Groucho Marx

The great American comedian Groucho Marx recorded at a London press conference in August, 1964.

Hear his replies to journalists posing questions about his life and career.

Edited and introduced by Jo Joseph:

"Being in a room with Groucho Marx is like coming face to face with 20 years of American Vaudeville. The greatness of Groucho is that in his small frame is combined some of the essence of his contemporaries: the gentleness of Eddie Cantor, the belligerence of Jimmy Durante, the dead pan of Jack Benny and George Burns and the simpatica of Charlie Chaplin."

Groucho's answers demonstrate how he was "still king of the ad-lib, master of the spontaneous laugh line..."

Producer: Rayner Heppenstall

First broadcast on BBC Home Service in August 1964.