Una Merkel

Acting

Una Merkel

Born December 10, 1903 · Covington, Kentucky, USA

Died January 2, 1986 · aged 82

Southerner Una Merkel was a popular American stage, screen, and television actress. In movies, while often cast as the female lead, she more typically appeared in prominent supporting roles.

Known For

The Parent TrapThe Parent Trap · 1961
The Parent Trap
7.01961
MovieComedyFamily
Two identical twin sisters, separated at birth by their parents' divorce, are reunited years later at a summer camp, where they scheme to bring their parents back together. The girls, one of whom has been living with their mother and the other with their father, switch places after camp and go to work on their plan, the first objective being to scare off a gold-digger pursuing their father.
It's a Joke, Son!It's a Joke, Son! · 1947
It's a Joke, Son!
6.61947
MovieComedy
Claghorn gets into some financial difficulties and is forced by a machine-political gang to enter a race for state senator against his wife (Una Merkel) who appears to have a good chance to beat the political hack backed by the machine. Claghorn is in to siphon votes and ensure his wife's opponent will win and is expected to run a campaign that will defeat himself and his wife. But, he runs to win and the machine's henchies abduct him.
Evelyn PrenticeEvelyn Prentice · 1934
Evelyn Prentice
6.51934
MovieDramaMystery
A criminal lawyer's wife is blackmailed when she is falsely accused of infidelity.
CheckersCheckers · 1937
Checkers
10.01937
MovieDrama
A clever veterinarian repairs a horse's leg so the animal can run in a big race and save a man's farm.
SpeedSpeed · 1936
Speed
5.81936
MovieActionDrama
Terry is the chief car tester for Emery Motors and Frank is an Engineer. Jane has just been hired to work in publicity. Frank and Terry both want Jane to be their girl. Terry has designed a new carburetor that should bring him fame and money, but he cannot get it to work correctly. Terry and Gadget have tested it for over a year, but it still is not perfected. Emery Motors assigns Frank to help Terry with the carburetor, but Terry is not happy because Frank is an Engineer and is also vying for Jane. They finish the carburetor, and to test it, they enter a car in the Indianapolis 500 race. Terry is not yet satisfied with the carburetor before the big race even though it has passed all the tests.
Summer and SmokeSummer and Smoke · 1961
Summer and Smoke
6.61961
MovieDramaRomance
In a small Mississippi town in 1916, an eccentric spinster battles her romantic yearnings for the randy boy next door.
HuddleHuddle · 1932
Huddle
7.01932
MovieDramaRomance
Tony, the son of Italian immigrants, works in a smoky steel mill in Gary, Indiana. He wins a company scholarship which will enable him to attend Yale college. Over the four years of his college career he learns about football, love, and class prejudice.
My Blue HeavenMy Blue Heaven · 1950
My Blue Heaven
7.51950
MovieDramaMusic
Radio star Kitty Moran, long married to partner Jack, finds she's pregnant, but miscarries. For a change, the couple turn their act into a series on early TV and try to adopt a baby. Finally they acquiring a girl in a somewhat back alley manner.

