Rei dos Ciganos

I first saw this film at a theatre in 1978 and have only seen it on television once. I can't remember what attracted me to seeing it, but it was a surprisingly good movie. Eric Roberts showed the industry that he can act and be very convincing. The central actors must have studied gypsy life because they pulled it off very well. The film is mostly about the tension of the next successor to the throne (Judd Hirsch) and his son (Eric Roberts) whom the present King (Sterling Hayden) favors as his actual successor. Hirsch plays a cold, scheming character who finally does one of the most despicable acts a person can do, and shows no remorse for it. This, in turn, sparks retaliation from his son. If I ever find it on DVD, it will become part of my collection. I give this film an 8 out of 10.

...not as good as "Time of the Gypsies" (1988) Dom za vesanje (original title) or "Black Cat, White Cat"(1998) Crna Macka, Beli Macor (original title), both directed by Emir Kusturica or "I Even Met Happy Gypsies" (1967) Skupljaci Perja (original title) of Aleksandar Petrovic. Despite the fact that we have an entire orchestra of good and very good actors, such as Sterling Hayden, Shelley Winters, Susan Sarandon, Judd Hirsch, Eric Roberts, Brooke Shields, Annette O'Toole, Annie Potts, the film does not have consistency, it's only a mediocre attempt to show how gypsies really are. Eric Roberts is honest in his role debut. Susan Sarandon is more beautiful than ever and very talented as always. Best of all is Judd Hirsch he's the most natural and believable gypsy. Beautiful music with Stéphane Grappelli, accompanied by other talented musicians.

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.

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.

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!