Harpo Speaks! by Harpo Marx, Rowland Barber
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Book Reviews of Harpo Speaks!
Book Review: Harpo Writes !!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Plain and simple - if you enjoy "the boys" you will love this book.I began to become a "Marxist" when I was 12 years old with my first viewing of ANIMAL CRACKERS and years later has not stopped. Early on in my Marx Brothers fascination I found this book at the public library and became engrossed in it. As I saw more of their films (this was when VCR's were not common and you had to wait for their films to be shown on PBS or your UHF station)I read it over and over to find the story behind the film I had just seen or what the Marxes were doing at that time. I even used it as my seventh grade photo essay topic (grade A+, thanks Harpo!).
As I got older I bought my own copy (I'm sure the library was annoyed by me taking out the same book over and over again every three weeks) and have read it many times. Harpo's storytelling is insghtful, amusing and clean.
I believe the book was first published in 1961 and was a sucess - many wanted to hear what Harpo had to say (since he never spoke on the screen). You get to hear about the Marxes climb to fame, Harpos feelings about his brothers, their real life comical adventures and Harpos own personal adventures.
Harpo was a distinct comedic personality in film and a loving, wonderful human being. Read his story, it will make you feel good.
Book Review: A Window to the Past
Summary: 5 Stars
"Harpo Speaks" is, quite simply, the finest book by or about a member of the Marx Brothers.
While it is true that it is not the best source of information about the Brothers' films, it is a terrific window into turn of the 20th century New York, the Vaudeville era, the roaring 20's, to the Golden Days of Hollywood, and even to Stalinist Russia.
Harpo and his co-author present the book as a series of anecodets, and very amusing anecdotes at that. I found the sections on Harpo's legendary friendship with Alexander Wollcott to be moving and inspiring. He paints vivid portraits of many of his close friends with tenderness and humor. He loved his friends dearly and it shows in print.
Of particular interest is the inclusion of Harpo's Rules, a set of house rules for his large adopted family. Harpo really seemed to know about parenting and, as far as I can tell from what research I've done, created a family that absolutely adored him and that went on to be happy, succesful adults. In other words, there is some excellent insight into parenting in the latter chapters as well.
All in all, a fast, fun read and one I will be enjoying again and again.
Book Review: Harpo finally speaks!
Summary: 5 Stars
The world has waited to hear Harpo talk, and speculated on what he sounded like. Well, we may never know exactly what he sounded like; that is a closely gaurded secret, which only heightens our intense interest in this funny man. However, we can now know that he actually spoke, that he had more of an intellegent side, albeit it personal, than we could ever imagine."Harpo Speaks" is the autobiography of Harpo (Adolph, later changed to Arthur) Marx; one of the origonal Marx Brothers. Harpo opens the dialogue with his childhood, his limited education, and every strange and twisted facet which ultimately led to the creation of "Harpo", including how he acquired his trademark "Gookie"; that strange, yet alluring face he makes by puffing his cheeks and sticking out his tongue. His entire life is revealed, including an episode during World War Two in which he delivered a top secret note that he was told not to read, upon penalty of death. The only thing we don't discover is - what did he really sound like! Well, we will just have to wait for him to do the audio cassette version of "Harpo Speaks"; then our curiousities will be settled.
Book Review: Extraordinary events touching the life of an ordinary man.
Summary: 5 Stars
They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but it was the cover that caught my eye in the library fifteen years ago. I was in high school and looking for light, entertaining reading. I was not a big Marx Brothers fan, yet I was compelled by this very recognizable picture on the dust jacket. I did not expect to be so moved, as I now see how others were, by his words. I, also, could not put it down and felt sad as I neared the end. During college as part of team training, the age old question was posed = "If you were on a deserted island, what three books would you want with you?" Without hesitating, I answered, "Harpo Speaks" and proceeded to explain why, listing all the reasons which are posted in these reviews. Everyone looked at me with puzzlement yet I was happy to share this bit of information. I have since read it four times and have enthusiastically loaned it out to several other people. I was thrilled to find thes! e reviews and discover that there are others who understand why I would read it over and over (and don't even have to be on a deserted island to do it!)Book Review: The wordless one has the best book.
Summary: 5 Stars
I read the silent Marx brothers book last, after reading a stack of books about, by and for the brothers. Harpo obviously relished his childhood, as tough as it was, and describes it in great detail, without the sense of embarassment one gets from Groucho's books. Neighborhood characters, family and events are brought back to life in this excellent narative. Eccentric celebrities aside, this is also a history book, giving the reader a glimpse of a long-ago time and place and invaluable for those interested in the Vaudeville days(and it's brutal audiences). Harpo said he approached life like it was a dream, and it shows in his childlike approach from beginning to end, albeit a wise, old child at the end. The only drawback is the fact that it would take three books of this fatness to cover Harpos life; many of the more popular stories related by Groucho are absent. Others are differing in detail. Be sure to check out the recording of Harpo floating around the net, when he's talking about the brothel gang in preparation to write the book.