Movies

The Parent TrapThe Parent Trap · 1961
The Parent Trap
7.01961
MovieComedyFamily
Two identical twin sisters, separated at birth by their parents' divorce, are reunited years later at a summer camp, where they scheme to bring their parents back together. The girls, one of whom has been living with their mother and the other with their father, switch places after camp and go to work on their plan, the first objective being to scare off a gold-digger pursuing their father.
It's a Joke, Son!It's a Joke, Son! · 1947
It's a Joke, Son!
6.61947
MovieComedy
Claghorn gets into some financial difficulties and is forced by a machine-political gang to enter a race for state senator against his wife (Una Merkel) who appears to have a good chance to beat the political hack backed by the machine. Claghorn is in to siphon votes and ensure his wife's opponent will win and is expected to run a campaign that will defeat himself and his wife. But, he runs to win and the machine's henchies abduct him.
Evelyn PrenticeEvelyn Prentice · 1934
Evelyn Prentice
6.51934
MovieDramaMystery
A criminal lawyer's wife is blackmailed when she is falsely accused of infidelity.
CheckersCheckers · 1937
Checkers
10.01937
MovieDrama
A clever veterinarian repairs a horse's leg so the animal can run in a big race and save a man's farm.
SpeedSpeed · 1936
Speed
5.81936
MovieActionDrama
Terry is the chief car tester for Emery Motors and Frank is an Engineer. Jane has just been hired to work in publicity. Frank and Terry both want Jane to be their girl. Terry has designed a new carburetor that should bring him fame and money, but he cannot get it to work correctly. Terry and Gadget have tested it for over a year, but it still is not perfected. Emery Motors assigns Frank to help Terry with the carburetor, but Terry is not happy because Frank is an Engineer and is also vying for Jane. They finish the carburetor, and to test it, they enter a car in the Indianapolis 500 race. Terry is not yet satisfied with the carburetor before the big race even though it has passed all the tests.
Summer and SmokeSummer and Smoke · 1961
Summer and Smoke
6.61961
MovieDramaRomance
In a small Mississippi town in 1916, an eccentric spinster battles her romantic yearnings for the randy boy next door.
HuddleHuddle · 1932
Huddle
7.01932
MovieDramaRomance
Tony, the son of Italian immigrants, works in a smoky steel mill in Gary, Indiana. He wins a company scholarship which will enable him to attend Yale college. Over the four years of his college career he learns about football, love, and class prejudice.
My Blue HeavenMy Blue Heaven · 1950
My Blue Heaven
7.51950
MovieDramaMusic
Radio star Kitty Moran, long married to partner Jack, finds she's pregnant, but miscarries. For a change, the couple turn their act into a series on early TV and try to adopt a baby. Finally they acquiring a girl in a somewhat back alley manner.
The KentuckianThe Kentuckian · 1955
The Kentuckian
5.81955
MovieWestern
A frontiersman and his son fight to build a new home in Texas.
The Merry WidowThe Merry Widow · 1934
The Merry Widow
6.81934
MovieComedyMusic
A prince from a small kingdom courts a wealthy widow to keep her money in the country.
That's Entertainment! IIIThat's Entertainment! III · 1994
That's Entertainment! III
7.01994
MovieDocumentaryMusic
Some of MGM'S musical stars review the studios history of musicals. From The Hollywood Revue of 1929 to Brigadoon, from the first musical talkies to Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain.
This Is the ArmyThis Is the Army · 1943
This Is the Army
5.71943
MovieComedyMusic
In WW I dancer Jerry Jones stages an all-soldier show on Broadway, called Yip Yip Yaphank. Wounded in the War, he becomes a producer. In WW II his son Johnny Jones, who was before his fathers assistant, gets the order to stage a knew all-soldier show, called THIS IS THE ARMY. But in his pesonal life he has problems, because he refuses to marry his fiancée until the war is over.
That's Dancing!That's Dancing! · 1985
That's Dancing!
6.91985
MovieDocumentaryMusic
A documentary film about dancing on the screen, from its origins after the invention of the movie camera, over the movie musical from the late 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s, up to the break dance and music videos from the 80s.
The Bank DickThe Bank Dick · 1940
The Bank Dick
6.51940
MovieComedy
Egbert Sousé becomes an unexpected hero when a bank robber falls over a bench he's occupying. Now considered brave, Egbert is given a job as a bank guard. Soon, he is approached by charlatan J. Frothingham Waterbury about buying shares in a mining company. Egbert persuades teller Og Oggilby to lend him bank money, to be returned when the scheme pays off. Unfortunately, bank inspector Snoopington then makes a surprise appearance.
The Bride Goes WildThe Bride Goes Wild · 1948
The Bride Goes Wild
6.71948
MovieComedyRomance
McGrath publishes books for children and Uncle Bump is one of the best sellers. Unfortunately, Greg, who is Uncle Bump, tends to drink too much and has not started his next book. Martha won a contest to illustrate the book and the first thing that happens is that Greg gets her soused. To keep her there to illustrate, John gets a juvenile delinquent named Danny to play his son and show how much pressure he is under. The ploy works at first, but Greg's heart was broken by Tillie, and Martha may be the girl who makes him forget all about her.
Bundle of JoyBundle of Joy · 1956
Bundle of Joy
6.41956
MovieComedyRomance
Kitschy musical remake of "Bachelor Mother". Debbie Reynolds plays an over-eager clerk in a large department store and Eddie Fisher plays the boss' son. After getting fired from her job, she finds an adorable baby on the steps of the foundling home and the folks inside mistake her for the mother. Fisher, well-meaning, but obtuse, tries to help her out with the baby, and the buds of romance begin to appear. Meanwhile old Merlin, the owner of the store, thinks he just might be a grandfather...
Man WantedMan Wanted · 1932
Man Wanted
5.51932
MovieRomanceComedy
A female editor of a magazine falls in love with her male secretary.
Destry Rides AgainDestry Rides Again · 1939
Destry Rides Again
7.21939
MovieWesternComedy
Tom Destry, son of a legendary frontier peacekeeper, doesn’t believe in gunplay. Thus he becomes the object of widespread ridicule when he rides into the wide-open town of Bottleneck, the personal fiefdom of the crooked Kent.
Twin BedsTwin Beds · 1942
Twin Beds
3.81942
MovieComedy
Mike Abbott just wants to spend a quiet evening at home with his wife, but her collection of zany friends make hash of his hopes.
Summer MagicSummer Magic · 1963
Summer Magic
6.71963
MovieMusicComedy
Mother Carey, a Bostonian widow, and her three children move to Maine. Postmaster Osh Popham helps them move into a run-down old house and fixes it up for them. It's not entirely uninhabited, though; the owner, Mr. Hamilton, is a mysterious character away in Europe, but Osh assures them he won't mind their living there, since he won't be coming home for a long time yet. The children and a cousin who comes to live with them have various adventures before an unexpected visitor shows up
42nd Street42nd Street · 1933
42nd Street
6.91933
MovieComedyDrama
Broadway director Julian Marsh needs just one more hit show so he can retire and recover his health. It looks like he just may pull it off until temperamental star Dorthy Brock breaks her ankle on the eve of the show's premiere and has to be replaced by her understudy Peggy.
Reunion in ViennaReunion in Vienna · 1933
Reunion in Vienna
7.21933
MovieRomanceDrama
An exiled archduke (John Barrymore) tries to renew romance with a former lover (Diana Wynyard) now wed to a psychiatrist (Frank Morgan).
The Maltese FalconThe Maltese Falcon · 1931
The Maltese Falcon
6.41931
MovieMysteryCrime
A lovely dame with dangerous lies employs the services of a private detective, who is quickly caught up in the mystery and intrigue of a statuette known as the Maltese Falcon.
MenuMenu · 1933
Menu
5.41933
MovieComedyFantasy
A chef helps a housewife cook a duck dinner that will not give her husband indigestion.

