Archibald L. Mayo (January 29, 1891 – December 4, 1968) was a film director, screenwriter and actor.

Early years

The son of a tailor, Mayo was born in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

. After attending the city's public schools, he studied at

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

Film

Mayo moved to Hollywood in 1915 and began working as a director in 1917. His films include '' Is Everybody Happy?'' (1929) with Ted Lewis, ''

Bought! ''Bought'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code drama film produced and released by Warner Bros. and directed by Archie Mayo. The movie stars Constance Bennett and features Ben Lyon, Richard Bennett and Dorothy Peterson. It is based on the 1930 novel ' ...

'' (1931) with

Constance Bennett Constance Campbell Bennett (October 22, 1904 – July 24, 1965) was an American stage, film, radio, and television actress and producer. She was a major Hollywood star during the 1920s and 1930s; during the early 1930s, she was the highest-paid ...

, '' Night After Night'' (1932) with

Mae West Mae West (born Mary Jane West; August 17, 1893 – November 22, 1980) was an American stage and film actress, playwright, screenwriter, singer, and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned over seven decades. She was known for her breezy ...

, ''

The Doorway to Hell ''The Doorway to Hell'' is a 1930 American pre-Code crime film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Lew Ayres and James Cagney in his second film role.Brennan, SandraThe Doorway to Hell ''The New York Times'', accessed October 12, 2010. The fil ...

'' (1930) with

James Cagney James Francis Cagney Jr. (; July 17, 1899March 30, 1986) was an American actor, dancer and film director. On stage and in film, Cagney was known for his consistently energetic performances, distinctive vocal style, and deadpan comic timing. He ...

and

Lew Ayres Lewis Frederick Ayres III (December 28, 1908 – December 30, 1996) was an American actor whose film and television career spanned 65 years. He is best known for starring as German soldier Paul Bäumer in the film '' All Quiet on the Western Fr ...

, ''

Convention City ''Convention City'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code Hollywood, pre-Code sex comedy film directed by Archie Mayo, and starring Joan Blondell, Guy Kibbee, Dick Powell, Mary Astor and Adolphe Menjou. The film was produced by Henry Blanke and First Nati ...

'' (1933) with

Joan Blondell Joan Blondell (born Rose Joan Bluestein; August 30, 1906 – December 25, 1979) was an American actress who performed in film and television for 50 years. Blondell began her career in vaudeville. After winning a beauty pageant, she embarked on ...

, ''

The Mayor of Hell ''The Mayor of Hell'' is a 1933 American pre-Code Warner Brothers film starring James Cagney. The film was remade in 1938 as ''Crime School'' with Humphrey Bogart taking over James Cagney's role and ''Hell's Kitchen'' with Ronald Reagan in 1939. ...

'' (1933) with James Cagney, ''

The Petrified Forest ''The Petrified Forest'' is a 1936 American film directed by Archie Mayo and based on Robert E. Sherwood's 1935 Broadway drama of the same name. The motion picture stars Leslie Howard, Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart. The screenplay was written ...

'' (1936) with

Bette Davis Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (; April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress with a career spanning more than 50 years and 100 acting credits. She was noted for playing unsympathetic, sardonic characters, and was famous for her pe ...

and

Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart (; December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), nicknamed Bogie, was an American film and stage actor. His performances in Classical Hollywood cinema films made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film In ...

, and ''

The Adventures of Marco Polo ''The Adventures of Marco Polo'' is a 1938 adventure film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Gary Cooper, Sigrid Gurie, and Basil Rathbone. It was one of the most elaborate and costly of Samuel Goldwyn's productions. Plot Nicolo Polo shows tr ...

'' (1938) with

Gary Cooper Gary Cooper (born Frank James Cooper; May 7, 1901May 13, 1961) was an American actor known for his strong, quiet screen persona and understated acting style. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice and had a further three nominations, a ...

. Mayo retired in 1946, shortly after completing ''

A Night in Casablanca ''A Night in Casablanca'' is a 1946 film starring the Marx Brothers: (Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx and Chico Marx). The picture was directed by Archie Mayo, and written by Joseph Fields and Roland Kibbee. ...

