Rei dos Ciganos

Peter Maas's book is a non-fiction look at the Gypsy culture, particularly how it has translated into 20th century America. This movie is mostly fiction, although it draws on some of the material in the book.

It's basically a family drama, with a rebellious youth (Eric Roberts) squaring off against his abusive father (Judd Hirsch). I'm not sure if a case can be made for Eric Roberts as a terrific actor, but he doesn't embarrass himself here, and the rest of the cast, Hirsch, Shelley Winters, Susan Sarandon, and Sterling Hayden, is superb. A fascinating look at a culture that may be dissolving into modern life, and a well-paced and acted film that is consistently entertaining.

There's a special treat for jazz fans, as violin giant Stephane Grappelli appears in the movie, along with mandolin player David Grisman, performing a medley composed by Grisman and performed with Grappelli on a live album that has always been one of my favorites. This is the only footage I've seen of Grappelli performing, and while it's limited to a few shots, it's still worth the price of admission.

A DVD release has finally been announced for June 3, 2008.

Strong performances by a stellar cast highlight this unforgettable film about a largely misunderstood population known as the Gypsies. They sing, dance, wear jewelry, and party together. On the other hand, they steal, deceive and con non-Gypsies out of their money with fortune telling. For most viewers, this film shows complex depiction of them. Eric Roberts give a top notch first rate powerful performance as the Gypsy son who sees the error of his people's ways like no schooling. The other cast members are legendary such as a young Brooke Shields playing his baby sister. Susan Sarandon and Judd Hirsch as his parents. Shelley Winters is great as Queen Rachel and Sterling Hayden as the King. This film is a must see.

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.

I remember seeing "real" gypsies as a child!They used to camp at different places at the Jersey shore!They had trailors,tents,cadillacs and all lived and traveled together in big families!They seemed so loud and happy!But where have all our Gypsies gone?You can hardly even see a genuine gypsy fortune-teller anymore!Perhaps this is because of the lure of American life!With welfare,WIC,medicare,section-8 housing,disability and eldercare who really wants to live a nomadic life?Let alone be an "outlaw" Gypsy and make a squalid living stealing and telling fortunes? "King of the Gypsies" answers a lot of these questions without really saying so! We view many of the so-called traditions of American gypsies and witness their members decline into poverty and organized crime.The movie isn't completely true to the book.But by the movie's end we realize that the wild and colorful gypsy world is passing away.To be replaced by the hustle-n-bustle of American middle class life!

You will get a wide and varying reaction as to the veracity of what Peter Maas wrote about the Romany culture in his non-fiction book, King Of The Gypsies. The information from that source yielded a screenplay with both Hamlet and Oedipal like qualities in it about the succession in leadership to a gypsy clan.

The title role in King Of The Gypsies is played by Sterling Hayden and he and his Queen Shelley Winters have as much responsibility to their clan as the Corleones do. But they've got a son in Judd Hirsch who has the worst qualities of Fredo and Sonny Corleone in one package. This is not a guy you want running the clan.

Hayden pins his hopes on his grandson Eric Roberts. But Roberts has walked away from gypsy life and now is even courting a nice all American girl in Annette O'Toole. He's a singing waiter at Mama Leone's which is no more.

Hirsch of course has no desire to be John of Gaunt in his family, son of one king and father of another. This sets up the conflict within the clan that goes active when Hayden dies.

Eric Roberts made his screen debut here and does fine, but the guy to really watch in this film is Judd Hirsch. You can hardly believe that the amiable Alex Reiger from Taxi is played by the same actor. Hirsch's part of Grozzo should be his career role. Had it been played by someone like Al Pacino and would have had King Of The Gypsies come to the screen some 15 to 20 years later it might have gotten an Oscar nomination. At this point Pacino would have been cast in the Roberts part. How Hirsch was overlooked is a mystery that only the gypsies know.

For an insight into a part of human society overlooked, King Of The Gypsies is highly recommended.