King of the Gypsies (film): Difference between revisions

King of the Gypsies
King of the Gypsies
	Theatrical release poster by Sanford Kossin
Directed by	Frank Pierson
Written by	Peter Maas (book); Frank Pierson (screenplay);
Produced by	Federico De Laurentiis
Starring	Eric Roberts; Sterling Hayden; Judd Hirsch; Shelley Winters; Susan Sarandon; Brooke Shields; Danielle Brisebois; Annette O'Toole; Annie Potts;
Cinematography	Sven Nykvist
Edited by	Paul Hirsch
Music by	David Grisman, Stephane Grappelli
Production; company	Dino De Laurentiis Company
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	December 20, 1978;
Running time	112 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$5–8 million
Box office	$7,325,177 (USA)

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Latest revision as of 08:03, 23 June 2024

King of the Gypsies is a 1978 American drama film by Paramount Pictures starring Eric Roberts (in his film debut), Sterling Hayden, Shelley Winters, Susan Sarandon, Brooke Shields, Annette O'Toole and Judd Hirsch.

Originally planned to be directed by Peter Bogdanovich,^[2] the film was finally directed by Frank Pierson from a screenplay 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

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 (uncredited)

References

^ "AFI|Catalog".
^ "Briefs on the Arts: Monet Study Added To Met Exhibition Bogdanovich Signs For Gypsy Film Mrs. Ford to Aid Group for Dance". New York Times. 25 January 1975. p. 13.

External links

King of the Gypsies at IMDb
King of the Gypsies at the TCM Movie Database
King of the Gypsies at AllMovie
King of the Gypsies at Rotten Tomatoes

[1] "AFI|Catalog".

[2] "Briefs on the Arts: Monet Study Added To Met Exhibition Bogdanovich Signs For Gypsy Film Mrs. Ford to Aid Group for Dance". New York Times. 25 January 1975. p. 13.

