The Secret Life of Bob Hope/an Unauthorized Biography

Rating:
Summary: Don't Read This If Your A Big Bob Hope Fan!
Review: All I have to say is, if your a big fan of Bob Hope and believe that Mr. America- loyal, faithful husband and family man then don't read this you will look at him differently or probably won't be able to look at him at all. All I can say is I'm not surprised, what man don't sleep around? What disappoints me is that how easy the women went to bed with him, it takes two to tangle, and obviously these women wanted to do it. So I don't necessarily blaim Bob Hope, if their willing to give it up, any man is going to take it. All I have to say is and I've been saying it for years, Write books like this, when their alive and around to defend themselves. This book will break anybody's heart who's a big Bob Hope fan and believed he was Mr. America- faithful husband and family man. All I have to say is if he was this bad, it would of came out, all the wrongdoing came out about the rest of the stars of the past and present, I'm sure someone would of tried to tarnish his career like what happen to Bill Clinton, I'm sure some woman would of came forward and said something. I don't know what to believe, I wish somebody would let Bob Hope and his family read this book and get their say. Some things are just left best unsaid, and let people and fans believe the illusion and image the stars create.

Rating:
Summary: The Downside of a Legend
Review: Bob Hope, America's comedian -- at least among white middle-Americans of a certain age. But like any institution, and he is an institution, there is a downside to one of the country's favorite success stories. Arthur Marx pulls no punches in characterizing Hope's many flaws. Chief are the secretly promiscuous womanizing, the penny-pinching among staffers, the ceaseless self-promotion, and a generally curmudgeonly personality. Not really bad stuff, like mixing with gangsters or playing with drugs, the sorts of things Hollywood is generally prone to. But bad enough to tarnish a nurtured image as family man and patriot. Many readers will avoid a tell-all book like Marx's for that sort of defensive reason. Moreover, I get the feeling that like many in Hollywood Marx respects Hope the comedian at the same time he generally dislikes the man. Nonetheless, he is careful to point out Hope's many strengths as a performer -- his matchless ability with one-liners; his energy, verve and sass; his tireless dedication to servicemen,(which appears genuine); and his shrewd sense of the business. Additionally, Hope makes up for a lack of creative spark with a sound sense of comedy, which has helped him stay on top for a remarkable period. I like the way Marx has included excerpts from routines to provide period flavor. They furnish a sense of popular humor over time, and Hope was an expert purveyor of popular tastes until at least the 1960's when the unpleasant war-mongering side took over. Marx's style is easy and readable. Even so, as another reviewer has pointed out, there is a notable shortage of citations to back up fact. What there are consists of a list of persons interviewed for the book, which seems a little over general for a work of this type. Nevertheless, many allegations are also attributed by name from the list of interviewees. So, however you take it, be prepared for an eye-level approach to a legend who is also very much a flawed individual.

Rating:
Summary: Bob Hope's Double Life?
Review: Throughout the history of biographies, official or otherwise, authors who choose to pen books about celebrities, politicians or media figures do so because they either: a) revere or empathize greatly with their subject; or b) have a reason to vilify or skewer that subject's good name. In the case of this book, the latter is in effect. Arthur Marx (son of the great comic actor, Groucho Marx) seems to be doing his best to deflate Hope's standing with the American public. Although a few of his sources seem iron-clad, others appear without so much as a footnote. Lurid tales of Hope's antics, jealousies, and personal feuds are layed out one by one; each paragraph tries to hit harder than the one preceding it. Most will find this book interesting simply because of the sheer ribaldry and titillating content. For instance: Bing Crosby ended up in the hospital in 1948 for an operation, and as is retold by Marx, "Der Bingle" was fellated by a nurse on staff. He was suitably impressed about it that upon being released by the hospital, he promptly told Hope about the nurse's proclivity. It wasn't long before Hope was requesting the same room and the same nurse...with the same end result. Such lascivious behavior should be backed up by corroborating evidence; none, however, is offered. Marx also breaks the rule of biographers: Never include yourself, your family members, or your friends into the life of your literary subject. He introduces Groucho into the storyline in one chapter; and while Groucho was himself an entertainer well-known to millions of Americans, such as Hope was and is, Groucho's life and career didn't intersect with Hope's enough to warrant the inclusion of the elder Marx's name. It was, however, an interesting anecdote, and one Groucho could have easily related to his son. However, some of Arthur Marx's charges may have some validity. When he writes about a special Hope had on T.V. that was almost universally panned by television critics, Hope's spin doctors went into overdrive. They quoted a critic from a paper called "Chicago News," who said Hope's T.V. special was a "delight." An observant Los Angeles critic (who panned Hope's show the most vociferously) was contacted IN PERSON by a Hope employee. The man demanded a detraction, and told the critic that Hope could make her life miserable. The sycophant later said that Hope's show was reviewed most favorably elsewhere. The lady critic points out that the fictitious writer of the fictitious Chicago journal was evidence enough that Hope's latest T.V. effort did indeed fall well short of glory. It is not for me to say that Hope had as many affairs as Marx said he had; it may not be so, and I can't just take his word for it. Marx may have a serious axe to grind, and judging by his attempt to fit all of Hope's transgressions into one book makes it seem that way. All things considered, Marx must be taken with a grain of salt. It is up to those who were in the audience of one of Hope's USO shows to judge the validity of servicemen who castigated and booed Hope because of his "hawk" views of the Vietnam War. Marx tells us that although nearly all films show us nothing but laughing and applauding soldiers, the truth was that Hope had many detractors in the military. I won't argue the fact that Hope had some liberal detractors in his audience. Is Marx inflating the numbers of servicemen who really DID resent Hope and his political views? Again, I was not there; I have no say. I prefer to remember the Bob Hope from the "Road" pictures, ambling off to some misadventure or other with Bing. Or the guy who could just say something funny, and get it in before the censor had a chance to quash it. In conclusion, I tend to agree with a few of Marx's observations; the rest seem to extend the realm of reality. Delores Hope won't talk, and Bing and Marilyn Maxwell et. al., have all been outlived by Hope. No doubt, Hope is a man with faults, as have all of us. Keep that in mind as you read this book.

Since it is out of print, you may have to consult your library to see if they have a copy.