Motion Picture Director. Born in New York City, he entered films in 1915 as an extra and gained experience writing and directing comedy shorts for the L-KO and Christie companies. In 1926 he made his feature debut at Warner Bros., where he launched that studio's famous cycle of gangster pictures with "The Doorway to Hell" (1930). An efficient, impersonal journeyman, Mayo apparently subscribed to the show biz dictum that "90% of direction is good casting" and was known to let his actors have their heads during filming. He wisely allowed newcomer James Cagney to steal "The Doorway to Hell" and was the first to recognize the star potential of Humphrey Bogart in "The Petrifed Forest" (1936); the latter, an adaptation of Robert E. Sherwood's play, is probably his best film. His other notable credits include "Money Talks" (1926), "Svengali" (1931), "Illicit" (1931), "The Mayor of Hell" (1933), "Bordertown" (1935), "Black Legion" (1937), "The Adventures of Marco Polo" (1938), and "Angel on My Shoulder" (1946). Mayo's directing career ended with "A Night in Casablanca" (1946), one of the Marx Bros.' weaker efforts. After a dozen years away from Hollywood he returned to produce a low-budget quickie, "The Beast of Budapest" (1958). He died in Guadalajara, Mexico, where he was undergoing treatment for cancer.
Motion Picture Director. Born in New York City, he entered films in 1915 as an extra and gained experience writing and directing comedy shorts for the L-KO and Christie companies. In 1926 he made his feature debut at Warner Bros., where he launched that studio's famous cycle of gangster pictures with "The Doorway to Hell" (1930). An efficient, impersonal journeyman, Mayo apparently subscribed to the show biz dictum that "90% of direction is good casting" and was known to let his actors have their heads during filming. He wisely allowed newcomer James Cagney to steal "The Doorway to Hell" and was the first to recognize the star potential of Humphrey Bogart in "The Petrifed Forest" (1936); the latter, an adaptation of Robert E. Sherwood's play, is probably his best film. His other notable credits include "Money Talks" (1926), "Svengali" (1931), "Illicit" (1931), "The Mayor of Hell" (1933), "Bordertown" (1935), "Black Legion" (1937), "The Adventures of Marco Polo" (1938), and "Angel on My Shoulder" (1946). Mayo's directing career ended with "A Night in Casablanca" (1946), one of the Marx Bros.' weaker efforts. After a dozen years away from Hollywood he returned to produce a low-budget quickie, "The Beast of Budapest" (1958). He died in Guadalajara, Mexico, where he was undergoing treatment for cancer.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
Inscription
Beloved husband and father
Family Members
Advertisement
