He was visited by a “woman in a veil”, and in the morning he was already dead. The mysterious death of a Hollywood director

Paul Bern was born in 1889 in Germany and came to the United States with his family in the early 20th century. Initially, he planned to become an actor, but ultimately it was on the other side of the camera that he began to achieve success. He worked first as a stage manager, then an editor, and finally began writing and directing his own productions. This led him to MGM studios, where he became a producer.

He was a respected producer and a happy husband. Paul Bern died 3 months after their wedding

In 1932, Bern met an aspiring singer, Jean Harlow, with whom he signed a contract. The cooperation went well and before they knew it, they fell madly in love with each other. After only a few months of dating, they got married and moved into a beautiful house with a swimming pool on the outskirts of California. They were considered a harmonious and happy couple, but this state of affairs did not last very long. Just three months after the ceremony, the butler found the producer dead. He was lying naked by the bedroom door, holding a gun in his hand. Initially, it was believed that this was indicated by, among others, , which was left on the desk.

Dearest dear, unfortunately this is the only way to right the terrible wrong I have done to you and wash away my pathetic humiliation. I love you, Paul. PS. You know that last night was just a comedy

– its content. However, as the investigation progressed, investigators began to doubt the initially accepted version. The evening before the tragic event, Harlow went to visit her mother, and Bern planned to work late. This was contradicted by the testimony of the housekeeper, who noticed a chocolate cake that had disappeared from the bedroom, even though the manufacturer did not like it. She also mentioned a woman in a black veil who paid him a visit, which was also confirmed by the gardener and the neighbors, who mentioned a loud quarrel coming from the house. Numerous pieces of evidence were also seized at the scene, including: a bottle of champagne, a glass, broken glass by the pool and a yellow swimsuit.

The evidence gathered ruled out suicide. Who could have wanted Paul Bern dead?

The case quickly gained publicity, and journalists began their own investigation. Initially, the suspect was Bern’s first wife, Dorothy Millette, whom he allegedly helped financially despite their breakup due to her mental problems. However, these were slander because the woman struggled with addiction and, what’s more, she never gave a divorce. A search for her began, which brought immediate results. It turned out that she was in California at the time of the producer’s death. However, she could not be interrogated because a few days later, during a ship cruise to Sacramento, she jumped overboard. Despite this, the police decided to search her luggage, where they discovered the packaging for a yellow swimsuit. Although this clearly indicated her connection with the case, it was not enough evidence for investigators.

There was also a theory that MGM filmmakers contributed to Bern’s death, especially since they were at the scene before the police were called, which may have allowed them to cover up the real evidence. At some point, a shadow of suspicion also fell on Jean Harlow. It was speculated that she was not happy in her marriage or was counting on an inheritance, which, however, was not significant, because the widow still had to cover the debts left by her husband. The producer’s mother-in-law could also have had a motive, as she did not hide the fact that she did not like him. Ultimately, despite many leads, it was identified as Paul Bern.

If you are experiencing difficulties and are thinking about taking your own life or want to help someone at risk of suicide, remember that you can use the free help numbers:

• Support Center for Adults in Mental Crisis: 800-70-2222
• Helpline for Children and Youth: 116 111
• Emotional support phone number for adults: 116 123

Below you will find more information on how to help yourself or others, as well as contacts to organizations helping people in crisis and their loved ones. If suicidal thoughts or a suicide attempt are life-threatening, for immediate crisis intervention, call the police on 112 or go to the emergency department of your local psychiatric hospital.