King of the Gypsies *** (1978, Eric Roberts, Sterling Hayden, Shelley Winters, Susan Sarandon, Brooke Shields, Annette O’Toole, Judd Hirsch) – Classic Movie Review 12,265

Director Frank Pierson’s 1978 American Paramount Pictures drama film King of the Gypsies is an action-packed melodrama about Gypsies living in New York City in the early 1960s, in which young Dave Stepanowicz (Eric Roberts), seeking to escape his Romany roots, is made leader of the tribe following his grandfather Zharko Stepanowicz (Sterling Hayden)’s death. Dave’s resentful father Groffo (Judd Hirsch) tries to have him killed.

Writer-director Frank Pierson spins a lurid but potent yarn, adapted from Peter Maas’s bestselling 1975 novel, winning fine performances from his stars (with the exception of the miscast Brooke Shields) and capturing the heady atmosphere of Gypsy culture with great élan. Dave’s sister Tita is played by Brooke Shields and his girlfriend Sharon is played by Annette O’Toole.

The cast are Sterling Hayden, Shelley Winters, Susan Sarandon, Eric Roberts, Brooke Shields, Annette O’Toole, Judd Hirsch, Annie Potts and Michael V Gazzo. Rachel Ticotin is one of the gypsy dancers.

Eric Roberts appears in in his film debut and he was nominated for a 1979 Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Acting Debut – Male for his performance as Dave.

Many of the technical advisers, bit players and extras are real Gypsies.

David Grisman composes the score, which features jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli, and they both appear on screen as gypsy musicians.

It is made by Dino De Laurentiis Company and is released by Paramount Pictures.

The casting director is future producer Scott Rudin in his first screen credit.

Peter Bogdanovich was to have directed it.

It is the second consecutive film in which Susan Sarandon and Brooke Shields play mother and daughter, following Pretty Baby.

The cast are Eric Roberts as Dave Stepanowicz, Sterling Hayden as King Zharko Stepanowicz, Judd Hirsch as Groffo Stepanowicz, Shelley Winters as Queen Rachel Stepanowicz, Susan Sarandon as Rose Giorgio Stepanowicz, Brooke Shields as Tita Stepanowicz, Danielle Brisebois as Young Tita Stepanowicz, Annette O’Toole as Sharon, Annie Potts as Persa, Michael V Gazzo as Spiro Giorgio, Antonia Rey as Danitza Giorgio, Matthew Laborteaux as Middle Dave Stepanowicz, Roy Brocksmith as Frinkuleschti, Faith Minton as Gypsy, and Rachel Ticotin as gypsy dancer.

King of the Gypsies is directed by Frank Pierson, runs 112 minutes, is made by Dino De Laurentiis Company, is released by Paramount Pictures, is written by Frank Pierson, is shot by Sven Nykvist, is produced by Federico De Laurentiis, and is scored by David Grisman.

Christopher Jones in The Looking Glass War (1969).

Films directed by Frank Pierson: The Looking Glass War (1969), The Neon Ceiling (1971), A Star Is Born (1976), King of the Gypsies (1978), Somebody Has to Shoot the Picture (1990), Citizen Cohn (1992), Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee (1994), Truman (1995), Dirty Pictures (2000), Conspiracy (2001), Soldier’s Girl (2003).

 © Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,265

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