SON OF GROUCHO

by Arthur Marx ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 10, 1972

Groucho's son Arthur, script writer and sometime novelist and playwright (he co-authored The Impossible Years) again takes on Father (Life with Groucho, 1954) but unfortunately he's no Clarence Day, Nathaniel Benchley or John Lahr. Whereas Lahr insinuated himself as son only to illuminate the central complexities of the essential Bert, Arthur Marx concentrates on the difficulties of Arthur, Son of Groucho -- his struggle for Father's approval via some success in tennis, in his writing, his marriages; and toe-to-toe battles as in the matter of his first biography of Groucho, when Father threatened a lawsuit. Arthur recounts his early years which are perhaps the most revealing, particularly in regard to Groucho's first marriage to Ruth Johnson (Mother) who set the style for Groucho's later marital ventures -- Gentile, pretty, not overly challenging intellectually. The marriage was not a happy one and he centers on his father's compulsive thrift, his dour homebody pursuits and his habit of splattering gratuitous insults within the family circle. There is little about Groucho as a performer, although there is a cursory account of studio troubles and friction among the brothers, mainly caused by high-living, generally by the irresponsible Chico. But in toto this is about Arthur trying to break loose and out from under. In spite of a gabby veneer and a hailstorm of Groucho snappers throughout there is a bitter aftertaste. Groucho's favorite nickname for his son was ""Big Feet"" and one wonders how much of the author's creative energies have been drained through the years in an effort to avoid tripping all over them.

Pub Date: Nov. 10, 1972

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: McKay

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1972

Categories: NONFICTION