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5.0 out of 5 stars
A rare glimpse of Groucho toward the end of his life, Dec 11 2000
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.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Memoirs of a Mangy Reviewer, Aug 23 2000
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?
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Book On The Marx Brothers, July 6 1998
By A Customer
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.
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