'' with the

Marx Brothers The Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act that was successful in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in motion pictures from 1905 to 1949. Five of the Marx Brothers' thirteen feature films were selected by the American Film Institute (AFI) ...

and '' Angel on My Shoulder'' with

Paul Muni Paul Muni (born Frederich Meshilem Meier Weisenfreund; September 22, 1895– August 25, 1967) was an American stage and film actor who grew up in Chicago. Muni was a five-time Academy Award nominee, with one win. He started his acting career in ...

Anne Baxter Anne Baxter (May 7, 1923 – December 12, 1985) was an American actress, star of Hollywood films, Broadway productions, and television series. She won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe, and was nominated for an Emmy. A granddaughter of Fra ...

, and

Claude Rains William Claude Rains (10 November 188930 May 1967) was a British actor whose career spanned almost seven decades. After his American film debut as Dr. Jack Griffin in ''The Invisible Man'' (1933), he appeared in such highly regarded films as '' ...

Recognition

Mayo has a star at 6301 Hollywood Boulevard in the Motion Pictures section of the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Californ ...

. It was dedicated February 8, 1960.

Death

Mayo died of cancer in

Guadalajara Guadalajara ( , ) is a metropolis in western Mexico and the capital of the list of states of Mexico, state of Jalisco. According to the 2020 census, the city has a population of 1,385,629 people, making it the 7th largest city by population in Me ...

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

on December 4, 1968. He is interred in the

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Hollywood Forever Cemetery is a full-service cemetery, funeral home, crematory, and cultural events center which regularly hosts community events such as live music and summer movie screenings. It is one of the oldest cemeteries in Los Angeles ...

in Hollywood, California.

Filmography

* ''All Over Twist'' (1923) * ''

Christine of the Big Tops ''Christine of the Big Tops'' is a 1926 American silent romantic drama film starring Pauline Garon and Cullen Landis. It is one of the first films of the prolific Warner's director Archie Mayo. A copy of the film is in the George Eastman House M ...

'' (1926) * '' Money Talks'' (1926) * ''

Unknown Treasures ''Unknown Treasures'' is a 1926 American silent horror film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Gladys Hulette, Robert Agnew and John Miljan. The screenplay by Charles A. Logue was based on a short story written by Mary Spain Vigus called ''T ...

'' (1926) * ''

Johnny Get Your Hair Cut ''Johnny Get Your Hair Cut'' is a 1927 silent American comedy film directed by B. Reeves Eason and featuring Harry Carey. A print is preserved by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Cast * Jackie Coogan as Johnny O'Day * Harry Carey * James Corrigan as Pop Sl ...

'' (1927) * '' The College Widow'' (1927) * ''

Dearie "Dearie" is a popular song. The music was written by David Mann, and the lyrics, by Bob Hilliard. The song was published in 1950. The song is about reminiscences, and often sung as a duet. When done as a duet, each one of the singers asks the ...

'' (1927) * ''

Quarantined Rivals ''Quarantined Rivals'' is a 1927 American silent film, silent romantic comedy film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Robert Agnew, Kathleen Collins (actress), Kathleen Collins and John Miljan.Munden p.624 It was produced by the independent film ...

'' (1927) * ''

Slightly Used ''Slightly Used'' is a 1927 American comedy film directed by Archie Mayo and written by C. Graham Baker and Jack Jarmuth. The film stars May McAvoy, Conrad Nagel, Robert Agnew, Audrey Ferris, Anders Randolf and Eugenie Besserer. The film was r ...

'' (1927) * ''

State Street Sadie ''State Street Sadie'' is a 1928 American crime drama film directed by Archie Mayo, and released as a silent film with talking sequences using Warner Bros.' Vitaphone sound-on-disc process.

'' (1928) * ''

The Crimson City ''The Crimson City'' (1928) is an American silent drama film produced by Warner Bros. written by Anthony Coldeway and directed by Archie Mayo. Actors include Myrna Loy, Anna May Wong, Sōjin Kamiyama, John Miljan, Leila Hyams and Richard Tucke ...

