I recently produced and starred in 'Groucho: A Life in Revue' here in Salt Lake City and allow me to say that it is simply an amazing script, not to mention a dream for any actor to play. The play spans Groucho's life from age 15 to 85 and includes wonderful re-creations of his best comic bits. At the center of this play is Groucho's relationship with Chico. Must reading for any Marx Brother fan and a show so fun and tender that even those unfamiliar with the great comic will be moved.

Arthur Marx has written a wonderful narrative of his life as the son of Groucho Marx. In this book, you will find out about Groucho's likes and dislikes... what drove his wives to divorce, and a great deal of "the real Groucho" from someone very close to him. What was most interesting to me was the sad ending to this comedic genius' life and how his estate was ultimately resolved. A wonderful insight into Groucho's personal life.

Big feet was Groucho's nickname for Arthur- his son, who wrote a beautiful book before I was even born- yet I was touched and swallowed this book in 2 days. You read the story of the young Arthur struggling all his life to be more than son of Groucho, and along the way, you don't only discover a whole new side in Groucho, you also meet a bright man who made it on his own- Arthur. A must to all Groucho fans and to all those who think that celebraty's kids have it made.

I have read this book a couple of times, along with Nick Tosches book on Dino. I like to read about the lives of different entertainers and find that Dean Martin was probably one of the most fascinating personalities of his time.The fact that he was such a private person makes him that much more intriguing. I do feel Arthur Marx did the best he could with the information he had, but I cannot honestly give this book 5 stars. I'll read it again and maybe I'll change my mind.

I have this book and the reading is good. Actually this book seems to be most of the research for Nick Toshes book. Minus the mob and language. Although you get the feeling that Arthur Marx really knew and liked the subjects he's writting about. Would recommend it to be included in any collectors library.

I am very impressed with _Arthur Marx's Groucho: A Photographic Journey_. All photos are of high quality and most have not seen print before. I believe that over half were taken by Arthur Marx himself. The book weighs something like six pounds. The only reason that this is relevant to all but the infirm, and perhaps the hapless mail carrier, is because it denotes the quality of the paper used; more specifically: the high-glossy type of presentation that makes this coffee table book so unique within the realm of Marx Brothers books. Arthur Marx and editor Frank Ferrante (and the book designer, whose name is simply not handy just now) are to be commended on their efforts. Nicely done. Why my vote of "four stars" and not "five"? Most realtively-new Marx enthusiasts might likely give the book five stars. I guess that my lone reservation revolves around the fact that the editorial content (that meaning Arthur Marx's written observations), albeit generous in both tone and length, offer little _new_ insight to this jaded reader than, well, I guess, the fact that Groucho's breakfast consisted of half a grapefruit, two pieces of toast, and coffee). There may a few other brand-new insights that I've forgotten. (But again, I write as a long-time student of the Marxes.) At the same time, Arthur's text does serve nicely as a son's loving reminiscences of his father, and I'll take that over the transcriptions of "The Bank of America v. Erin Fleming" any day. (Besides all of that, the transcriptions do not include any photographs whatsoever. Perhaps fortuitously.) Regardless, most dyed in the wool Groucho fans will relish this expertly-executed new book on Groucho (a new book on Groucho is, obviously, reason enough for celebration). Newbies are likely to delight in it even more-so (even if, perhaps, most cannot actually afford a coffee table upon which to place it; my advice to them is "fake it"). I thereby recommend it highly. (I only wish this site allowed a vote of four-and-one-half stars. Ah well.) Kudos to all involved in this project.

I'm a comedy buff and this book reminded me why I fell in love with the Marx Brothers when I was a kid. Arthur Marx's take on his father is warm and funny. The photography is top notch. Thank you, Mr. Marx, for this hilarious tribute. I needed the laugh.

I've owned this book for several weeks now and it continues to have this strange affect on me: every time I pick it up, my mouth opens wide in awe and then twists into a grin that runs from ear to ear!! I just can't stop smiling! This is not your average picture book on the Marx Brothers.

Make no mistake....this book is first and foremost about the pictures and all have been STUNNINGLY reproduced. There is a richness and depth to the photos that you find in, say, coffee table photography books (Ansel Adams comes to mind). Some of the photos have been published before, but the majority of them are being seen here for the first time in book form. But even if you've seen some of the photos before, you've never seen them like this! This truly must've been a labor of love.

Accompanying the photos is a casual running commentary supplied by Arthur Marx which is at once charming, engaging, revealing and entertaining. You can almost imagine yourself thumbing through a Marx family photo album with Arthur stopping here and there to share the memories he associates with each picture.

