At a recent film festival where his body of work was celebrated, Geoffrey Rush took time to make a few comments about the challenge of playing GROUCHO in RAISED EYEBROWS, which we expect to be in production in 2023!
https://variety.com/2022/film/global/geoffrey-rush-groucho-marx-captain-barbossa-1235310808/

Here’s the latest news about the RAISED EYEBROWS movie. We expect to start filming in 2023.

https://deadline.com/2022/05/charlie-plummer-geoffrey-rush-groucho-marx-raised-eyebrows-1235016814/?fbclid=IwAR1f25egPrqrGOu0gbsjUVWEvAmeH35T2EdVgvNSbUkJhjR_Op9VSAKJxj8

Here’s a podcast/webinar I recently did for the National Museum of American Jewish Military History in which I discuss my book, SALAMIS & SWASTIKAS: Letters Home From A G.I. Jew.. I also read generous portions of some of my father’s wartime letters, show some of the remarkable photos from the book, present a brief video interview with my father about his wartime travels, and answer a few questions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j14YSM7kIVQ&t=1834s

I now have copies on hand of SALAMIS & SWASTIKAS: LETTERS HOME FROM A G.I. JEW that I would be happy to sign or personalize for you! Click on the SHOP page and follow the instructions – and don’t forget to indicate if you want it signed to someone in particular. (It’s also available on Amazon in Kindle format.)

It was recently announced that Cold Iron Pictures will be producing a film version of RAISED EYEBROWS starring Geoffrey Rush as Groucho, Sienna Miller as Erin Fleming, and Charlie Plummer as…..young Steve Stoliar! I co-wrote the screenplay, along with Oren Moverman, who is also the director. Click on the link and read all about it!
https://deadline.com/2022/02/geoffrey-rush-sienna-miller-groucho-marx-raised-eyebrows-1234924162/

SALAMIS & SWASTIKAS: LETTERS HOME FROM A G.I. JEW is a remarkable collection of letters written by my father, Staff Sgt. David E. Stoliar, to my mother and sister in St. Louis during World War II, from North Africa, Italy, France, Germany, and England.

The letters run the gamut from vivid war reportage to insightful analysis of anti-Semitism in Germany (as well as in the U.S.) to heartwarming adventures with his dog to heartbreaking reminders of how much he sorely misses his family to thumbnail reviews of then-current movies and songs, all filtered through the prism of a secular Jew caught in the middle of war against the Nazis.

Additionally, there are dozens of never-before-seen personal photos that bring to life the colorful people, places, and events that my dad writes about in his elaborately detailed letters. (More photos from the book on the Gallery page.)

“Steve Stoliar’s book is a richly satisfying read. The book’s heart is a priceless –  and, fortunately, preserved –  collection of his soldier father’s personal letters home from World War II. A rare, moving, colorful, and intimate look at war from inside the beast. A book to remember.”

– DICK CAVETT (Author/Talk-Show Host)

“I found the book very entertaining, full of good stuff, sad as can be, and eye-opening as to what it was like to be shipped thousands of miles from one’s wife and child and to have to fight missing them, which, for me, would be as hard as fighting Germans. I couldn’t have lived through what the author of these letters lived through. Great fun to read, but also heartbreaking.”

– WOODY ALLEN (Writer/Filmmaker)

“Just one G.I’s pen to paper and what a revelation! Staff Sgt. David Stoliar’s letters home are dense with humor, love, the right amount of army scuttlebutt, and soulful musings of a young American-Jewish soldier in the war against Hitler. I’m grateful to Steve for making his dad’s World War II story an important addition to the historical record.“

– STEVEN KARRAS (Director of ABOUT FACE: THE JEWISH REFUGEE SOLDIERS OF WORLD WAR II)

“These humorous and heartbreaking letters home from World War II are a wonder. They not only paint a portrait of the fight and the human face of war, but more importantly, we feel the incredible love for wife and family, which is why we were fighting. Endearing. Moving. Unforgettable.“

– STEPHEN TOBOLOWSKY (Actor/Author of MY ADVENTURES WITH GOD)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA6VkBBBQsE

Here’s an enjoyable episode of the “Hi, I’m Jason!” podcast, with host Jason Pollock, in which I discuss my Groucho years and other aspects of my life and career.

Lots of people have been asking me what’s happening with the film version of ‘Raised Eyebrows” – especially since Rob Zombie left the project last year. In fact, there has been solid progress since then and I’ve been told that I can at least say a (precious) few words about it – for now:The screenplay was initially written by yours truly. After that, it went through some rewrites from Oren Moverman (Oscar-nominated screenwriter whose credits include “I’m Not There,” “The Messenger,” “Rampart,” and “Love & Mercy,” just to name a few). Oren definitely “gets it,” I’m happy to report, and it was definitely not a case of that cliche wherein a terrific script is given to some hack who turns it into something entirely different, destroying it in the process. We’re very much on the same page – literally and figuratively.

After several years of getting an annual – and most-welcome – option payment, Cold Iron Pictures recently hauled off and purchased the rights from me – which is a solid indication that they intend making this movie sooner than later.As I say, I can’t divulge any more info than that, so please don’t hammer away at me with questions that I’m not at liberty to answer. Likewise, any and all casting suggestions will be deleted, because we’re on top of that, but thanks for your interest just the same.Bottom line: It’s definitely moving forward and not stuck in Development Hell – or even Development Purgatory.

I’ll let you know about other elements when they are made available for discussion.But for now, I’m very happy that, at long last (emphasis on the “long”), the movie seems to be a happenin’ thang.

Thanks,

Steve

Co-Writer & Co-Executive Producer

Steve discusses Groucho, the Marx Brothers, comedy, political correctness, censorship, and a host of other topics with behavioral scientist Peter McGraw.

Raising Eyebrows with Steve Stoliar