Monkey Business: The Lives and Legends of The Marx Brothers - Softcover

Louvish, Simon

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0312283822 ISBN 13: 9780312283827

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin, 2001

Synopsis

Monkey Business is the first comprehensive biography of all five Marx brothers—Chico, Harpo, Groucho, Gummo and Zeppo. It features the first authentic account of their origins, their comedy roots, and their twenty-four years on stage prior to their first movie, The Cocoanuts, in 1929. Monkey Business brings to life the vanished world of America's variety circuits, leading to the Marx Brothers' Broadway success and their alliance with New York's theatrical lions, George S. Kaufman and the Algonquin Round Table.

Louvish showcases well-minted Marxian dialogue, and much madness and mayhem in this tale of the Brothers' Hollywood battles, their films, their loves and marriages, and the story of the forgotten brother Gummo, who never appeared on screen. Salvador Dali's "missing" script for Harpo, the true identity of the long-suffering Margaret Dumont, and the politics of "Marxism-à-la-Groucho" all contribute to this definitive biography of these beloved brothers.

About this title

About the Author

Simon Louvish is the author of the acclaimed biography of W.C. Fields, The Man on the Flying Trapeze. He is also the author of nine novels, including most recently The Day of Miracles and Wonders. He teaches at the London International Film School and is currently writing a biography of Laurel and Hardy.

Edition details

• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0312283822
• ISBN 13: 9780312283827
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 480