''King of the Gypsies'' is a 1978 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super- ...

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...

starring

Eric Roberts Eric Anthony Roberts (born April 18, 1956) is an American actor. His career began with a leading role in '' King of the Gypsies'' (1978) for which he received his first Golden Globe Award nomination. He was nominated again at the Golden Globes ...

(in his film debut),

Sterling Hayden Sterling Walter Hayden (born Sterling Relyea Walter; March 26, 1916 – May 23, 1986) was an American actor, author, sailor and decorated Marine Corps officer and an Office of Strategic Services' agent during World War II. A leading man for mos ...

Shelley Winters Shelley Winters (born Shirley Schrift; August 18, 1920 – January 14, 2006) was an American actress whose career spanned seven decades. She appeared in numerous films. She won Academy Awards for ''The Diary of Anne Frank'' (1959) and ''A Patch o ...

Susan Sarandon Susan Abigail Sarandon (; née Tomalin; born October 4, 1946) is an American actorMcCabe, Bruce"Susan Sarandon, the 'actor'" ''Boston Globe''. April 17, 1981. Retrieved January 21, 2021. and activist. She is the recipient of various accolades, ...

Brooke Shields Brooke Christa Shields (born May 31, 1965) is an American actress and model. She was initially a child model and gained critical acclaim at age 12 for her leading role in Louis Malle's film '' Pretty Baby'' (1978). She continued to model into ...

Annette O'Toole Annette O'Toole (born Annette Toole; April 1, 1952) is an American actress. She is known for portraying Lisa Bridges in the television series ''Nash Bridges'', Beverly Marsh in the 1990 television mini-series adaptation of Stephen King's epic hor ...

and Judd Hirsch. Originally planned to be directed by

Peter Bogdanovich Peter Bogdanovich (July 30, 1939 – January 6, 2022) was an American director, writer, actor, producer, critic, and film historian. One of the " New Hollywood" directors, Bogdanovich started as a film journalist until he was hired to work on ...

, the film was finally directed by Frank Pierson from a

screenplay ''ScreenPlay'' is a television drama anthology series broadcast on BBC2 between 9 July 1986 and 27 October 1993. Background After single-play anthology series went off the air, the BBC introduced several showcases for made-for-television, f ...

which he adapted from the 1975 book ''King of the Gypsies'' by Peter Maas. The book tells the story of Steve Tene and his Gypsy family.

Plot

The film deals with the criminal ways and turbulent lives of a group of modern-day Gypsies living in the early 1960s of New York City. While on his deathbed their "king", Zharko Stepanowicz, passes his position of leadership on to his unwilling grandson, Dave. In spite of Dave's reluctance to become the Gypsies' new leader, Dave's father, Groffo, resentful over not having been appointed leader, attempts to have Dave killed. Groffo is scheming and temperamental, and uses violence and threats to get the clan to do his bidding. Eventually this leads to a major confrontation with his son, and the film ends with the suggestion that Dave has finally accepted his legacy; with his voiceover considering the possibility of his bringing the rest of the tradition-bound Gypsies into the world of 20th Century customs and lifestyles.

Cast

as Dave Stepanowicz *

as King Zharko Stepanowicz * Judd Hirsch as Groffo Stepanowicz *

as Queen Rachel Stepanowicz *

as Rose Giorgio Stepanowicz *

as Tita Stepanowicz ** Danielle Brisebois as Young Tita Stepanowicz *

as Sharon *

Annie Potts Anne Hampton Potts (born October 28, 1952) is an American actress. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for ''Corvette Summer'' (1978) and won a Genie Award for '' Heartaches'' (1981), before appearing in '' Ghostbusters'' (1984), ''Pretty ...

as Persa * Michael V. Gazzo as Spiro Giorgio *

Antonia Rey Antonia Rey (born Maria Antonia Francesch, October 12, 1926 – February 21, 2019) was a Cuban-born American actress. Life and career Rey was born in Havana, Cuba, the daughter of Emilia (née Rangel), a nurse, and Antonio Francesch, a dent ...

as Danitza Giorgio *

Matthew Laborteaux Matthew Charles Labyorteaux (born December 8, 1966) is an American film, television and voice actor. In many of his credits, his last name is spelled as "Laborteaux". He is also credited as Matthew Charles for his work in animation. He is best ...

as Middle Dave Stepanowicz *

Roy Brocksmith Roy Brocksmith (September 15, 1945 – December 16, 2001) was an American actor. Life and career Brocksmith was born in Quincy, Illinois, the son of Vera Marguerite (''née'' Hartwig) and Otis E. Brocksmith, who was a mechanic. He graduated from ...

as Frinkuleschti *

Faith Minton Faith Minton is an American television and film actress and stuntwoman. Life Born in Brooklyn, New York, Minton has a stunt and wrestling background and is probably best known for her role as "Hurricane" Rosy Spelman in the 1979 action comedy ...

as Gypsy (uncredited)

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:King Of The Gypsies (Film) 1978 films 1978 drama films American drama films Films based on American novels Films directed by Frank Pierson Films set in New York City Films shot in New Jersey Films shot in New York City Paramount Pictures films Romani films Kings of the Gypsies Films produced by Dino De Laurentiis 1970s English-language films 1970s American films

Plot

Cast

See also

References

External links