Harpo Marx's Classic Comedy Performance on Limelight

Erinesque: Harpo was such a funny guy and his book really reflects his personality well. I feel like I’m getting to know him and I love that.

United States on Nov 02, 2023

margaret Glasgow: Great story would recommend

United Kingdom on Jul 16, 2023

Sharon M: This is a fascinating read starting in the poor tenements of New York 1900 and continued on. It’s a great book about a very talented family who grew up poor and went on to become one of the most popular comedy teams in Hollywood history .

Australia on Mar 13, 2023

Brian: Very good book telling the life of Harpo Marx. Only one gripe is there are far too many spelling mistakes. Did no one proof read this before publishing as an ebook?

United Kingdom on Dec 31, 2022

Mrs L Fewell: Just what I would have expected from a Marks brothers book well written lots of laughs, deep in places a very enjoyable read

United Kingdom on Aug 14, 2022

Jippu: I happened to hear a reading of this book in the radio, one chapter at a time. So I missed many chapters and became curios of the rest. It was really fun listening to it, but reading was as good. And it is really wrong to put as title that Harpo speaks when you don't hear his voice (according to himself, high pitched and nervous) when it is a book! But maybe he has taped the stuff and Rowland Barber has written it. There are so many funny stories that even if only half of them are true, the book has lots of historic value. Like the trip to the Soviet Union as the first US performer after renewal of the diplomatic relations in the 30's. Of course it is obvious that Harpo is not a very deep intellectual or observer and his life after the success of the Marx brothers consisted mainly of having fun (like playing crocket which in the thirties was a serious upper class sport, in par with golf. Pity golf did not become children's game also!)
The childhood of Harpo was not very fun but he makes it sound like it was, the years of misery as unknown artists are fun to read about but surely not fun, and the life as a celebrity (who happily was unrecognizable when normally dressed and...

United Kingdom on Jun 16, 2013

komyathy: That's what the matriarch of the Marx family, Minnie, would yell from the stage wings to her sons when she believed them to be jeopardizing the act and the possibility of their being paid; Mr. Greenbaum being the banker who held their mortgage on their house in Chicago (p. 105). Minnie's brother, Uncle Al to Groucho, Chico, Harpo, Gummo, and Zeppo, had made it in vaudeville, first as a soloist and then later as the second half of Gallagher & Shean. Minnie had the same genes as Al, but also 5 kids so it was through them that she followed her brother, so to speak, onto the stage. (Harpo herein doesn't say a word about whether Uncle Al had kids or not, or even a wife; only that he gave out nickels and dimes to the boys on a regular basis.) Uncle Al was also a lifeline for Minnie, anytime she needed emergency funds. It doesn't seem that Uncle Al helped the brothers get bookings or anything though, or at least Harpo doesn't say herein if he did.

Oddly, it's rather surprising the extent of things that Harpo doesn't mention in this book. We get charcoal sketches of Harpo's brothers when they are young, but very little about them as adults. Moreover, most of this book concerns...

United States on Aug 15, 2009

Andrew McCaffrey: Autobiographies are usually enjoyable for one of two reasons. The author can possess an engaging style that piques the reader's interest regardless of the material. On the other hand, the author may have lead such an interesting life that the subject matter is fascinating despite their ability to spin a good yarn. Fortunately, in the case of HARPO SPEAKS! both conditions are satisfied, creating a well-written, intriguing look at one of the more interesting characters of the first half of the Twentieth Century.
Harpo Marx was famous for being the silent clown who never uttered a word during any of the dozen or so Marx Brothers movies. However, his story is quite a fascinating one. I'll admit to being slightly surprised at exactly how engaging the prose style of this book was. Having no idea what he sounded like, even in scripted movie conversation, I was curious as to how he'd come across in print. Fortunately, either he or his co-author, journalist Rowland Barber, was quite good at the art of storytelling. The reader really feels close to the action, as though one were really there. It's a simple and straightforward style, but it's one that is quite effective.
As I...

United States on Jan 11, 2002