Samuel Marx (1902–1992)

An interesting hypotheses by the author here on one of the more sensational deaths in Hollywood history; Paul Bern, the film producer and husband of sex symbol Jean Harlow.

The official story has it that soon after Bern and Harlow's wedding, a sexually impotent Bern committed suicide. Marx's theory (spoiler alert), that Bern was actually murdered by his insane ex-wife but the murder was made to look like suicide to protect Harlow's image, sounds plausible on first reading. On reflection, show more however, one finds holes in the theory, such as the one you've presumably picked reading this paragraph; who on earth would think that Harlow's husband committing suicide following his inability to consummate their marriage is somehow a more palatable story than a mad ex-wife murdering the man?

Marx was a longtime Hollywood insider and explains how he came to his theory by turning up at the murder scene before the police arrived to find a number of movie executives feverishly concocting a cover story while tampering with evidence. Again, it sounds plausible at the time but with the subsequent deaths of everyone involved in the case (including Marx), this will seemingly remain forever tantalisingly unsolved. show less