December 2025 OETA Movie Club: Glamour, Heart & Timeless Classics
This December, OETA Movie Club invites you to curl up with films that take you from the golden age of cinema to classic romance and timeless drama. Whether you’re stepping behind the scenes of Hollywood or settling into stories of love, faith, and self-discovery, each film this month reminds us of the enduring power of storytelling.
My Week With Marilyn (2011)
📅 Airs Saturday, Dec. 13 at 9 p.m.
Starring:Eddie Redmayne and Michelle Williams
Description:
Step behind the glittering facade of 1956 England’s film industry as young production assistant Colin Clark navigates the chaos of a movie set while caring for Marilyn Monroe in her husband’s absence. In this charming and insightful story, Colin discovers the pressures of stardom, fleeting romance, and the deeply human side of an enduring Hollywood legend, revealing the balance between fame and vulnerability.
🎬 Fun Facts
- How did Michelle Williams and Judi Dench appear to share scenes despite never filming together? Clever editing by Adam Recht made it seem like they were on set at the same time, even including a handshake over thin air.
- Where were the reenactment scenes of The Prince and the Showgirl filmed? On the very same Pinewood soundstage where the original 1957 movie was shot, Michelle Williams’ dressing room once belonged to Marilyn Monroe herself.
- Which tricky scene pushed Michelle Williams to her limits? A nude swim in late fall, meant to look like summer, had Williams enduring icy waters for multiple takes, with safety tents and oxygen tanks nearby.
- How did Kenneth Branagh prepare to play Laurence Olivier? He spent hours with makeup to replicate Olivier’s cleft chin and square jaw, while listening to dramatic Bible readings to capture Olivier’s presence.
- What’s the connection between Colin Clark’s school and Eddie Redmayne? The scene where Colin shows Marilyn Monroe his old school was filmed at Redmayne’s real-life alma mater, Eton.
- Which famous actresses turned down the role of Marilyn Monroe? Scarlett Johansson, Kate Hudson, and Amy Adams all passed on portraying the iconic star before Michelle Williams was cast.
- What award did Michelle Williams win for this performance? She received a Golden Globe for Best Actress – Comedy or Musical, echoing Monroe’s own win in 1960 for Some Like It Hot.
- How many actors from this film also appeared in the Harry Potter franchise? Six, including Emma Watson, Eddie Redmayne, and Kenneth Branagh, creating a magical behind-the-scenes connection.
The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)
📅 Airs Saturday, Dec. 20 at 9 p.m.
Starring:Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman.
Description:
Father O’Malley and Sister Benedict work tirelessly to save a struggling parochial school, guiding students through challenges with wisdom, faith, and humor. This heartwarming classic showcases the enduring power of community, friendship, and perseverance, proving that kindness and determination can inspire change in even the toughest circumstances.
🎬 Fun Facts
- Which two stars played a prank on the Catholic priest overseeing production? During the final farewell scene, Bing Crosby (Father O’Malley) and Ingrid Bergman (Sister Benedict) shared a passionate on-screen kiss, making the priest jump up in protest.
- What milestone did the film achieve for RKO Radio Pictures? The Bells of St. Mary’s became the most profitable film in the studio’s history.
- How was the story inspired by real life? Director Leo McCarey based the story on his own aunt and childhood counselor, Sister Mary Benedict, who died during a typhoid fever epidemic.
- What award distinction did Bing Crosby earn for this film? He received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, making him the first performer to be nominated twice for playing the same character (he had won the previous year for Going My Way).
- What song does Ingrid Bergman sing in the film? Varvindar Friska (Spring Breezes), a traditional Swedish folk song for Valborg, celebrating the end of winter and start of spring.
- How did the film tie to the Pledge of Allegiance? The children recite the original version, before “under God” was officially added in 1954.
- Which actress, known for playing Judy Garland’s sister in Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), also stars here? Joan Carroll plays Patsy Gallagher.
