Marty Feldman: The Biography of a Comedy Legend [Hardcover]

With his curly hair, big bulging eyes and crow-like nose Marty Feldman had a face that once seen, was never forgotten. That explains why when younger work colleagues saw the cover of this book they all recognised him, but whilst a few knew his name and remembered that he was a comedian (with a face like that this probably wasn't that difficult to work out), none of them could recall seeing any of his films or TV appearances. Such is the fleeting nature of fame but it would be a great shame if he were to be forgotten because Feldman was a true comic genius and, if only for a brief moment in time, was quite probably the King of Comedy. This book provides us with a comprehensive reminder of what a massive talent he was and why his early death denied him the chance becoming a legend like Buster Keaton, the man that Feldman revered and was his greatest inspiration.

Although he has been dead for almost 29 years, this is, as far as I can see, the first biography of Marty Feldman. I find this incredible; not just for the fact that he is a giant of British comedy and at his peak was a cultural icon - he embraced the swinging sixties and was to comedy what the Beatles were to popular music - but also because the story of his life is an amazing one, cramming enough living into his 48 years to fill a dozen life-times.

Before he had left his teens his rebellious attitude had caused him to have been thrown out of countless schools and then had to live the life of a tramp when even his parents had had enough of him and threw him out onto the streets of London. He drifted into show business during the dying days of variety (his act, Morris, Marty and Mitch sounds so bad it might even have been them that finally killed it off) before finally finding his true calling, comedy scriptwriting. With his long-time writing partner, Barry Took, he helped Round the Horne become one of radio's not to be missed shows as well as jointly penning many other TV and radio hits in the sixties. At this stage in his career he did not appear in front of the camera, largely because many thought that his unusual looks wouldn't go down well with the viewing public, but once he got the chance he took it with both hands as he proved to be a natural clown revelling in visual comedy, just like his idols from the old silent movies.

Once he became a star on British TV it wasn't long before Hollywood got their hands onto him, but after a strong start - he was a sensation as Igor in Mel Brooks `Young Frankenstein' - a few flops that followed just about killed off his movie career. Although never a stranger to drugs and alcohol his resulting depression caused him to indulge even further, probably starting the downward spiral that led to his death by heart attack in December 1982.

This book is a meticulously researched work which really does tell you all you need to know about Marty Feldman. As with a great many showbiz biographies, probably the stand out section is the one that deals with Feldmans misadventures before actually he makes it. This part of the story is a fascinating insight into darker side of show business, far removed from the glitz and glamour of the big-time. Many of Feldmans friends and colleagues are canvassed for their memories of him and almost all remember him as being a decent, kindly man, with only the slightly waspish comments of Bill Oddie suggesting otherwise. Perhaps it lacks a little background about his life away from comedy - we learn that he liked to indulge in the standard showbiz vices and enjoyed watching football but little else - but that is only a minor quibble about what is a fine biography.

Back in the 1980's I discovered "Round the Horne". Those old BBC comedy tapes ignited a life long love of British radio comedy in me. I was aware of most of it's key performers, after all who could miss Kenneth Williams and I knew one of the writers Barry Took, as he presented Points of View, but Marty Feldman I knew nothing about.

Until now!

This biography of "A true cultural icon", as John Cleese puts it, is meticulous in it's detail and research, which is a trademark of a Robert Ross book. I asked for this as a present to fill in some of my Round the Horne knowledge gaps but found myself immersed in Marty's life as well as his work. His bohemian beginnings are fascinating and set the tone for his relationships with alcohol, drugs, jazz and women.

Although undeniably charming, talented and very much part of the swinging scene in both the 60's and 70's, reading this book you get a very strong sense that this was never enough for Marty and he was always striving for a more intellectual level to his life and comedy. He certainly kept the finest company in comedy, films, music and indeed popular culture being totally at ease in the club scene with The Stones, The Beatles and The Monkees.

Bohemian and individual to the end, his uneasy relationship with Hollywood makes up a good chunk of this book and again makes a fascinating and aching sad read at the end.

The comic genius, who never knew why he was funny, he just was, Marty was complicated, fascinating, a child like man whose imagination and flair made millions laugh.

This book sums him up perfectly and is an essential part of any comedy library for lovers of humour like myself

Those of us who remember Marty Feldman for his Mel Brooks films will be delighted with this well-written and extensively researcherd biography. His career as a down and out, scriptwriter, vaudeville act, actor and then director is evocative and page-turning. The value of a good biography is to make you leanr about the subject and then go out and read or watch what they did because you are so enamoured with the subject of the biography. I've done just that watching the 1948 show DVD along with In God We Trust, which was Marty's total creation and a big commercial flop. However, it shows Fledman at his gentle comedy best poking fun at the Hollywood and bible bashing belt that funded him. Typically the Americans were too dense to get Marty's irony and shunned him as a flop. I can thoroughly recommend this book. As to the 1 star review, there are references to his affairs with Julie Ege and Marty's comments that 'success has gone to my crotch' but thank god the writer did not list all the affairs that either Marty or Lauretta had - if you want that sort of information, then wait for the Sunday Sport biography of Marty - this is a top notch biography. Well done that author!