This book satisfies on so many levels, but don't expect it to be a primer on the life and times of Julius H. Marx. For that find a copy of Hector Arce's GROUCHO (if you can!) but keep a copy of this book nearby because it wonderfully illustrates yet another facet of the man we know as Groucho.

I give this 5 stars (and 4 hard-boiled eggs!)!!!

I have been a fan of Red Skelton since a child watching him on the black & white TV. So when I had the opportunity to read this book, I jumped at it. Maybe I'm to big a fan and had Mr Skelton on a pedistal and was a little shocked by the content of this book. It was often hard for me to read some chapters. He was human and had frailities like all men. The book gave a great deal of detail to his struggling years, both professionaly and personally. There are many quotes from coworkers that show a different, behind-the-scenes Red Skelton. This man among clowns had a life quite different for what the public saw through televison. I'm just glad he surrived and became a master comedian.

If you are looking for a well-researched bio into the life of Groucho Marx, look elsewhere. Arthur Marx's accounts of the Marx brothers' history is basically a rehash of the old stories Groucho had told him, many untrue and without additional research Arthur just tells them again. It is with his eyewitness accounts of Groucho's life that Arthur creates an interesting addition to the Marx booklist. From the ride back from Chico's funeral with Groucho and Harpo to his scathing attack on Erin Flemings influence on his father this book makes for an interesting read. Arthur Marx is a solid story teller and the book is an easy enjoyable read. Just don't confuse it for the truth.

My Life With Groucho is a composite of Arthur's two previous books about his father, Life with Groucho and Son of Groucho. Only this time, with Groucho's death and the court fight for his estate, is there finality to the three volume saga.

Part One of the the book is a virtual reprint from Arthur's first tome, Life With Groucho, written in the mid-Fifties. As this book is now out of print, this section becomes a valuable source of information for collectors of Marxiana who were too young or not even born when this book was published.

Part Two is a summary of Son of Groucho's better parts, meaning those concerning life with Dad after Life With Groucho was published. Detailed in full is the inter-family ruckus that almost prevented the publishing of the first book, and Arthur takes us to the end of his father's life, warts and all, although tempered by the perspective of a loving son.

The last part of the book concerns itself with the ensuing fight for Groucho's estate and the pernicious influence of Erin Fleming on Groucho's life.

Highly recommended for Marx fans and anyone else seeking an insight into what it was like to grow up in a family headed by a Marx Brother.

A really beautiful book, packed with information that even die hard fans may not know about Julius Henry Marx, better known as Groucho. Groucho was probably the most famous member of the Marx Brothers. He made films such as 'A Night at the Opera' and hosted the hit show, 'You Bet Your Life'. I have read many books on Groucho, and his brothers, but this has to be one of the best. I found it really easy to read and stayed up all night glued to it. It is a touching and humorous insight into Groucho. Arthur Marx, his son, has a superb style of writing, sometimes similar to his father's, and it had me laughing out loud many-a-time. I enjoyed it dearly and gives more details of Groucho's life then 'Groucho and Me', but is just as funny. It also has some great photographs which I had never seen before. I would suggest this book to any fan of Groucho or the Marx Brothers, it truly is a good, entertaining, interesting buy!

All I have to say is, if your a big fan of Bob Hope and believe that Mr. America- loyal, faithful husband and family man then don't read this you will look at him differently or probably won't be able to look at him at all. All I can say is I'm not surprised, what man don't sleep around? What disappoints me is that how easy the women went to bed with him, it takes two to tangle, and obviously these women wanted to do it. So I don't necessarily blaim Bob Hope, if their willing to give it up, any man is going to take it. All I have to say is and I've been saying it for years, Write books like this, when their alive and around to defend themselves. This book will break anybody's heart who's a big Bob Hope fan and believed he was Mr. America- faithful husband and family man. All I have to say is if he was this bad, it would of came out, all the wrongdoing came out about the rest of the stars of the past and present, I'm sure someone would of tried to tarnish his career like what happen to Bill Clinton, I'm sure some woman would of came forward and said something. I don't know what to believe, I wish somebody would let Bob Hope and his family read this book and get their say. Some things are just left best unsaid, and let people and fans believe the illusion and image the stars create.

