I Shot an Elephant in My Pajamas/the Morrie Ryskind Story

by Morrie Ryskind

Ryskind's story is one of a classic American success. The son of Russian Jewish immigrants, he attended Columbia University, achieved legendary fame on Broadway and in Hollywood, won the Pulitzer Prize, and became a noted, nationally syndicated columnist. His works include collaborations with George S. Kaufman and George and Ira Gershwin, as well as four Marx Brothers' movies.

Genres: History, Film

232 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Terrytmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book until Ryskind gets into politics. Sadly, this talented writer, if alive today, would be a welcome guest on Fox News. When he went right his talent left. Well worth getting for the first part of the book. Great Marx Bros. stories and Kaufman.

[Jami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll still give it 4 stars for the first 2/3 of the book, when he discussed his life & screenwriting career. After the point of the 50s blacklisting, the book morphs into a discussion of his politics. The last chapter is better.

[Tom Stamper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morrie Ryskind was the screenwriter of classic movies such as My Man Godfrey, Stage Door, and numerous Marx Brothers films. He also wrote plays with George S. Kaufman, musicals with the Gershwins and Irving Berlin. Thankfully he lived long enough to also write this witty and compelling tale at the end of his life in and out of showbiz.

One of my favorite stories in the book was Ryskind being kicked out of Columbia University just a few weeks before graduation by writing a satire about the President of the University. A few years later that same President was forced to present him with a Pulitzer prize for a play he wrote. Sweet revenge.

Later in life Ryskind became an avowed anti-communist and it cost him his career in Hollywood. He may be the only guy in history who could claim to be a close personal friend of Groucho Marx and William F.. Buckley.

This is a short book, but full of interesting stories about 1930s Hollywood, the early battles of the screenwriters guild, and how communists and the Hollywood Ten changed motion pictures. The writing is sharp and funny every step of the way.

I learned of this book through Simon Louvish's reference in his biography of the Marx Brothers called, Monkey Business: The Lives and Legends of The Marx Brothers. That's another book well worth reading.