- What unique fact is there about the sequel’s box office? The Bells of St. Mary’s out-grossed its predecessor, Going My Way (1944), earning $8 million in rentals compared to $6 million.
- Who were considered for the role of Patsy Gallagher? Both Elizabeth Taylor and Shirley Temple were under consideration.
December 27 – Double Feature
Emma (1996)
📅 Airs Saturday, Dec. 27 at 9 p.m.
Starring:Gwyneth Paltrow and Ewan McGregor
Description:
Charming, clever, and sometimes meddlesome, Emma Woodhouse delights in matchmaking in her small English town. When her latest project, Harriet Smith, becomes entangled in romance, Emma learns that love, friendship, and self-discovery are far more complex than she imagined, blending humor, insight, and the timeless wit of Jane Austen’s world.
🎬 Fun Facts
- How did Gwyneth Paltrow land the role of Emma Woodhouse? Director Douglas McGrath was convinced after seeing her performance in Flesh and Bone (1993) and her flawless Texas accent during the audition.
- How did Toni Collette prepare to play Harriet Smith? She gained weight to portray “the Rubenesque Harriet,” saying, “I think it’s important for people to look real in films. There’s a tendency to go Barbie doll and I don’t agree with that at all.”
- Which real-life mother-daughter duo appears as Mrs. Bates and Miss Bates? Phyllida Law and Sophie Thompson, who are also the mother and sister of Emma Thompson, play the characters, coincidentally cast side by side.
- What is the name of the dance Emma and Mr. Knightley perform? Mr. Beveridge’s Maggot, a “whimsical fancy” previously used in Pride and Prejudice (1995) for Elizabeth Bennet’s dance at Netherfield.
- Which cast member later regretted appearing in the film due to a wig? Ewan McGregor admitted, “It’s a good film, but I’m not very good in it… and I’m wearing the world’s worst wig.”
- How did Gwyneth Paltrow prepare for her role beyond acting? She studied horsemanship, dancing, singing, archery, and the period’s highly stylized manners and dialect during a three-week rehearsal.
Mansfield Park (1999)
📅 Airs Saturday, Dec. 27 at 11 p.m.
Starring: Frances O’Connor , Harold Pinter, Lindsay Duncan, Jonny Lee Miller , Embeth Davidtz, Alessandro Nivola
Description:
At just ten years old, Fanny Price, a clever and observant girl from a poor family, is sent to live at Mansfield Park, the grand estate of her aunt and Sir Thomas. Over the years, she grows into a young woman admired for both her beauty and sharp moral compass, forming a close bond with Edmund, Sir Thomas’s younger son. When the charming neighbor Henry Crawford takes an interest in her, Fanny faces the challenge of judging his true character and demanding that he prove himself worthy of her heart. As Edmund pursues Henry’s sister and questions arise about Sir Thomas’s wealth and its ties to New World slavery, Fanny must navigate love, ethics, and society’s expectations – balancing her wit, integrity, and courage in the process.
🎬 Fun Facts
- How successful was Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park in her lifetime? It was her most successful novel, earning her over £300, a fortune in the early 19th century.
- What happened to the flock of doves released during Henry Crawford’s fireworks display in Cornwall? They were left behind after filming, but thanks to a local woman, the birds survived for more than eight years despite competing with gulls for food.
- Which actor had a double connection to Mansfield Park? Jonny Lee Miller, who plays Edmund Bertram in this version, previously played Fanny’s younger brother, Charles Price, in the 1983 BBC mini-series.
- What real-life connection exists between the actresses who play Fanny and Susan as children? They are sisters in real life, adding an extra layer of authenticity to the on-screen family dynamic.
🍿 Why Watch on OETA?
Every Saturday night, OETA Movie Club delivers commercial-free films, unforgettable performances, and powerful stories. From Hollywood glamour to classic romance, December’s lineup is a celebration of the timeless movies that continue to inspire.