His humor was based on the improbable, the unexpected, the outrageous. Below his large nose smudge of black greasepaint passed for a mustache. His seemingly depraved eyes rolled and leered from behind steelrimmed glasses. He Was the gruesomely stooped man in the swallowtall coat who took great loping steps across the stage or screen, holding a long, plump cigar behind him. Groucho \Ants larger and more antic than life. He was the kind of man who could, during his wedding ceremony, fling insults at the minister and, 21 years later, when his wife was leaving him for good, shake hands with her and say, “Well it's been nice knowing you if you're ever in the neighborhood again, drop in. The private world of Groucho Marx was nor far removed from his public image. The comedy world of Groucho Marx and his brothers Harpo and Chico was wildly chaotic, grounded in slapstick farce, lowbrow vaudeville corn, freespirited anarchy and zany assaults on the myths and virtues of middle‐class America. And he used the insult, delivered with maniacal glee, to shatter the egos of the pompous-and to plunge his audiences into helpless laughter. As the key man in the most celebrated brother act in motion pictures, he developed the insult into an art form. With him when he died were his son, Arthur Arthur's wife, Lois, and Groucho's grandson, Andrew.Ī hospital spokesmen said no funeral arrangements had been made as of tonight.Įffrontery, of the most lunatic, unsquelchable sort, was the chief stock in trade of Groucho Marx. During his hospitalization, he was not made aware of a bitter court battle over the stewardship of his estate. He stayed 11 days, was released, and was readmitted after only one day, suffering from a respiratory condition. Subsequently he reinjured his hip and returned for more surgery. Fol lowing surgery to repair a damaged hip joint, he was released in late March. Groucho first entered the hospital in March, suffering from a hip ailment. ”Īt Groucho's death, Zeppo became the only survivor of the five brothers. Marx, with his brothers Chico, Harpo, Gummo and Zeppo, conquered Broadway in such shows as “The Cocoanuts” and “Animal Crackers,” and ‐then moved to Hollywood where they started an almost legendary series of movies, highlighted by such pictures as “A Night at the Opera” and “A Day at the Races. Marx, whose entertainment career began almost 70 years ago and ranged from vaudeville to television, slumped into semiconsciousness late last night and failed quickly, the doctors said. 19-Groucho Marx, the comedian, died tonight at the Cedar Sinai Medical Center here after failing to recover from a respiratory ailment that hospitalized him June 22.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |