Paul Bern: The Life and Famous Death of the Mgm Director and Husband of Harlow (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

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.

About the Author

E.J. Fleming is the author of numerous books about the performing arts and Hollywood pop culture, including most recently a biography of Wallace Reid. He lives in Barrington, Illinois.

Product Details

• Paperback: 396 pages
• Publisher: McFarland (January 9, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786439637
• ISBN-13: 978-0786439638
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #521,123 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The True Story Of Paul Bern, February 6, 2009

By	MrsSchmidlapp (Hollywood, California) - See all my reviews

This is an amazing biography about a complicated man whose life ended in tragedy and mystery. You probably just think of Paul Bern as the man who married Jean Harlow but he was a very powerful figure in Hollywood during the 1920's and 1930's. He also played a big part in lives of MANY beautiful starlets - Joan Crawford, Barbara La Marr, Mabel Normand, Greta Garbo, and the lovely Olive Borden. What I like best about E.J.'s biographies is the amount of research he does. Seventy years after Paul's "suicide" we are finally told the true story and it's actually more interesting than the MGM created version. I loved all the rare Harlow photos too. Get this book if you are a Jean Harlow fan or if you love a great story about classic Hollywood.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Winner From E.J. Fleming, April 12, 2009

By	JeanetteEddy (Glendale, CA) - See all my reviews

I have read all of Mr. Fleming's books and I honestly think they are all wonderful. Each chapter is filled with juicy, little-known facts about classic Hollywood. Even if you don't know much about Paul Bern you'll enjoy learning his tragic story. This book is perfect for classic movie fans or Harlow fans. The photos of Jean Harlow are priceless!!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reading, May 27, 2009

By	gail powers "Gail" (Homewood, IL United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book because I am a huge Jean Harlow fan and have read E.J. Fleming's other books (and have enjoyed them). Honestly, I didn't really care all that much about Paul Bern. After all, he was supposedly a thoughtful intellectual with a fragile ego and might well be regarded as a murky footnote in Jean Harlow's all too short life. I wasn't really expecting to learn much about Bern and his death, but I was certain there would be tidbits about Harlow and at the very least some good vintage pictures of the platinum one.
For this reader, PAUL BERN was a complete revelation. After the first few pages, I pretty much forgot about Harlow and was totally into Paul's story. It turns out that Paul Bern was pretty much the antithesis of the pathetic suicide he has been portrayed as since 1932. Through intensive research, Fleming has uncovered a very different portrait of the man. Ironically, by the time Harlow arrived on the scene I wasn't wondering what she saw in Paul Bern though I probably was wondering what specifically attracted him to her.
The temptation to give away some of the more interesting issues covered in this book is fairly great, but I am going to stay away from being a spoiler.While the author has done a magnificent job fleshing out the real Bern, he has also managed to include a couple of hot topics. Fleming discusses the paternity of silent screen siren Barbara LaMarr's so-called adopted son. I am not 100% convinced on the so-called father, but I am certain LaMarr was the birth mother. I suspect DNA testing might help clarify this point. I am also waiting on that long promised book from the son (Don Gallery) that might provide more substantial information. Fleming also discusses Bern's suicide and has made an excellent case for a cover-up/murder which I buy into. However, the one element of this book that absolutely won me over is the intensive amount of research that Mr. Fleming performed and his meticulous footnoting. I found myself often flipping back to the footnotes. It gave me a point of reference and a sense of Mr. Fleming's research tecniques.
The book's price is somewhat steep, but consistent with the product that the publisher (McFarland) produces. If that is an issue for you, you might want to pass unless you are interested in Harlow, Bern, early cinema, or crime. That said, this is a wonderful book. Mr. Fleming's work has matured and he is a first rate non-fiction writer and researcher. ENJOY!