'' (1928) * '' On Trial'' (1928) * '' My Man'' (1928) * ''

Beware of Married Men ''Beware of Married Men'' is a 1928 American comedy film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Irene Rich, Clyde Cook and Audrey Ferris. It was produced and distributed by Warner Brothers with a Vitaphone track. The film is presumed lost save f ...

'' (1928) * '' Sonny Boy'' (1929) * '' Is Everybody Happy?'' (1929) * '' The Sacred Flame'' (1929) * '' Wide Open'' (1930) * ''

Courage Courage (also called bravery or valor) is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Valor is courage or bravery, especially in battle. Physical courage is bravery in the face of physical pain, h ...

'' (1930) * ''

Oh Sailor Behave ''Oh, Sailor, Behave!'' is a 1930 American Pre-Code musical comedy film produced and released by Warner Brothers, and based on the play ''See Naples and Die'', written by Elmer Rice. The film was originally intended to be entirely in Technicolor ...

'' (1930) * ''

Vengeance Vengeance may refer to: *Vengeance (concept) or revenge, a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance Film * ''Vengeance'' (1930 film), action adventure film directed by Archie Mayo * ''Vengeance'' (1937 film) or ''W ...

'' (1930) * '' Illicit'' (1931) * ''

Svengali Svengali () is a character in the novel ''Trilby'' which was first published in 1894 by George du Maurier. Svengali is a man who seduces, dominates and exploits Trilby, a young half-Irish girl, and makes her into a famous singer. Definition ...

'' (1931) * ''

Under Eighteen ''Under Eighteen'' is a 1931 American pre-Code romantic drama film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Marian Marsh, Anita Page, Regis Toomey, and Warren William. It is based on the short story "Sky Life" by Frank Mitchell Dazey and Agnes Chri ...

'' (1931) * '' Bought'' (1931) * '' Night After Night'' (1932) * ''

Street of Women ''Street of Women'' is a 1932 pre-Code romantic drama directed by Archie Mayo and starring Kay Francis and Roland Young. Plot summary A man's affair complicates his daughter's love life. Cast * Kay Francis as Natalie "Nat" Upton * Roland You ...

'' (1932) * '' Two Against the World'' (1932) * '' The Expert'' (1932) * ''

The Life of Jimmy Dolan ''The Life of Jimmy Dolan'', released in the UK as ''The Kid's Last Fight'', is a 1933 American pre-Code film starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Loretta Young. John Wayne has a small supporting role as a frightened boxer. The story was based on ...

'' (1933) * ''

Ever in My Heart ''Ever in My Heart'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code Hollywood, pre-Code drama film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Barbara Stanwyck, Otto Kruger, and Ralph Bellamy. It portrays the tragic consequences of the virulent History of propaganda, pro ...

'' (1933) * ''

Gambling Lady ''Gambling Lady'' is a 1934 American pre-Code romantic drama film directed by Archie Mayo, and starring Barbara Stanwyck, Joel McCrea and Pat O'Brien. Plot Mike Lee raises his daughter Lady Lee to be as honest a gambler as he is. When he gets ...

'' (1934) * '' The Man with Two Faces'' (1934) * '' Desirable'' (1934) * '' Bordertown'' (1935) * ''

Go Into Your Dance ''Go into Your Dance'' is a 1935 American musical drama film starring Al Jolson, Ruby Keeler, and Glenda Farrell. The film was directed by Archie Mayo and is based on the novel of the same name by Bradford Ropes. It was released by Warner Bros. ...

'' (1935) * ''

The Case of the Lucky Legs ''The Case of the Lucky Legs'' is a 1935 mystery film, the third in a series of Perry Mason films starring Warren William as the famed lawyer. Plot Margie Clune wins the "Lucky Legs" beauty contest concocted by Frank Patton, but has trouble col ...

'' (1935) * ''

'' (1936) * ''

I Married a Doctor ''I Married a Doctor'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by Archie Mayo and written by Casey Robinson. It is an adaptation of Sinclair Lewis’s novel Main Street. The film stars Pat O'Brien, Josephine Hutchinson, Ross Alexander, Guy Kibb ...

