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Maxine Marx

Growing Up With Chico Hardcover – February 1, 1980

by Maxine Marx (Author)

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The daughter of Chico Marx portrays her father as a charming bon vivant, compulsive gambler, congenital liar, and faithless husband who, as manager for the Marx Brothers, steered them to phenomenal success from vaudeville to Hollywood

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Product details

Publisher : Prentice-Hall; 1st edition (February 1, 1980)
Language : English
Hardcover : 181 pages
ISBN-10 : 0133678210
ISBN-13 : 978-0133678215
Item Weight : 1.14 pounds

Best Sellers Rank: #1,044,478 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #108,186 in Biographies

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30 ratings

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Tea&BookLover

A great read..

Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2019

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Chico's daughter Maxine shares with us her father's faults like gambling, lying and cheating along with his more pleasant parts of being her father, a charmer and a go-getter who got the brothers their gigs.

I had just finished reading Harpo's book, Harpo Speaks before I started this one. In this one I learned more about Minnie, the mother of the Marx brothers too. In a less flattering manner that Harpo details.

I enjoyed the book and hearing about her growing up (mostly) but it also just left me sad. Sad that someone could have it all and yet ruin it all. I also thought that Groucho came off here as just mean and bitter; more so than in Harpo's book, but apparently he really was that way.

A good account of not just Chico, but her mom Betty and the Marx Brothers also.

One person found this helpful

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R. Glueck

Hey, at'sa some good!

Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2013

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After Richard Anobile's double-crossing, yet intimate exposure of the inner thoughts of the Marx family, it was well established that Chico was not going to be poster boy for responsible husband of the year. The fleshing out of who Chico really was fell to his only acknowledged child, daughter Maxine. First off, this is essential reading for any true student of the brothers and the evolution of their comedic essence. Chico was a heart melter, even unto his family who he consistently let down. Chico worked the system, and usually, all involved were left feeling well off in his glow, at least until the ugly truth followed. Maxine held back little in her description of Chico and Betty Marx's household. Furthermore, she let's go on each of the brothers, being kindest to Gummo. Even Harpo gets stung, something which rarely, if ever happens in other accounts. Groucho gets the worst criticism. In each case, it certainly seems justified.

Maxine, like most child of ruined marriages, tries to sort out blame, wants to repair the home, and reconcile the events. The editing isn't as good as it might be. We wander off into her near first sexual encounter in the bedroom of Ray Milland, and a few brief attempts to land acting roles. Maxine carved out a life and a family for herself, but the Chico story remains what we want to read about. I think it might be difficult to bring in hard facts as Chico was totally unaccountable to anyone. Groucho claimed that when Bugsy Siegel was shot, he had a bad check from Chico in his wallet, but while this is note mentioned in this book, Chico's dodging organized crime debts is mentioned. A great many of these little stories have been read before, but I give Maxine credit for making her father accountable in public. Chico was a mathematical genius, a brilliant comedian, a masterful pianist with his own characteristic style. The facts show that he squandered 90% of his genius and 100% of his fortune. While we will always love him for what he gave us, many others suffered or what he stole from those invested in his life.

I recommend "Growing up with Chico", if only to help students of the brothers, the comedy, the films, and artistry, better know what living offstage was like. Four stars, well earned.

8 people found this helpful

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A rare insight into an underrated Marx

Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2012

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This biography, written by Chico's daughter Maxine, is a candid description of what life was like at the Chico Marx's home. She openly talks about Chico's lifelong philandering and gambling, and it appears that this was an obsession that Chico had since he was a little boy. He was the reason for the financial success of the Marx Brothers, he did the contracts, spoke to the promoters, and in general, his charm and optimism changed the Marx Brothers from a local vaudeville troupe, to an international and enduring success, to this very day, comparable to the success of Chaplin.
It is great reading about the famous celebrities the Marx Brothers knew, and how Maxine remembers assorted anecdotes of these individuals.
A fun book to read, and one that takes you back to what show business and Hollywood was like in the 1920's and 1930's
Don't miss it.

6 people found this helpful

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Christian Gonzalez

No serious (or not so serious) Marx Bros fan's collection ...

Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2018

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No serious (or not so serious) Marx Bros fan's collection is complete without this book. Also Groucho And Me Harpo Speaks!Wisdom of the Marx Brothers: Life Lessons from Groucho, Chico, and Harpo

One person found this helpful

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Donald C. Mowry

Great

Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2020

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Great book

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Toni

Marx Brothers, not ism

Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2019

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The Marx Bro are my faves

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Amazon Customer

Good Read

Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2016

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Good read, a touching revelation of a loving but irresponsible father. It should be noted, however that Miss Marx dutifully and understandably defends her father's wild lifestyle.

One person found this helpful

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Gary Furman

Very good read.

Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2018

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I had read this book once before. And I enjoyed it very much.

One person found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

The lost biography of Chico?

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 7, 2017

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It is always said that there is no biography of Chico and that this is a missing piece of the Marx Brothers's story. This seems to be the nearest that we can get and it is a biased account from his daughter, of course. However, we do hear some of the anecdotes and stories that would have featured in a proper treatment of the subject and you will learn more about him, both as motivated businessman and addicted gambler. There is never a doubt which side Maxine will come down on in her portrayal but she also gives you enough bad points to try to gain some balance. You will also see a darker side of Harpo than his autobiography would have you believe existed. But Margaret Dumont is clearly making fun of the author without her realising. If you love the Marx Brothers, this is well worth reading.

One person found this helpful

Wingate

Full Marx

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 15, 2017

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So much has been written by and about Groucho and Harpo that Chico has been neglected.This book by his daughter certainly fills in a lot of the gaps.Alas it is only 170 pages long.There is so much I didn't know or realise about Chico.Certainly not that he was the manager.It is so sad that he lost virtually everything because of his gambling addiction.Anyway he has never lost the affection of us true Marxists.

One person found this helpful

Hels Bels

Brilliant book and excellent service and delivery

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 13, 2014

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Brilliant book and excellent service and delivery. I bought this as a gift for someone and they were absolutely thrilled with it.

One person found this helpful

Christine H.

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 21, 2017

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Enjoyable; read in a day.

One person found this helpful

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