Una Merkel

 Una Merkel began her movie career as stand-in for Lillian Gish in the movie "The Wind" (1928). After that, she performed on Broadway before she returned to movies for the D.W. Griffith film "Abraham Lincoln" (1930). In her early years, before gaining a few pounds, she looked like Lillian Gish, but after "Abraham Lincoln" (1930) her comic potential was discovered. She mostly played supporting roles as the heroine's no-nonsense friend, but with her broad Southern accent and her peroxide blond hair, she gave one of her best performances as a wisecracking but not-so-bright chorus girl in "42nd Street" (1933).

Merkel is perhaps she is best remembered for her hair-pulling fight with Marlene Dietrich in "Destry Rides Again" (1939).

"it was very funny. I had never met Miss Dietrich until that day, and they outlined exactly what places they'd like is to hit on the set. We were not supposed to do anything but a few feet, and they had the stunt girls there to take over. But Mr. (director George) Marshall said, 'Once you get started on this, just keep going as long as you can; don't worry. the camera will follow you.' We did the whole thing, and we turned our checks over to the stunt girls!. We did the whole battle, and then, at the end, Jimmy Stewart came over and dumped a pail of water over our heads. We had to do it over again for close-ups, and do it for Life Magazine... I went to the hospital after that picture. I finished it, but I was a mess of bruises, because I had little fat heels on, and Marlene had high spiked heels. All through the fight scene we were whispering to each other, 'Are you all right?' 'Can you finish it?' 'Are you OK?' We did it in one continuous take. I thought they'd never call 'Cut.'"

Happy Birthday, Una Merkel (the woman to the left of Dietrich)!