'' (1936) * '' Give Me Your Heart'' (1936) * '' Black Legion'' (1937) * ''

It's Love I'm After ''It's Love I'm After'' is a 1937 American screwball comedy film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Leslie Howard, Bette Davis, and Olivia de Havilland. Based on the story "Gentlemen After Midnight" by Maurice Hanline, with a screenplay by Casey ...

'' (1937) * ''

Call It a Day ''Call It a Day'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Olivia de Havilland, Ian Hunter, Anita Louise, Alice Brady, Roland Young, and Frieda Inescort. Based on the 1935 play ''Call It a Day'' by Dodie Smith, the fil ...

'' (1937) * ''

'' (1938) * ''

Youth Takes a Fling ''Youth Takes a Fling'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Joel McCrea. McCrea plays Joe Meadows, whose only ambition as a Kansas farm boy was a life at sea. He moves to New York to try to get a job as a sailo ...

'' (1938) * ''

They Shall Have Music ''They Shall Have Music'' is a 1939 musical film directed by Archie Mayo and starring famed violinist Jascha Heifetz (as himself), Joel McCrea, Andrea Leeds, and Gene Reynolds. The screenplay concerns a young runaway finds his purpose in life afte ...

'' (1939) * ''

The House Across the Bay ''The House Across the Bay'' is a 1940 film directed by Archie Mayo, starring George Raft and Joan Bennett, produced by Walter Wanger, written by Myles Connolly and Kathryn Scola, and released by United Artists. The supporting cast features Lloy ...

'' (1940) * ''

Four Sons ''Four Sons'' is a 1928 American silent drama film directed and produced by John Ford and written for the screen by Philip Klein from a story by I. A. R. Wylie first published in the ''Saturday Evening Post'' as "Grandmother Bernle Learns Her ...

'' (1940) * ''

The Great American Broadcast ''The Great American Broadcast'' is a 1941 comedy film directed by Archie Mayo. It stars Jack Oakie, Alice Faye and John Payne. Plot Impoverished roommates Rix Martin and Chuck Hadley have dreams of being the first to operate a coast-to-coast ra ...

'' (1941) * ''

Charley's Aunt ''Charley's Aunt'' is a farce in three acts written by Brandon Thomas. The story centres on Lord Fancourt Babberley, an undergraduate whose friends Jack and Charley persuade him to impersonate the latter's aunt. The complications of the plot inc ...

'' (1941) * ''

Confirm or Deny ''Confirm or Deny'' is a 1941 film made by 20th Century Fox, directed by Archie Mayo and Fritz Lang (uncredited), and starring by Don Ameche and Joan Bennett. The screenplay was written by Jo Swerling, based on a story by Samuel Fuller and Henry ...

'' (1941) * ''

Moontide ''Moontide'' is a 1942 American romantic drama with elements of a thriller. It was produced by Mark Hellinger and directed by Archie Mayo, who took over direction after initial director Fritz Lang left the project early in the shooting schedule. ...

'' (1942) * ''

Orchestra Wives ''Orchestra Wives'' is a 1942 American musical film by 20th Century Fox starring Ann Rutherford, George Montgomery, and Glenn Miller. The film was the second (and last) film to feature The Glenn Miller Orchestra, and is notable among the many sw ...

'' (1942) * ''

Crash Dive A crash dive is a maneuver by a submarine in which the vessel submerges as quickly as possible to avoid attack. Crash diving from the surface to avoid attack has been largely rendered obsolete with the advent of nuclear-powered submarines, as they ...

'' (1943) * ''

Sweet and Low-Down ''Sweet and Low-Down'' is a 1944 film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Benny Goodman and Linda Darnell. The film was a fictionalized version of life with Goodman, his band, and their manager while entertaining at military camps. The song "I ...

'' (1944) * ''

'' (1946) * '' Angel on My Shoulder'' (1946)

References

External links

* 1891 births 1968 deaths American male film actors American male stage actors Screenwriters from New York (state) Film directors from New York City Film producers from New York (state) Burials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery Deaths from cancer in Mexico 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American screenwriters {{US-film-director-1890s-stub