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Loading... The Groucho Letters: Letter From And To Groucho Marx (original 1967; edition 1994)by Groucho Marx
Work InformationThe Groucho Letters by Groucho Marx (1967)
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. As you read this you will be laughing out loud and you will be unable to keep yourself from sharing passages with those around you. Absolutely hilarious. ( ) I 'discovered' the Marx Brothers at age 12 and tried to see as many of their movies as I could after that. My fondness for their humor hasn't faded, and now that I've read this insightful book, I feel a need to see their work for the first time in ages. Groucho's knack for wordplay always appealed to me most of all, and this book highlights his wit--and the wit of his fellow correspondents, often other writers of the day. There's something especially joyful about seeing Groucho go into fanboy mode as he writes to E.B. White, and reading how he became such a fan of these new guys Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner that he sends their comedy album out to a few of his other writer-friends abroad. I do wish this book was annotated. A few of the people had asterisks by their names accompanied by brief explanations about who the person is, but since it was originally published in the late 1960s, there is an assumption that the reader will know recognize other names or get other cultural references. I picked up a lot, sure, but wanted to know more. More context around Groucho's life would have helped, too. The letters are not in chronological order, but grouped by theme and correspondent, and sometimes the back and forth flow in time is confusing--he's married to one woman then another, then single, then married to the first woman again. That said, much of the humor is still gold. I laughed out loud throughout and smiled much of the time I read. Sure, a few jokes went a bit far, but even Groucho at his raciest is downright mild compared to modern comedians. Groucho Marx is an amazing letter writer. This collection of his letters is wonderfully entertaining. I have now read it three times. My favorites are his letters about his dinner with TS Elliott and his exchange of letters with the Warner Brothers legal department who challenge his use of "Casablanca" in "A Night in Casablanca. This is a set of letters that should be read by every lawyer. no reviews | add a review
Donated to the Library of Congress in the mid-1960s, Groucho Marx's correspondence was first crafted into this celebration of wit and wisdom in 1967. Reissued today with his original letters and humor intact, The Groucho Letters exposes one of the twentieth century's most beloved comedian's private insights into show biz, politics, business, and, of course, his illustrious personal life. Included are Marx's conversations with such noted personalities as E. B. White, Fred Allen, Goodman Ace, Nunnally Johnson, James Thurber, Booth Tarkington, Alistair Cooke, Harry Truman, Irving Berlin, and S. J. Perelman. To Confidential Magazine Gentlemen: If you continue to publish slanderous pieces about me, I shall feel compelled to cancel my subscription. Sincerely, Groucho Marx No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)792.7028092The arts Recreational and performing arts Stage presentations, Theatre Variety shows and theatrical dancing Techniques, procedures, apparatus, materialsLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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