Growing Up With Chico

Rating:
Summary: Biased, But Essential for the Marx Brothers Fan
Review: As the only book to focus specifically on the life of Chico, this book is indispensible. Written by his daughter Maxine after his death (and, it would seem, partially in response to Groucho's off color comments about Chico in "The Marx Brother's Scrapbook"), this book focuses primarily on her first hand account of his life. Now, you figure, she was born as the Brothers were starting their rise to Broadway stardom, so most of the material is post-Vaudeville - not a bad thing if the movies and late stage productions are your thing, though details about them are sparse.

While I think this book presents an excellent (and, as other's have said) candid view of Chico through Maxine's eyes, he doesn't really have a "voice" in it. In some ways, she is too close to the subject to really allow Chico to be a flesh and blood human being.

Neverless, if you've read the pile of books on Groucho or "Harpo Speaks," you should really read this one, too.

Rating:
Summary: More than just "Monkey Business"
Review: I read the other reviews and decided to buy the book. I wasn't disappointed. I've always been intrigued by the Marx Brothers, especially Chico (and Harpo as well). There's been so many stories told about him, and I wanted to hear it from someone who was really there! There's no doubt that Chico and his daughter loved each other unconditionally. That shines through in this story. Despite the fact that Chico was a wild, gambling, skirt-chasing sort of guy, Maxine Marx shows a real and vulnerable human side to her Dad. I give her credit for telling it like it was, warts and all. This book is fairly short (177 pages), I read in a couple of hours, but I didn't want to put it down. Even though Chico wouldn't have been nominated for Husband of the Year, I still adore the guy just the same after reading this book. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: More than just "Monkey Business"
Review: I read the other reviews and decided to buy the book. I wasn't disappointed. I've always been intrigued by the Marx Brothers, especially Chico (and Harpo as well). There's been so many stories told about him, and I wanted to hear it from someone who was really there! There's no doubt that Chico and his daughter loved each other unconditionally. That shines through in this story. Despite the fact that Chico was a wild, gambling, skirt-chasing sort of guy, Maxine Marx shows a real and vulnerable human side to her Dad. I give her credit for telling it like it was, warts and all. This book is fairly short (177 pages), I read in a couple of hours, but I didn't want to put it down. Even though Chico wouldn't have been nominated for Husband of the Year, I still adore the guy just the same after reading this book. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Chico--the Wildest Marx Brother
Review: This is a slight but candid look at the most fascinating Marx Brother. Chico was the eldest and the one who propelled the Brothers' act into big time show biz. He was also a compulsive gambler and lover, a math wiz and could play any instrument that engaged his ever-shifting attention. His daughter, Maxine, presents a loving yet candid portrait of the father she (and every other woman in his life) loved.

Rating:
Summary: Chico--the Wildest Marx Brother
Review: This is a slight but candid look at the most fascinating Marx Brother. Chico was the eldest and the one who propelled the Brothers' act into big time show biz. He was also a compulsive gambler and lover, a math wiz and could play any instrument that engaged his ever-shifting attention. His daughter, Maxine, presents a loving yet candid portrait of the father she (and every other woman in his life) loved.

Rating:
Summary: A no-nonsense look at the eldest Marx brother.
Review: This is truly a case of a unbiased look at one of the funniest men of his time. This gem took me from loving him for his work to hating him for who he was to sympathizing with him for his out of control lifestyle. Sometimes you can know too much about someone. Maxine Marx should be given a medal for her honesty and candor about a father she loved and whose motives she questioned. This book is for anyone who loves the Marx Brothers...you won't be able to put it down.