Rob Zombie Is Directing a Groucho Marx Biopic
I don't know how this happened, but horror movie director and musician Rob Zombie is set to direct and produce a biopic based on legendary comedian Groucho Marx. This is the kind of film project I never thought I'd see Zombie take on, but it's happening, and it's such a weird director choice.
The movie will center on the final years of Marx's life. It will be based on a book by Steve Stoliar called Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho’s House. Stoliar was a fan of Marx who ended up being his personal secretary for three years at his home before Marx passed away in 1977. According to Deadline, Stoliar spent time with Groucho’s brothers Zeppo and Gummo, Mae West, George Burns, Bob Hope, Jack Lemmon, S.J. Perelman, Steve Allen, and more.
Marx made 13 movies with his brothers and was also a major star on radio and TV with the quiz show You Bet Your Life.
The movie will be written by Oren Moverman, who recently wrote the incredible Brian Wilson biopic Love and Mercy.
It's so unexpected to hear that the director of House of 1000 Corpses, two Halloween remakes, The Devil’s Rejects and The Lords of Salem is taking on this project. I'm not the biggest fan of Zombie's films, but it will certainly be interesting to see how he handles this project.
Here's the description of the book:
A real page-turner that is by turns startling, shocking and as engrossing as a good novel. What a splendid book it is." -- Dick Cavett "It's one of the best books about a show-business icon I've ever read...It makes Groucho live so much more than the conventional bios." -- Woody Allen "Raised Eyebrows is an intimate account of one of our national treasures - Groucho Marx. It's written by a young man who was fortunate enough to live with and work for Groucho, and if he doesn't know what he's talking about, who would? It has a unique insider's point of view and is a fascinating study of a man who was one of the kings of comedy.