make a grand entrance.

But enough of my nit-picking. Maybe this is not the finest film, but it is indeed a *fun* film. The subject is intriguing, and the plot itself is good. What it lacks in directorial perfection, it makes up for in soul.