Title supplied by cataloger.; Photograph was edited for publication purposes. Paul Bern was born on December 3, 1889. He was a German-born American film director, screenwriter and producer. He was instrumental in launching Jean Harlow's acting career, taking her seriously as an actress. She and Bern were married in July, 1932. Two months after the marriage, Bern was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head in their Beverly Hills home. The death was ruled a suicide, but several alternate theories were circulated. Some believe Bern's former common-law wife killed him, as she suffered from mental problems, had followed him to Los Angeles, and committed suicide two days after his death.; Irving Thalberg was born on May 30, 1899. He was an American film producer, nicknamed "The Boy Wonder" for his youth and uncanny ability to produce very profitable films. He was made head of production of MGM in 1925, at the age of twenty-six, making MGM the most successful studio in Hollywood within three years. During his twelve years with MGM he produced four hundred films and guided many actors to stardom, including Lon Chaney, Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Wallace Beery, and Norma Shearer, who later became his wife. He and Shearer married in 1927 and had two children. He died of pneumonia on September 14, 1936. Photograph caption dated September 8, 1932 reads "Irving Thalberg, studio official, is pictured in the witness chair as he declared that Bern had discussed the subject of suicide with him, but only in a philosophical way. The inquest verdict was that Bern committed suicide, but the motive was unknown." Paul Bern was a director who had recently wed actress Jean Harlow.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;18 x 13 cm. Photographic prints
Thalberg, Irving G.,--1899-1936 Bern, Paul,--1889-1932--Death and burial Witnesses--California--Los Angeles Suicide--California--Los Angeles Motion picture producers and directors--United States Men--California--Los Angeles Los Angeles Evening Herald and Express photographs Herald-Examiner Collection photographs
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