Product Details

• Actors: Gabe Kaplan
• Directors: John Bowab
• Producers: Joseph Harris
• Studio: J2 Communications
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: B000BI5YTS
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #19,033 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Kaplan inadequate as Groucho, November 10, 2007

By	Annie Van Auken (Planet Earth) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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A reviewer at IMDB.com recommended this 1982 version of the Arthur Marx written stage show over a more recent revival, so I sought out a used VHS copy. I've not seen the Frank Ferrante Groucho, so I can't compare the two.

Gabe Kaplan is a totally inadequate Groucho Marx. He's too tall, has beady eyes, can't do the "Groucho crouch" walk and worst of all CANNOT sing on key! When he murders "Hooray For Captain Spaulding" and "Hello, I Must Be Going," I can just picture Mr. Marx spinning in his grave. Gabe's Groucho impression is average at best (Lewis J. Stadler in MINNIE'S BOYS-- now THERE'S a Groucho!). Kaplan also falters badly when reenacting a few scenes with brother Chico-- his timing and delivery are all wrong, as if he'd never seen the original material.

As for the content and other cast members:
If you've read "Harpo Speaks," "Groucho and Me" or any of a number of Marx Brothers bios, the storyline here will be a boring rehash. Continuity is also an issue. ACT 1 ends in 1930. When things resume, it's suddenly 1941! Nearly the entirety of the Marxes film career is glossed over.

Harpo is represented in this show as a spotlight on any empty stool beside a harp and an offstage horn that sounds nothing like the one Harp "spoke" with. In the 2001 revival, Roy Abramsohn does double duty as both Harpo and Chico. Chico here is an unrecognizable Stanley Tucci, who plays his role better than Kaplan does his. The third cast member (a young lady not mentioned at IMDB) has several parts, including two interviewers and a mediocre Maggie Dumont.

Therefore, sight unseen I'd recommend the DVD of GROUCHO - A LIFE IN REVIEW. It's GOT to be better than this!