Deadly Illusions

When Paul Bern's body was found on the morning of September 5th, 1932 in Benedict Canyon, Southern California, a frantic cover-up had been so artfully structured that it was all in place before the police were allowed to arrive, seven hours later, according to this book. Paul Bern had been married to MGM star Jean Harlow for only two months and three days. The cover-up was masterminded by dynamic MGM studio head, Louis B. Mayer, who persuaded his reluctant production chief, Irving Thalberg, of the importance of protecting their blonde bombshell. Samuel Marx worked beside Paul Bern and Jean Harlow and was among the first to appear at the couple's house the morning the victim's body was found. He knew Paul Bern could not have committed suicide. Samuel Marx and Joyce Vanderveen have probed the surviving witnesses, gathered hitherto secret reports, and met many former associates who only now are willing to go on the record. The details of Paul Bern's death, which was made to appear a suicide, can now be told - as the murder that it was - committed by a half-demented Shakespearean actress he had once lived with, and who would not accept Jean Harlow's right to be Mrs Paul Bern.