King of the Gypsies (film)

King of the Gypsies is a 1978 Paramount motion picture drama starring Eric Roberts, Sterling Hayden, Shelley Winters, Susan Sarandon, Brooke Shields, Annette OToole, and Judd Hirsch.

The film deals with the criminal ways and violent lives of a group of modernday Gypsies based in New York City. Whilst 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 Daves reluctance to become the Gypsies new leader, Daves father, Groffo Judd Hirsch, is sufficiently insecure and resentful over not winning the title himself that he attempts to have his own son killed. This leads to a major confrontation, and the film ends with the implication that Dave may finally accept his legacy with his voiceover musings about somehow bringing the rest of the traditionbound Gypsies forward in time into the world of 20th Century customs and lifestyles.Daves sister, Tita, is played by Brooke Shields, and his girlfriend, Sharon, is played by Annette OToole. This was the second consecutive film in which Susan Sarandon and Brooke Shields played mother and daughter, following Pretty Baby. Six 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. ........

Source: Wikipedia