TV Shows

Climax!Climax! · 1954
Climax!
3.81954
SeriesDramaMystery
Climax! is an American anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was hosted by William Lundigan and later co-hosted by Mary Costa. It was one of the few CBS programs of that era to be broadcast in color. Many of the episodes were performed and broadcast live.
Four Star PlayhouseFour Star Playhouse · 1952
Four Star Playhouse
6.81952
SeriesDramaComedy
Four Star Playhouse is an American television anthology series that ran from 1952 to 1956, sponsored in its first bi-weekly season by The Singer Company; Bristol-Myers became an alternate sponsor when it became a weekly series in the fall of 1953. The original premise was that Charles Boyer, Ida Lupino, David Niven, and Dick Powell would take turns starring in episodes. However, several other performers took the lead from time to time, including Ronald Colman and Joan Fontaine. Blake Edwards was among the writers and directors who contributed to the series. Edwards created the recurring character of illegal gambling house operator Willie Dante for Dick Powell to play on this series. The character was later revamped and spun off in his own series starring Howard Duff, then-husband of Lupino. The pilot for Meet McGraw, starring Frank Lovejoy, aired here, as did another episode in which Lovejoy recreated his role of Chicago newspaper reporter Randy Stone, from the radio drama Nightbeat.
Burke's LawBurke's Law · 1963
Burke's Law
6.31963
SeriesDrama
Burke's Law is an American detective series that ran on ABC from 1963 to 1965 and was revived on CBS in the 1990s. The show starred Gene Barry as Amos Burke, millionaire captain of Los Angeles police homicide division, who was chauffeured around to solve crimes in his Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II.
Studio OneStudio One · 1948
Studio One
5.41948
SeriesDrama
An American radio–television anthology series, created in 1947 by Canadian director Fletcher Markle, who came to CBS from the CBC. Studio One, presented by Westinghouse, was one of the first of the anthology TV programs. The episodes were often abridged remakes of movies from years gone by and many future well-known television and movie actors appeared in the productions.
DuPont Show of the MonthDuPont Show of the Month · 1957
DuPont Show of the Month
7.41957
SeriesDramaComedy
DuPont Show of the Month is an acclaimed 90-minute television anthology series that aired monthly on CBS from 1957 to 1961. The DuPont Company also sponsored a weekly half-hour anthology drama series hosted by June Allyson, The DuPont Show with June Allyson. During the Golden Age of Television, DuPont Show of the Month was one of numerous anthology series telecast between 1949 and 1962. Superficially, it resembled Playhouse 90 and other anthologies, but DuPont Show of the Month focused less on contemporary dramas and more on adaptations of literary classics, including Oliver Twist, The Prince and the Pauper, Billy Budd, The Prisoner of Zenda, A Tale of Two Cities and The Count of Monte Cristo.
The Bill Dana ShowThe Bill Dana Show · 1963
The Bill Dana Show
6.31963
SeriesComedy
The Bill Dana Show is a United States comedy series .The plot follows the daily lifestyle of Latin American, Jose Jimenez, as a bellhop in a New York hotel.
The Cara Williams ShowThe Cara Williams Show · 1964
The Cara Williams Show
6.51964
SeriesComedy
The Cara Williams Show is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from September 18,1964 to April 15, 1965. The series centers on a married couple who has to keep their relationship secret because the company for which they work prohibit staff couples.
Schlitz Playhouse of StarsSchlitz Playhouse of Stars · 1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
7.21951
SeriesDramaComedy
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars is an anthology series that was telecast from 1951 until 1959 on CBS. Offering both comedies and drama, the series was sponsored by the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company. The title was shortened to Schlitz Playhouse, beginning with the fall 1957 season.