Customer Reviews

Hello, I must be going: Groucho and his friends

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As the author points out, Groucho was a willing participant in this book but didn't live to see its publication. Charlotte Chandler spent a good deal of time with Groucho in his home toward the end of his life, and it's a perspective not offered by other authors (and I've read a number of books on the Brothers). Ms. Chandler conveys a sense of mutual warmth between herself and Groucho but doesn't idolize Groucho the Legend to the point of forgetting to capture the man. I also appreciated her kindness and restraint in treating Groucho's twilight-years relationship with the much, much younger Erin Fleming (the subject of a lawsuit by son Arthur Marx and many vitriolic pieces by the tabloid press). My husband points out that a few of the stories are told twice (anecdotally by the author, then in interview form), but that's well worth the price of admission. Transcripts of coversations with Woody Allen, Bill Cosby and others are priceless.

I've read part of this book in the library. It contains MANY anecdotes and quotes NOT found in any other Marx Bros. books-- and I've read most of the main ones! Thrill to the revelations about the sixth Marx brother! Gasp in Amazement at the meeting between Groucho and Woody Allen! Cheer at the revelation of the Missing Sketch from "I'll Say She Is!". And last but least, laugh. Of course some tiny smidgen (say, what IS a smidgen, anyway?) of information is incorrect, but hey, beggars can't be writers. Or is that critics can't be boozers?

Unlike anything I have seen or read about the Marx Brothers, this book was,overall depressing. Constant focus on Groucho's mortality, especially his personal observation of it, were the main cause of this doom and gloom. Additionally, many stories of "the good ol' days" were repeated througout the book.

Although I concur this is new material, the material is not uplifting - the impending fall of an icon

This is an interesting look at Groucho Marx (1890-1977) as he was nearing the end of his long years. Even in his aged condition Groucho retained much of the quick-wit that endeared him to so many for so long. Author Charlotte Chandler is respectful and warm towards her subject without losing her proper journalistic distance. Groucho was a funny man, but he could over-do the wisecracks and he had a couple bouts with the blues. Still, this book contains many smiles, along with a sad feeling at the great comic's passing. The book gains substantially from the interviews with such others as Woody Allen, Bill Cosby, etc.

Replete with valuable interviews and recorded exchanges between Groucho and friends, but also deliberately misleading about the author's "friendship" with Groucho, with all the exchanges between them near his death (and the "best from Groucho" autograph that takes up one page) being complete fabrications. Groucho (via the bipolar Erin Fleming, of course), withdrew his support for this book and barred Chandler (actual name Lyn Erhard) from his home in late 1975 (almost 2 years before his death) after discovering that she had no written agreement with her publisher for his biography. Such was probably unfair (but par for the course for Erin), but it didn't justify her rewriting history.

This book is also disorganized and has no index, so prepare to be frustrated if you seek certain facts. And to reiterate, ignore the "touching" words of Groucho in the final chapters, because they never happened.

this book was a complete surprise to me, it was Groucho Marx talking to Charlotte Chandler over a period of time on all kinds of subjects. wow. it was like he was right here in my room, at the dinner table insulting the waiters right along side of me. a great book for Groucho fans and people who like a really memorable read. i had read his autobiography and it was good with a lot of history to it...the vaudeville stuff. but he seemed distant and this book was not like that at all. a complete joy.

I have to agree with some of the reviewers in that it seems like Groucho in the twilight of his life was a grouchy old man. The book wastes too many pages talking about people you don't care about (friends of Groucho's) and repeats stories over and over again. At least to me, there weren't enough anecdotes about his life with his brothers and when they were mentioned they were about two paragraphs long. I know this book is about the friends of Groucho and his relationship with them, but still. To me it seemed there wasn't much mention (from Groucho) of his brothers and when he did say something it was the same comment over and over. There is some good insight from a few of his long-time friends but it's few and far between.

I was taken aback by Groucho's treatment of 'civilians' or those who weren't in show business. He didn't like mingling with them and was usually rude to them. Nice. It's us civilians who made you a star and now you look down on them. Typical. I was a very big Marx brother fan (still am) but this kind of changed my outlook on Groucho. And another reviewer is correct in that a lot the interaction between him and his friends was 'kissing up to a legend.' No wonder he thought so highly of himself.

I can (begrudgingly) recommend this book to Marx fans if only to check it off the list of 'Groucho' books to read. But it seems rambling, repetitive, and I found myself rolling my eyes at times. Go read 'Harpo Speaks' if you want a good 'Marx Brothers' book.

This may sound funny, but i read harpo speaks! by harpo marx, and i thought he was my favorite marx brother and on film he is definetly one of my favorites and the book was pretty good, but this book I think is as good or better! might be because of the co-author , I,m not sure , but its a good read!

This is easily one of the funniest books I've ever read. Not a biography as much as a series of recollections by Groucho of his many years in show business. One hilarious story after another,enough to leave the reader short of breath. It's also a portrait of his later years after the deaths of Harpo and Chico. You really get the idea how close they were by the reverence which with Groucho treats their memories.

A wonderful read

[...]

This book is the most delightful, most fun book about the Marx Brothers that I have ever read. It's a series of interviews with Groucho and his friends--friends like George Burns, Bill Cosby, Woody Allen. And the book is written in such a style that by the time you've read the whole book, you really feel like you've spent a lot of wonderful hours chatting with Groucho.