Paul Bern : The Life and Famous Death of the MGM Director and Husband of Harlow

Paul Bern, known throughout the movie business as "Hollywood's Father Confessor," earned a reputation for being a loyal and supportive friend and for becoming one of MGM's most respected and creative directors. After his death, though, he was said to have grown so depressed and despondent over his own apparent sexual inadequacies that he committed suicide, and he would be denounced for attempting to rape his new bride Jean Harlow. In this biography, the author uncovers startling new facts and argues that MGM knew the real story of Bern's death--that an estranged, mentally ill common-law wife murdered him. MGM understood that the earlier spouse rendered Bern's marriage to Harlow, its fastest-rising star, ambiguous if not bigamous, so the studio staged a suicide and embarked on a very public tarnishing of his memory. Included are 93 rare photos, many lost for decades, along with three appendices examining the handwriting on an alleged suicide note and Bern's will and estate. "Paul Bern was second only to Irving Thalberg at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the 1930s. Known throughout the movies as "Hollywood's father confessor," Bern had earned a reputation for being a loyal and supportive friend and for becoming one of MGM's most respected and creative directors. This biography features almost 100 rare photos, many never before seen"--Provided by publisher. Paul Bern had earned a reputation for being a loyal and supportive friend and for becoming one of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM's) most respected and creative directors. It was nearly impossible to find anyone who would say anything negative about Paul Bern. Until he died. This biography presents facts about Bern and MGM's tarnishing of his memory.