KING OF THE GYPSIES (1978) - Movie Review

Director: Frank Pierson
Starring: Eric Roberts, Judd Hirsch, Susan Sarandon, Sterling Hayden, Shelley Winters, Brooke Shields, Annette O'Toole, Annie Potts, Michael V. Gazzo
Genre: Crime, Drama
Writer: Frank Pierson
Runtime: 112 min
Rated: R
Buy This Movie: Blu-ray (Amazon), DVD (Amazon), Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

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Synopsis:

Internal conflict tears an American gypsy family further apart when the head of the clan dies, leaving the title of 'King' to his grandson, rather than his ne'er-do-well son. Even though the grandson refuses the role, his father tries to destroy him.

Review:

Based on the 1975 book "King of the Gypsies" by "Serpico" author Peter Maas, the 1978 crime drama of the same name is a cinematic curiosity that is all but forgotten now. Written and directed by Frank Pierson, best known as the author of the screenplays for "Dog Day Afternoon" and "Cool Hand Luke", the film explores the contrasts between Romani culture and the modern life of 1970s New York City.

Torn between the two worlds is Dave Stepanowicz, played by Eric Roberts in his big screen debut, the grandson of Gypsy King Zharko Stepanowicz (Sterling Hayden). Dave's father Groffo (Judd Hirsch) is the rightful heir to the throne, but Zharko would rather see his grandson assume the leadrship of the clans. Dave, however, rejects the Gypsy way of life and tries to adopt the gadje (non-Romani) lifestyle. Unfortunately, one can only run so far from the unbreakable bonds of blood and family until they violently catch up.

Maas made his career writing in the true crime genre, and "King of the Gypsies" is supposedly a well researched book, relying on police records for inspiration. Take that with a grain of salt, though. Pierson's adaptation stays true to the source material by providing a vivid account of gypsy culture as portrayed by Maas, chock-full of violence, petty criminal deeds, hot tempers, and fiery passions. The accuracy of the stereotypes on display, however, is definitely up for debate.

The overall story, which carries overtones of "The Godfather", is basic and uncomplicated. It offers no real surprises, but still manages to be fairly entertaining. It's more family drama than crime drama, which might disappoint those expecting more criminal underworld action. Visually, Pierson goes for a raw, natural, realistic and gritty aesthetic that was par for the course in the 1970s, especially for low budget films like this. It's well shot by cinematographer Sven Nykvist ("The Sacrifice", "Agnes of God", "Sleepless in Seattle", "What's Eating Gilbert Grape") and features a great soundtrack by David Grisman.

The movie's real asset, however, is its cast. Roberts makes one hell of an impressive debut, and the supporting cast is an eclectic mix of experienced actors like Hayden, Hirsch, Shelley Winters and Michael V. Gazzo, as well as (at the time) young up-and-comers like Susan Sarandon, Annie Potts, Annette O'Toole and Brooke Shields. They all form an incredible ensemble that elevates the barebones plot and shallow characterizations.

"King of the Gypsies" is hardly iconic material, but it at least deserves cult-classic status. Stereotypes aside, it's a different kind of crime drama, and offers an intriguing look into the American Gypsy lifestyle that few films, if any, have attempted. Even if you're not interested in its unique angle, it's well worth watching for the cast alone.

SCORE: 7/10