June 2025 OETA Movie Club: Watch Kate & Leopold, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral & High Noon
If you are searching for a perfect blend of romance, history, and cinematic mastery this June, OETA Movie Club has curated a lineup that delivers on all fronts. Each Saturday night, audiences can immerse themselves in timeless classics that have shaped Hollywood storytelling, brought unforgettable characters to life, and continue to captivate viewers decades after their release. From the charming time travel romance of Kate & Leopold to the gritty, suspense-filled atmosphere of Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and High Noon, this month’s selection celebrates the best of film history with commercial-free presentations enhanced by expert commentary and fascinating trivia.
Kate & Leopold (2001)
📅 Airs Saturday, June 14 at 9 p.m. | Encore Friday, June 20 at 11 p.m.
Starring:Meg Ryan, Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber
Kate & Leopold invites viewers into a delightful romantic comedy where the past and present collide in the most unexpected way. Hugh Jackman stars as Leopold, a charming 19th-century duke whose accidental journey to modern Manhattan challenges everything he knows about love, society, and progress. Opposite him, Meg Ryan delivers a spirited performance as Kate, a driven marketing executive struggling to balance ambition and heart. This film is not just a love story but a witty exploration of manners, tradition, and the unexpected magic of connection. Behind the scenes, Jackman prepared extensively, taking etiquette and horseback riding lessons to bring authenticity to his role. The film’s soundtrack also adds depth, with Sting’s original song “Until” winning a Golden Globe for Best Original Song, underscoring the emotional heart of the story. Jackman’s work earned him a Golden Globe nomination, cementing the film’s place as a modern classic in romantic cinema.
🎬 Fun Trivia:
- Hugh Jackman took etiquette lessons from 19th-century etiquette expert Jane Gibson (who trained actors for such projects as Sense and Sensibility (1995)). He also studied ballroom dancing and trained to ride a horse for the film.
- When Meg Ryan knew that Hugh Jackman was going to spend his wedding anniversary alone, she phoned his wife to invite her to dinner. Reportedly, Jackman had to spend the day working.
- In the beginning of the movie, Leopold looks back at Stuart during the bridge dedication speech. Behind Leopold's head, a spectator in the crowd waves a 37-star U.S. flag which is the correct number of stars from 1868 to 1877 (8 stars on top, 3 rows of 7 stars, 8 stars on bottom).
▶️ Watch the trailer:Kate & Leopold Official Trailer
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957)
📅 Airs Saturday, June 21 at 9 p.m. | Encore Friday, June 27 at 11 p.m.
Starring:Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas
For lovers of the Western genre, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral stands as a towering example of how Hollywood mythologizes American history. This gripping retelling centers on the legendary showdown in Tombstone, Arizona, where lawman Wyatt Earp and his friend Doc Holliday face off against outlaws in a fight for justice and survival. Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas bring powerful performances that capture both the camaraderie and tension of the Wild West. While the real gunfight lasted a mere 30 seconds, the film extends the conflict into a nearly 11-minute cinematic event, building suspense and drama with masterful pacing. The chemistry between Lancaster and Douglas is a highlight; the two actors collaborated on seven films, and this one remains among their most beloved. Complementing the action is Frankie Laine’s title song, which found success on the Billboard Top 100 charts, further embedding the film in popular culture.
🎬 Fun Trivia:
- The legendary gunfight took place on October 26, 1881 and lasted thirty seconds, resulting in three dead men after an exchange of thirty-four bullets. The fictionalized gunfight in this movie took four days to film, and produced an on-screen bloodbath that lasted five minutes.
- Burt Lancaster as "Wyatt Earp", did all his own stunts in the film, including the famous running dive scene at the beginning of the shootout at the OK Corral, moments before he confronts the renowned character actor, Jack Elam, playing gunman, "Tom McLowery". Lancaster drew on his agility as an acrobat, which he was before becoming an actor.
- In his 1988 autobiography "The Ragman's Son", Kirk Douglas wrote that while playing Doc Holliday, he planned exactly how many and what kinds of coughs he would have in each scene so that continuity wouldn't be a problem once the film was edited together.
▶️ Watch the trailer:Gunfight at the O.K. Corral Trailer
High Noon (1952)
📅 Airs Saturday, June 28 at 9 p.m.
Starring:Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Lloyd Bridges
Few films have left as lasting an impression on the Western genre as High Noon, which tells the story of Marshal Will Kane, portrayed by Gary Cooper in an Academy Award-winning performance. The tension builds in real time as Kane faces a vengeful gang alone, while the townspeople turn their backs on him. This minimalist yet powerful narrative strips away the grandeur typical of Westerns, focusing instead on the moral courage and isolation of its hero. Grace Kelly and Lloyd Bridges add depth to the ensemble, enriching the film’s emotional stakes. The haunting theme song “Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin’” not only won an Oscar but also became a cultural touchstone, echoing the film’s themes of loyalty and bravery. High Noon remains a study in suspense and character, a testament to the enduring power of classic cinema.
🎬 Fun Trivia:
- In 1951, after 25 years in show business, Gary Cooper's professional reputation was in decline, and he was dropped from the "Motion Picture Herald's" list of the top-ten box-office performers. In the following year, he made a big comeback, at the age of 51, with this film.
- Lee Van Cleef was originally hired to play Deputy Marshal Harvey Pell. However, producer Stanley Kramer decided that his nose was too "hooked," which made him look like a villain, and told him to get it fixed. Van Cleef refused, and Lloyd Bridges got the part. Van Cleef was given the smaller role of gunman Jack Colby, one of the Miller gang.
- Fred Zinnemann said that the black smoke billowing from the train is a sign that the brakes were failing. He and the cameraman didn't know it at the time, and barely got out of the way. The camera tripod snagged itself on the track and fell over, smashing the camera, but the film survived, and is in the movie.
▶️ Watch the trailer:High Noon Official Trailer