Throughout the history of biographies, official or otherwise, authors who choose to pen books about celebrities, politicians or media figures do so because they either: a) revere or empathize greatly with their subject; or b) have a reason to vilify or skewer that subject's good name. In the case of this book, the latter is in effect. Arthur Marx (son of the great comic actor, Groucho Marx) seems to be doing his best to deflate Hope's standing with the American public. Although a few of his sources seem iron-clad, others appear without so much as a footnote. Lurid tales of Hope's antics, jealousies, and personal feuds are layed out one by one; each paragraph tries to hit harder than the one preceding it. Most will find this book interesting simply because of the sheer ribaldry and titillating content. For instance: Bing Crosby ended up in the hospital in 1948 for an operation, and as is retold by Marx, "Der Bingle" was fellated by a nurse on staff. He was suitably impressed about it that upon being released by the hospital, he promptly told Hope about the nurse's proclivity. It wasn't long before Hope was requesting the same room and the same nurse...with the same end result. Such lascivious behavior should be backed up by corroborating evidence; none, however, is offered. Marx also breaks the rule of biographers: Never include yourself, your family members, or your friends into the life of your literary subject. He introduces Groucho into the storyline in one chapter; and while Groucho was himself an entertainer well-known to millions of Americans, such as Hope was and is, Groucho's life and career didn't intersect with Hope's enough to warrant the inclusion of the elder Marx's name. It was, however, an interesting anecdote, and one Groucho could have easily related to his son. However, some of Arthur Marx's charges may have some validity. When he writes about a special Hope had on T.V. that was almost universally panned by television critics, Hope's spin doctors went into overdrive. They quoted a critic from a paper called "Chicago News," who said Hope's T.V. special was a "delight." An observant Los Angeles critic (who panned Hope's show the most vociferously) was contacted IN PERSON by a Hope employee. The man demanded a detraction, and told the critic that Hope could make her life miserable. The sycophant later said that Hope's show was reviewed most favorably elsewhere. The lady critic points out that the fictitious writer of the fictitious Chicago journal was evidence enough that Hope's latest T.V. effort did indeed fall well short of glory. It is not for me to say that Hope had as many affairs as Marx said he had; it may not be so, and I can't just take his word for it. Marx may have a serious axe to grind, and judging by his attempt to fit all of Hope's transgressions into one book makes it seem that way. All things considered, Marx must be taken with a grain of salt. It is up to those who were in the audience of one of Hope's USO shows to judge the validity of servicemen who castigated and booed Hope because of his "hawk" views of the Vietnam War. Marx tells us that although nearly all films show us nothing but laughing and applauding soldiers, the truth was that Hope had many detractors in the military. I won't argue the fact that Hope had some liberal detractors in his audience. Is Marx inflating the numbers of servicemen who really DID resent Hope and his political views? Again, I was not there; I have no say. I prefer to remember the Bob Hope from the "Road" pictures, ambling off to some misadventure or other with Bing. Or the guy who could just say something funny, and get it in before the censor had a chance to quash it. In conclusion, I tend to agree with a few of Marx's observations; the rest seem to extend the realm of reality. Delores Hope won't talk, and Bing and Marilyn Maxwell et. al., have all been outlived by Hope. No doubt, Hope is a man with faults, as have all of us. Keep that in mind as you read this book.

Since it is out of print, you may have to consult your library to see if they have a copy.

Bob Hope, America's comedian -- at least among white middle-Americans of a certain age. But like any institution, and he is an institution, there is a downside to one of the country's favorite success stories. Arthur Marx pulls no punches in characterizing Hope's many flaws. Chief are the secretly promiscuous womanizing, the penny-pinching among staffers, the ceaseless self-promotion, and a generally curmudgeonly personality. Not really bad stuff, like mixing with gangsters or playing with drugs, the sorts of things Hollywood is generally prone to. But bad enough to tarnish a nurtured image as family man and patriot. Many readers will avoid a tell-all book like Marx's for that sort of defensive reason. Moreover, I get the feeling that like many in Hollywood Marx respects Hope the comedian at the same time he generally dislikes the man. Nonetheless, he is careful to point out Hope's many strengths as a performer -- his matchless ability with one-liners; his energy, verve and sass; his tireless dedication to servicemen,(which appears genuine); and his shrewd sense of the business. Additionally, Hope makes up for a lack of creative spark with a sound sense of comedy, which has helped him stay on top for a remarkable period. I like the way Marx has included excerpts from routines to provide period flavor. They furnish a sense of popular humor over time, and Hope was an expert purveyor of popular tastes until at least the 1960's when the unpleasant war-mongering side took over. Marx's style is easy and readable. Even so, as another reviewer has pointed out, there is a notable shortage of citations to back up fact. What there are consists of a list of persons interviewed for the book, which seems a little over general for a work of this type. Nevertheless, many allegations are also attributed by name from the list of interviewees. So, however you take it, be prepared for an eye-level approach to a legend who is also very much a flawed individual.