Gina Malo (born Janet Flynn; June 1, 1909 – November 30, 1963) was an American film actress, born Janet Flynn in Cincinnati, Ohio. She appeared in a number of British films in the 1930s, often playing an American.
Early career Though born in Cincinnati as Janet Flynn, Gina Malo represented herself as a Parisian film actress when securing her first Broadway parts. After a stint with Florenz Ziegfeld as a showgirl, Malo's ambitions as a singer found vent when she secured the part of the prima donna in Sigmund Romberg's operetta The New Moon (1928-1929). When a Paris production of Romberg's musical formed, she jumped at the chance to play the part again.
A capable French speaker, she obtained another stage role in Paris singing in Broadway. She returned to New York as a replacement for Lili Damita in "Sons o’Guns". Rumors of her American nativity were not laid to rest by her speaking in a heavy French accent to interviewers, but her singing, markedly superior to Damita's, won praise in 1930. After Ruby Keeler bailed out of 'The Gang's All Here' during its Philadelphia tryout in 1931, Malo took over as the singing lead. Keeler may have intuited something, for the show was being hijacked by Ted Healy, not a place for an ambitious leading lady to be. The musical died after 23 performances.
Britain Assuaging her wounds by crossing the Atlantic, she appeared in the London production of Victoria and her Hussar. She remained in London for the production of Jerome Kern's The Cat and the Fiddle, a smash hit with Peggy Wood in the lead. When the British-Gaumont company decided to adapt Johann Strauss's Fledermaus to the screen, they tapped Malo to play Adele, the singing maid. Waltz Time was a success in England and the United States.
Firmly established in the British entertainment world, Malo next starred in The Bride of the Lake (also known as Lily of Killarney), a nostalgic, tuneful rendering of Dion Boucicault's old Irish melodrama, The Colleen Bawn. After testing unsuccessfully for the role of Anna Held in The Great Ziegfeld in Hollywood, Malo returned to London to play in the French importation, Toi C’est Moi, followed in Spring 1935 with a turn in the musical Leave it to Love. She also appeared on screen in a Jan Kiepura vehicle, My Song for You.
Malo in the late 1930s was a fixture of the English stage, playing in a succession of hits: The Gang Show, On Your Toes, Diversion and The Gentle People. Her film career remained lively, with highlights such as The Private Life of Don Juan, Windbag the Sailor, Where There's a Will and the screen version of the stage hit The Gang Show.
In 1937, she married actor and dramatist Romney Brent.
Later career In March 1940, the couple left London for New York as war loomed. She could only secure a role in a B-level scare flick, Chamber of Horrors. She played in American regional summer theater through World War II. Malo eventually found her way to Toronto and won praise there for her work in repertory work, such as the 1944 production of Hamlet. After the war, she toured in Brent's production of Merry Wives of Windsor.
Notes J. Brooks Atkinson, 'Songs, Dances and Stooges,' NYT 2-19-1931, 28. NYT 1-19-1932, 13. Los Angeles Times 2-22,1934, 7. NYT 2-10-1935. Los Angeles Times 712–1935, A:11. NYT 3-19-1940, 34. Obituary NYT 12-3-1963, 43. Internet Broadway Database. Internet Movie Database. David S. Shields.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1932 In a Monastery Garden Nina 1932 Goodnight, Vienna Frieda 1932 A Tight Corner 1933 King of the Ritz Victoria 1933 Waltz Time Adele 1933 Strike It Rich Mary 1934 Lily of Killarney Eileen O'Connor 1934 My Song for You Kleeberg's Brunet 1934 The Private Life of Don Juan Pepita, Another Dancer of Equal Temperament 1936 Where There's a Will Goldie Kelly 1936 Southern Roses Mary Rowland 1936 All In Kay Slott 1936 Jack of All Trades Frances Wilson 1937 Over She Goes Dolly Jordan 1937 It's a Grand Old World Joan 1938 His Lordship Regrets Mabel van Morgan 1938 The Gang Show Marie 1940 The Door with Seven Locks Glenda Baker (final film role)
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