Book Reviewed: Hollywood's Babylon Women, by John Austin
The author discusses the circumstances surrounding the unnatural deaths of many stars in Hollywood, which includes, Marilyn Monroe, Carol Landis, Paul Bern (Jean Harlow's husband,) Thelma Todd, Carol Wayne, Lupe Velez, Inger Stevens, Vicki Morgan, and Natalie Wood. Some of these deaths are well publicized and well theorized and this book provides additional information for some of them. But how reliable is the sources of the author? How do we know his theories are correct? For example, the death of Paul Bern in Beverly Hills is theorized as murder by his common law wife Dorothy Millette who was mentally ill. The author suggests that this murder was orchestrated by mob figure Abner "Longie" Zwillman who was intimate with Harlow and played the role of her manager. This is unlikely since there are several books and numerous evidences that show that Paul Bern's death was due to the jealous Millette who chose to shoot Bern because she couldn't have him for herself. The other theory advanced by MGM studio and its head Louis B. Mayer was that Paul Bern was impotent and to hide his shame, he committed suicide. This theory also does not hold water since many women who were intimate with Bern came forward and testified that impotence/suicide theory was untrue. There are many reports that the integrity of crime scene was also compromised by the interference of MGM studio. Many close friends and studio members said that Jean Harlow did not have a steady boyfriend from the mob. The author also contends wrongly that Harlow had a reckless sexual behavior with many partners when she was married, but this not true.
Many of the mysteries of this book transpired when LAPD had corrupt police practices, but after 1950, LAPD was supposed to be cleaned and the mysteries of homicides that occurred earlier were re-examined. Tampering with homicide scene was not uncommon as in the case of Paul Bern. The studios were still trying to establish themselves and had to protect themselves from any scandals that would affect the box office. One of the most discussed stories is about Marilyn Monroe, and in this book that author reexamines coroner's medical examination and the death certificate. He suggests that her diary mysteriously disappeared along with other evidences that were crucial to the investigation.
Carol Landis's death is most probably a suicide and the author does not question that but her lover, married and much older Rex Harrison should have taken more interest in her welfare and well-being since she was in dire economic strain. Landis looked at Harrison as the only hope and he wanted him in her life, but she couldn't; but she had little choice except to end it all.
With regards to the death of actress Thelma Todd, the author does not believe that mobster "Lucky" Luciano was involved; in fact he squarely blames Jo Schenk, the cofounder of the 20th century Fox and producer Roland West with whom Todd had personal and professional relationship. The author suggests that West confessed to his friend, actor Chester Morris, on deathbed just to cleanse his soul. This does not make sense, because Thelma Todd's movies were big hits at the box office and both Schenk and West had plenty to lose by having her killed.
Actress Carol Wayne's death has been blamed on her boyfriend named Edward Durston, a used car salesman from Los Angeles, but no motive or reasons are given. He was also a suspect in the death of Diane Linkletter but later cleared. The author has not given any new evidences in the case of Lupe Velez, Carol Wayne, Natalie Wood and Vicky Morgan. Natalie Wood's death is another case much discussed in the press and recently reopened for investigation. Vicky Morgan's case is interesting since her rise from a working community into the bedrooms of some of the wealthiest and most powerful men in the world. She was a longtime lover of business tycoon Al Bloomingdale. Marvin Panacoast, a friend of Vicky was wrongly convicted for the crime someone else committed. Suspicion runs through the garbage dump of America's organized crime into the back alleys of sinister covert operations and deep into Reagan administration. The author briefly discusses the barbiturate poisoning of Swedish actress Inger Stevens who had intimate relationship with Bing Crosby, Burt Reynolds and her husband, football player Ike Jones from UCLA. Her death was ruled a suicide. Overall, the book is a good read, but the author does not shed much light, except for the cases of Paul Bern and Vicky Morgan.
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