{{short description|1937 film by Arthur B. Woods}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}} {{Use British English|date=June 2016}} {{Infobox film | name = Mayfair Melody | image = Mayfair_Melody_film_newspaper_page_(1937).jpg | caption = Scenes from the film in a ''Kine Weekly'' feature (25 February 1937)<ref>{{Cite journal|date=25 February 1937|title=Mayfair Melody|id={{ProQuest|2339760994}}|magazine=Kine Weekly|volume=240|issue=1558|pages=31}}</ref> | director = Arthur B. Woods | producer = Irving Asher | writer = James Dyrenforth | starring = Keith Falkner<br>Chili Bouchier | music = Kenneth Leslie-Smith | cinematography = Basil Emmott | editing = | studio = Warner Brothers-First National Productions | distributor = Warner Brothers | released = {{Film date|1937|03|02|df=yes}} | runtime = 83 minutes | country = United Kingdom | language = English }}'''''Mayfair Melody''''' is a 1937 British musical film, directed by Arthur B. Woods and starring Keith Falkner and Chili Bouchier.<ref name="BFIsearch">{{Cite web |title=Mayfair Melody |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150040877 |access-date=3 March 2026 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}</ref> It was written by James Dyrenforth and produced as a quota quickie at Teddington Studios by the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wood |first=Linda |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-british-films-1927-1939.pdf |title=British Films, 1927–1939 |publisher=British Film Institute |year=1986 |pages=91 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016015016/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-british-films-1927-1939.pdf |archive-date=16 October 2022}}</ref> == Preservation status == The British Film Institute has classed ''Mayfair Melody'' as a lost film.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Missing Believed Lost: The Great British Film Search |publisher=British Film Institute |year=1992 |isbn=0851703062 |editor-last=Eyles |editor-first=Allen |pages=654 |chapter=Mayfair Melody |editor-last2=Meeker |editor-first2=David}}</ref> Its National Archive holds a collection of ephemera but no film or video materials.<ref name="BFIsearch" />

==Plot== Mark is a motor mechanic whose exceptional singing voice is discovered by Carmen, the daughter of the factory owner. She helps him rise to fame and fortune as a professional operatic singer.

==Cast== * Keith Falkner as Mark * Chili Bouchier as Carmen * Bruce Lester as Dickie * Joyce Kirby as Brenda * Glen Alyn as Daphne * Aubrey Mallalieu as Dighton * George Galleon as Lord Chester * Louis Goodrich as Ludborough * Ian McLean as Collecchi * Vivienne Chatterton as Mme. Collecchi

==Reception==

''The Monthly Film Bulletin'' wrote: "A silly story around which is woven plenty of broad comedy. Keith Falkner, with faultless speech, never suggests the faintest impression of a mechanic; but his voice – probably the best baritone in England – records gloriously. Joyce Kirby gives a display of temperament akin to Carole Lombard's performance in ''My Man Godfrey''; and her affectations are usually successful. The rest of the cast is good. Jan Maclean makes a perfect Italian Maestro. Amusing entertainment, even if it is somewhat too long."<ref>{{Cite journal|date=1 January 1937|title=Mayfair Melody|id={{ProQuest|1305801880}}|magazine=The Monthly Film Bulletin|volume=4|issue=37|pages=54}}</ref>

''Kine Weekly'' wrote: "A romantic comedy with tuneful song and effective dance ensembles that scores principally on its shy, disarming reticence. It is some little time in coming out of its shell, for the preliminaries are protracted, but once it does it provides light entertainment of refreshing ingenuousness. Joyce Kirby is really clever as the heroine; Keith Falkner, although obviously lacking in screen experience, sings delightfully as the hero... The show lacks nothing in stagecraft, the musical ensembles that decorate the ending are artistically and ingeniously contrived, nor is bright repartee absent from the dialogue."<ref>{{Cite journal|date=11 March 1937|title=Mayfair Melody|id={{ProQuest|2339751497}}|magazine=Kine Weekly|volume=241|issue=1560|pages=33}}</ref>

''The Daily Film Renter'' wrote: "Keith Falkner makes interesting debut as baritone hero, Joyce Kirby cleverly burlesquing empty-headed ingenue leading role. Production values are first-class, settings including Covent Garden Opera House, mansion and theatre backgrounds. Finale takes form of spectacular stage scenas, complete with attractive chorine ensembles, dance routines and tuneful song numbers. Good popular entertainment."<ref>{{Cite journal|date=4 March 1937|title=Mayfair Melody|id={{ProQuest|2594591520}}|magazine=The Daily Film Renter|volume=|issue=3103|pages=6}}</ref>

''Picturegoer'' wrote: "Simple romantic picture, which has the charm of ingeniousness and is decorated with some tuneful singing, pleasing dance ensembles, and quite an artistic stage finale&nbsp;... The picture is slow in getting into its stride, but, once that is achieved, it progresses quite entertainingly."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=6 August 1937 |title=Mayfair Melody |volume=7 |issue= |pages=26 |id={{ProQuest|1771136303}} |magazine=Picturegoer}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{IMDb title|0029221|Mayfair Melody}}

{{Arthur B. Woods}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mayfair Melody}} Category:1937 films Category:British musical films Category:1937 musical films Category:Films directed by Arthur B. Woods Category:Lost British films Category:1937 English-language films Category:British black-and-white films Category:Films shot at Teddington Studios Category:Warner Bros. films Category:1937 lost films Category:Lost musical films Category:1937 British films Category:English-language musical films