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|1978 film by Frank Pierson}}
-{{Refimprove|date=May 2020}}
+{{More citations needed|date=May 2020}}
 {{Infobox film
-|name = '''King of the Gypsies'''
+| name           = King of the Gypsies
-|image = Kingofgypsies.jpg
+| image          = Kingofgypsies.jpg
-|caption = [[film release|Theatrical release]] [[film poster|poster]] by Sanford Kossin
+| caption        = [[film release|Theatrical release]] [[film poster|poster]] by Sanford Kossin
-|director = [[Frank Pierson]]
+| director       = [[Frank Pierson]]
-|producer = [[Dino De Laurentiis]] (executive producer)<br>Federico De Laurentiis
+| producer       = [[Federico De Laurentiis]]
-|writer = [[Peter Maas]] (book)<br>Frank Pierson (screenplay)
+| writer         = {{plainlist|
+* [[Peter Maas]] (book)
+* Frank Pierson (screenplay)
+}}
-|starring = [[Eric Roberts]]<br>[[Sterling Hayden]]<br>[[Shelley Winters]]<br>[[Susan Sarandon]]<br>[[Brooke Shields]]<br>[[Annette O'Toole]]<br>[[Judd Hirsch]]
+| starring       = {{plainlist|
-|cinematography = [[Sven Nykvist]]
+* [[Eric Roberts]]
-|music = [[David Grisman]], [[Stephane Grappelli]]
+* [[Sterling Hayden]]
-|editing = [[Paul Hirsch (film editor)|Paul Hirsch]]
+* [[Judd Hirsch]]
-|studio = Dino De Laurentiis Company
+* [[Shelley Winters]]
-|distributor = [[Paramount Pictures]]
+* [[Susan Sarandon]]
-|released = {{Film date|1978|12|20}}
+* [[Brooke Shields]]
-|runtime = 112 minutes
+* [[Danielle Brisebois]]
-|country = United States
+* [[Annette O'Toole]]
-|language = English
+* [[Annie Potts]]
-|budget =
+}}
-|gross = $7,325,177 (USA)
+| cinematography = [[Sven Nykvist]]
+| music          = [[David Grisman]], [[Stephane Grappelli]]
+| editing        = [[Paul Hirsch (film editor)|Paul Hirsch]]
+| studio         = Dino De Laurentiis Company
+| distributor    = [[Paramount Pictures]]
+| released       = {{Film date|1978|12|20}}
+| runtime        = 112 minutes
+| country        = United States
+| language       = English
+| budget         = $5–8 million<ref>{{cite web | url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/56598-KING-OF-THE-GYPSIES | title=AFI&#124;Catalog }}</ref>
+| gross          = $7,325,177 (USA)
 }}
-'''''King of the Gypsies''''' is a 1978 American [[drama (film and television)|drama film]] by [[Paramount Pictures]] starring [[Eric Roberts]], [[Sterling Hayden]], [[Shelley Winters]], [[Susan Sarandon]], [[Brooke Shields]], [[Annette O'Toole]] and [[Judd Hirsch]].
+'''''King of the Gypsies''''' is a 1978 American [[drama (film and television)|drama film]] by [[Paramount Pictures]] starring [[Eric Roberts]] (in his film debut), [[Sterling Hayden]], [[Shelley Winters]], [[Susan Sarandon]], [[Brooke Shields]], [[Annette O'Toole]] and [[Judd Hirsch]].
-[[film director|Directed]] by [[Frank Pierson]], the [[screenplay]] was [[film adaptation|adapted]] by Pierson from the 1975 book ''King of the Gypsies'' by [[Peter Maas]], which tells the story of Steve Tene and his [[Romani people|Romani]] (Gypsy) family.
+Originally planned to be directed by [[Peter Bogdanovich]],<ref>{{cite news |date=25 January 1975 |title=Briefs on the Arts: Monet Study Added To Met Exhibition Bogdanovich Signs For Gypsy Film Mrs. Ford to Aid Group for Dance |page=13 |work=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/01/25/archives/briefs-on-the-arts-monet-study-added-to-met-exhibition-bogdanovich.html}}</ref> the film was finally directed by Frank Pierson from a [[screenplay]] 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==
-Several [[technical advisor]]s, [[bit player]]s and [[extra (actor)|extras]] who worked on the movie were real gypsies. [[David Grisman]] composed the score, which prominently featured legendary jazz violinist [[Stephane Grappelli]]; both men also appeared onscreen as gypsy musicians. Future actress [[Rachel Ticotin]] was one of the gypsy dancers.
+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==
-[[Eric Roberts]] was nominated for a 1979 [[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globe]] for "Best Motion Picture Acting Debut &ndash; Male" for his [[performance]] as Dave.
+* [[Eric Roberts]] as Dave Stepanowicz
+* [[Sterling Hayden]] as King Zharko Stepanowicz
-==Plot summary==
+* [[Judd Hirsch]] as Groffo Stepanowicz
-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 ([[Sterling Hayden]]), passes his position of leadership on to his unwilling grandson, Dave ([[Eric Roberts]]). In spite of Dave's reluctance to become the Gypsies' new leader, Dave's father, Groffo ([[Judd Hirsch]]), resentful over not having been appointed leader, attempts to have Dave killed. Gruff 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.
+* [[Shelley Winters]] as Queen Rachel Stepanowicz
+* [[Susan Sarandon]] as Rose Giorgio Stepanowicz
-==Main cast==
-*[[Eric Roberts]] as Dave Stepanowicz
+* [[Brooke Shields]] as Tita Stepanowicz
-*[[Sterling Hayden]] as King Zharko Stepanowicz
+**[[Danielle Brisebois]] as Young Tita Stepanowicz
-*[[Judd Hirsch]] as Groffo Stepanowicz
+* [[Annette O'Toole]] as Sharon
-*[[Shelley Winters]] as Queen Rachel Stepanowicz
+* [[Annie Potts]] as Persa
-*[[Susan Sarandon]] as Rose Giorgio Stepanowicz
+* [[Michael V. Gazzo]] as Spiro Giorgio
-*[[Brooke Shields]] as Tita Stepanowicz
+* [[Antonia Rey]] as Danitza Giorgio
+* [[Matthew Laborteaux]] as Middle Dave Stepanowicz
-*[[Annette O'Toole]] as Sharon
-*[[Annie Potts]] as Persa
+* [[Roy Brocksmith]] as Frinkuleschti
-*[[Michael V. Gazzo]] as Spiro Giorgio
+* [[Faith Minton]] as Gypsy (uncredited)
-*[[Antonia Rey]] as Danitza Giorgio
-*[[Matthew Laborteaux]] as Middle Dave Stepanowicz
-*[[Danielle Brisebois]] as Young Tita Stepanowicz
-==Production==
-[[Peter Bogdanovich]] was originally announced as director.<ref>{{cite news |title=Briefs on the Arts: Monet Study Added To Met Exhibition Bogdanovich Signs For Gypsy Film Mrs. Ford to Aid Group for Dance |work=New York Times |date=25 January 1975 |page=13 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/01/25/archives/briefs-on-the-arts-monet-study-added-to-met-exhibition-bogdanovich.html }}</ref>
-==Additional notes==
-Dave's sister, Tita, is played by [[Brooke Shields]], and his girlfriend, Sharon, is played by [[Annette O'Toole]]. This was the second consecutive film in which [[Susan Sarandon]] and [[Brooke Shields]] played mother and daughter, following ''[[Pretty Baby (1978 film)|Pretty Baby]]''. Five and a half years after the release of the film,  on June 20, 1984, Shelley Winters and Annie Potts appeared as guests on ''[[The Tonight Show]]'' starring  [[Johnny Carson]]. Miss Winters had no memory of working with Potts and the conversation brought the house down. A clip of this segment was replayed on several ''Tonight Show'' anniversary specials.
-The casting director was future producer [[Scott Rudin]]; it is his first screen credit in any capacity.
 ==See also==
@@ Line 70: / Line 74: @@
 {{DEFAULTSORT:King Of The Gypsies (Film)}}
+[[Category:1970s American films]]
+[[Category:1970s English-language films]]
 [[Category:1978 films]]
-[[Category:1978 drama films]]
+[[Category:1978 crime drama films]]
-[[Category:American drama films]]
+[[Category:American crime drama films]]
-[[Category:English-language films]]
+[[Category:Films about Romani people]]
-[[Category:Films based on American novels]]
+[[Category:Films based on non-fiction books]]
 [[Category:Films directed by Frank Pierson]]
+[[Category:Films produced by Dino De Laurentiis]]
 [[Category:Films set in New York City]]
+[[Category:Films set in the 1960s]]
 [[Category:Films shot in New Jersey]]
 [[Category:Films shot in New York City]]
+[[Category:Kings of the Gypsies]]
 [[Category:Paramount Pictures films]]
-[[Category:Romani films]]
-[[Category:Voivodes and Kings of the Gypsies]]
-[[Category:American films]]
-[[Category:Films produced by Dino De Laurentiis]]