Bobbie L. (nascargal) reviewed Deadly Illusions: Jean Harlow and the Murder of Paul Bern on + 352 more book reviews
This is a decent Hollywood true mystery book. In 1932 in Beverly Hills, film producer Paul Bern lay dead. Hollywood kingpins Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg arrived even before the police. Because Paul Bern wasn't just any producer. He was the husband of Jean Harlow, MGM's rising star, and the studio would protect her-at any cost.
Sandra H. (Sanandee) reviewed Deadly Illusions: Jean Harlow and the Murder of Paul Bern on + 715 more book reviews
One of the biggest headlined stories to come out of Hollywood. People says, "Dogged detective work...star names...luxe settings..tragic secrets, and gunplay". 1932, Hollywood, photo section in book
Sharyn T. reviewed Deadly Illusions: Jean Harlow and the Murder of Paul Bern on + 4 more book reviews
A good book. Mainly about the "incident" (Paul Bern's murder), it does offer insight as to how a woman so young (she was 26 when she died) could live so big.
"Deadly Illusions" was a very good read with some interesting insights. Although I tend to think that David Stenn's recreation of Paul Bern's death in "Bombshell" is more believable than Marx and Vanderveen's murder theory, this book did a good job of dispelling some of the myth surrounding Paul Bern's suicide, such as his alleged impotence. It also sheds some more light on Bern and Dorothy Millette, both rather shadowy figures in Harlow's history. Whether you do or do not believe the authors' murder theory, this is a worthwhile book because of the insights it gives us into the characters of key Hollywood players and kingpins in the early '30s.
