KING OF THE GYPSIES
US, 1978, 112 minutes, Colour.
Sterling Hayden, Shelley Winters, Susan Sarandon, Eric Roberts, Brooke Shields, Annette O’ Toole, Judd Hirsch, Annie Potts, Michael V. Gazzo.
Directed by Frank R. Pierson.
In 1978 King of the Gypsies was considered and important film because it was introducing an explosive new talent: Eric Roberts. While Eric Roberts has had a long career, he has not become the top star of Hollywood as was predicted (and as happened to his sister Julia). However, this film is very interesting as a portrayal of the way of life of American gypsies, their codes, sense of honour, ways of survival – and indications that the way of life was in decline as some of the members became involved in organised crime.
Peter Maas on whose book the film is based, was a writer about crime in the United States – and several of his books formed the bases for films including Serpico, The Valacchi Papers and Marie. The film was written and directed by Frank Pierson who had directed some film and television work in the 1960s, including the John le Carre The Looking Glass War. However, his first major attempt at direction caused him no end of worry, feuding with its star, Barbra Streisand for A Star is Born. He continued his work as a writer, his films including screenplays for Cat Ballou, Cool Hand Luke, Dog Day Afternoon, Presumed Innocent. However, from the 1990s he directed only television movies although he was elected president of the Writers’ Guild of America in the early 90s.
The film has a very strong cast, led by Sterling Hayden and Shelley Winters as the king and queen of the gypsies. Eric Roberts appears as a young man, clashing with his father (Judd Hirsch) who is the favoured new king. It is interesting to see such stars as Susan Sarandon and Brooke Shields in early days. Susan Sarandon was to have a long career. Brooke Shields was soon to make Pretty Baby and The Blue Lagoon.
1. Interesting entertaining? For an American audience, non-American audiences? Interest in gypsies and their traditions and way of life?
2. The American flavour of the film - the sub-culture in the Eastern American States? Contemporary America. a minority within this society? Coping, changing, isolated, antagonistic and hostile, proud?
3. The contribution of the visual impact of the gypsy way of life, the music? The presentation of the customs? The importance of the gypsy tradition? The indication of the conflict of generations, the younger gypsies, the rebellion? The critique of the sub-cultures within the main society? Their clinging blindly to their ways, imposition on the younger generation? What in the 20th century for the gypsies? The American 20th century?
4. The tone of the title and the emphasis on the king, a king in America? The old ways and in contrast with democracy an was pointed out? Zharka and his role as king, influence, symbols. the exercise of his power? The handing on of power? Groffo an unsuitable? The hope of the continuing kingship in David? The nature of the kingship and the influence on the gypsies? The incongruity of kings in the United States?
5. The narrative device of having David tell the story, tell his own story, comment on the characters, comment on the events and their significance, show his rebellion, voice his interior attitudes to the audience and make them share this, comment on his behaviour and how he would try to load the gypsies? His comment on being born in America. in the gypsy way of life the contract with the ordinary white world and society? The variety of roles, his trying to hide his identity, torn away from the gypsies and back towards them? The ironies that he experienced in his quest?
6. The atmosphere of the opening - the dance and the traditional gypsy movements, music, emotions? Pride? The portrait of the two families, the obstinate personalities, the fights and the clashes, the need for mediation and resolution? The authority of the mediator and his decision? Yet Zharka’s defiance of this? His assertion of his rule, his disregard of laws even though they were respected? The melodrama of the stealing of Rosa? The reason that she was stolen - for Groffo, for an heir?
7. The character of Zharka and his style his rule, status, soft hands from doing no honest work, his antagonism towards Groffo, love for Rose, regard for David and confiding in him, his hopes and his care in David? His love for Rachel and his taking her for granted?
8. The portrait of the gypsy way of life especially as illustrated by Rosa’s techniques - with David's commentary on these? Her status and reputation? Influencing New York City? David's comments on her clients and their credulity? Groffo as her chauffeur? The long sequence where she persuaded the widow to bury the money? The sequence of the stealing of the diamond and swallowing it and her recovering it?
9. Rose as character and an influence in the story? Her family background. her place at the initial feast, her staying with her husband, the lack of love between the two? Her devotion to her two children? Her work, skills, dishonesty, tricks? Her strengths and her weaknesses? Her continued love for David, for Tita? Her being torn by what happened to each of them? Her inability to cope with the changing ways?
10. How strongly drawn was the character of Groffo? His weaknesses, drinking, brutality towards wife and children? Driving his wife to, work? Using her money for gambling, his friends? His blindness and not seeing what was expected of him? The sequence where he upbraided his children for watching the white children playing? Making the, little boy drive and then blaming him for the accident? His vindictiveness towards Tita, and arranging her marriage? The growing vengeance? His lack of love for his father? His anger towards his son and not caring whether he came or not? His father's death and his expectations? Hostility towards his son? The hiring of hoods to kill his son? The following of Dave and Tita? In the car and being responsible for Tita’s death? His playing cards and trying to disclaim any responsibility? His reaction to David's coming to kill him? Audience emotionally sharing David's attitude? Was this justice or emotional vengeance? Groffo as a gypsy gone wrong?
11. The portrayal of the minor characters, for example the rival family? Persa and her love for Dave, her children, her not believing in superstition but reading the cards?
12. The character of David - his childhood, involvement in his mother's tricks, watching the white children play? The expectations and impositions and his decision to run away? The comical aspects of his claiming medical insurance for accidents, his fear of the needle? His pride in becoming a singer? His wanting to renounce his heritage? His meeting the girl, his love for the society girl, the skating sequence, living with her? His hopes for abandoning his heritage and going to California for new hopes and a life?
13. The character of the girl - her place in society, love for David, the experience of Rose and Tita visiting and the emotional outburst with the coffee cups, her fears when David was attacked by the hoods? Her having to be patient and supporting him? Would David return to her?
14. Gypsies and emotions - hopes for California. Rose trying to persuade her son to come back? Tita, and her father’s vindictiveness? The emotions about Zharka’s death and its effect on them all?
15. Zharka dying and his refusal to go until David was found Rachel and her presence? His enjoying David's visit and handing on the heritage, the final cigarette, the pathos of his death? Groffo’s absence, the effect on David?
16. The atmosphere of the funeral, the challenge? David's renunciation of the kingship? The melodramatic tactics for the ‘soap’? Groffo’s pursuit and the death in the street?
17. The atmosphere of violence and vengeance with David's shooting? The police arriving? Rachel’s reaction to the death of her son? Memories of Tita dead? Rose's control of the situation and David’s escape?
18. Groffo’s funeral and the ambiguities? The rituals with the lying in state, the money, Zharka’s funeral and his enemies coming? Groffo’s funeral and the decision for David to walk away? The gypsies following? His comments on leading them to the 20th century?
19. The plot line for the presentation of family melodrama? Satisfying? A portrayal and study of a sub-culture - its change, ideals, superstition, old ways? Presence in America, purpose?
20. The young man confronting the past, his hopes, for example being a surgeon? His destiny, doomed to failure. possibility of breaking through? How much insight into a minority group different from established society?
