King of the Gypsies 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

King of the Gypsies 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 9, 2025

The grand successes of 1972’s “The Godfather” and 1974’s “The Godfather Part II” certainly had an influence over the film business, and producer Dino De Laurentiis wasn’t about the let such glory pass him by. 1978’s “King of the Gypsies” isn’t a sprawling story of family and crime (Dino isn’t about to pay for that), but it shares some of the domestic turmoil and community exploration with the Francis Ford Coppola classic, finding writer/director Frank Pierson (1976’s “A Star is Born”) tasked with bringing Peter Maas’s 1975 book to the big screen. The ties that bind remain as tight as ever in the picture, which surveys growing tensions between rival Romani clans and follows the itchiness of a young man who doesn’t want anything to do with it. It’s a messy adaptation with extreme forms of acting, but Pierson looks to celebrate culture and drama with the endeavor, finding periodic success with the madness of it all.

Long ago, Zharko (Sterling Hayden) declared himself King of the Gypsies, forcing Rose (Susan Sarandon), the daughter of a rival leader, to marry his son, Groffo (Judd Hirsch). Years later, Rose and Groffo’s son, Dave (Eric Roberts), refuses the Gypsy lifestyle, trying to get away from criminal entanglements and live his own life. As Zharko lies on his deathbed, the elder looks to Dave to accept his crown, passing over Groffo, who’s become a violent troublemaker. The young man wants nothing to do with leadership, and Groffo wants him dead, putting Dave on the run as he seeks to manage Gypsy interests and protect his little sister, Tita (Brooke Shields), from the same marital fate as her mother.

Pierson works hard to retain as much Romani culture as possible in “King of the Gypsies,” taking storytelling breaks to highlight celebrations and dancing, reinforcing the life of these people and their traditions. Of course, the material also depicts most of the Romanis as scheming, thieving people, taking true sensitivity out of the endeavor. Pierson is here for the drama, and the material is all about conflicts, especially when it comes to parental control and child marriage, setting up an extended fight between Dave and Groffo, with the latter a rough man not above trying to murder his own son to maintain the power he feels he deserves.

“King of the Gypsies” comes alive when dealing directly with community clashes, generating defined conflicts to follow as tempers flare. And there are a few strange asides, including a lengthy sequence where Rose uses a young Dave to help steal a diamond from a jewelry store. Pierson is trying to pack as much of the book into the movie, allowing the film to become unwieldy at times, especially around supporting characters such as Persa (Annie Potts), who’s briefly involved with Dave as he gears up to fight back. “King of the Gypsies” can get scattered at times, but Pierson looks to hold the picture together through acting, and performances are something to see. There’s Hayden, who’s speaks like a professional wrestler, projecting authority as Zharko. Hirsch is miscast and loving it as Groffo, permitted to play a reckless man of excess and anger. And Roberts (making his big screen debut) is Roberts-ing all over the place as Dave, feeling every line of dialogue down to his bones, which is both frightening and unintentionally amusing.

For additional information and analysis, please read Martin Liebman’s 2015 Blu-ray review.

King of the Gypsies 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray.

"King of the Gypsies" was originally issued on Blu-ray by Olive Films in 2015, and Cinematographe returns to the title with a UHD release, listed as a "new 4K restoration, presented in Dolby Vision HDR on the 4K disc, from the original camera negative." Whatever issues were present on the Olive Films disc appear to be corrected here, as detail is strong throughout the viewing experience, exploring the various textures of Romani culture, urban locations, and character appearances, with the latter offering fibrous costuming choices and decent skin particulars. There's softer cinematography, which is capably preserved, with nicely resolved grain. Interiors are loaded with decorative additions and dimension as the effort tours apartments and businesses. Exteriors maintain appealing depths. Blacks are deep, securing evening activity and fashion choices. Highlights are tasteful. Color is defined, examining brighter primaries on clothing and signage, and cooler hues on cold weather events, which also brings out sharp white snow. Source is in good condition, with a few brief blemishes.

King of the Gypsies 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

"King of the Gypsies" is mostly an argumentative film, and recording equipment of the day doesn't always keep up with the shouting matches on the 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix, listed as the "original mono theatrical soundtrack." Dialogue exchanges are inherently a little rough at times, but intelligibility is never threatened, and emotional offerings are preserved. Scoring supports with clear instrumentation and dramatic emphasis, joined by more active Romani musical offerings. Sound effects are appreciable, along with urban atmospherics.

King of the Gypsies 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet contains essays by Caden Mark Gardner, Adam Nayman, Jason Bailey, and Chris Shields.

• Commentary features film historian Adrian Martin.

• "Keep Surprising Me" (18:25, HD) is an interview with actor Eric Roberts, who was offered the script for "King of the Gypsies" along with the book, giving him a chance to understand the material in different ways. He recalls his initial meeting with director Frank Pierson, extending to a screen test that occurred during a blizzard, ultimately securing the lead role. A seasoned actor at the age of 22, Roberts felt no pressure with the part, feeling kinship with the character. Co-stars are assessed, including Judd Hirsch, who wasn't kind to Roberts, and Sterling Hayden, who demanded a meeting with the actor, wanting to share a hash pipe with his fellow thespian while they rehearsed. The interviewee describes a certain level of fear in the work, looking for ways to build his confidence, including the destruction of props. Memories of cinematographer Sven Nykvist are provided, with the pair reuniting on "Star 80," building a friendship in the process. Roberts also reflects on Gypsy culture and the enduring legacy of the film, which has been rediscovered by social media in recent years.

• "The Gadjo Splices" (26:56, HD) is a video conference interview with editor Paul Hirsch, who shares his employment adventure, meeting with director Frank Pierson after his work on "Star Wars," drawn to the production and its chance to work with "highly regarded" professionals. The interviewee shares tales from the shoot, identifying technical challenges and experiences, including cinematographer Sven Nykist's first use of a camera crane. Time with producer Frederico De Laurentiis is recalled, extending to strange behavior in the editing room. Cutting issues are also identified, handling music and producer demands, including job offers from Dino De Laurentiis, who offered Hirsch work on 1979's "Hurricane" when he was set to edit "The Empire Strikes Back."

• "The Writer Speaks" (116:40, SD) is a 2001 interview with director Frank Pierson, created by The Writers Guild Foundation.

• "Trailers from Hell" (3:53, HD) explores "King of the Gypsies" with director Michael Schlesinger.

• "Prison of Roots: Sven Nykvist Arrives in America" (9:23, HD) is a video essay by Daniel Kremer.

• A Theatrical Trailer is not included on this release.

King of the Gypsies 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"King of the Gypsies" is a mixed bag, but the pros outweigh the cons in the endeavor. The picture carries an odd atmosphere, and Pierson seems to prefer it, moving from a multi-generational tale of familial power to extended Romani gatherings and Dave's arc of independence. It's not always a commanding sit, but when it finds some flavor and intensity, the film maintains an interesting screen presence.