Introducing Sean Connery: Beyond Bond

To celebrate the launch of UWE Bristol Professor Andrew Spicer's new book Sean Connery: Acting, Stardom and National Identity, Watershed presents Sean Connery: Beyond Bond, a series of screenings and an illustrated talk on the Scottish star from Sun 4 - Sun 25 Sept. 

Beyond Bond showcases films from across Connery's career, and examines both Connery the ‘star’ (a carefully curated myth developed over 40 years) as well as Connery the person (including the gender politics of his persona, his history of misogyny, and his political activism).

"We are delighted to partner with UWE's Professor Spicer on the publication of his book to present a season of films of the screen legend which go beyond his iconic James Bond and also explore the complex and sometimes controversial person behind his rich film personas..." - Mark Cosgrove, Cinema Curator

"Watershed provides the ideal setting to launch my book about Sean Connery and a short season of films that show his range as an actor. The talk will explore aspects of his career – including his prestigious television roles – that should be better known and the complexities of stardom." - Professor Andrew Spicer

Best known as the screen’s ‘first’ James Bond, over a forty-year career he played a wide range of memorable roles, including an insubordinate military convict in The Hill (1965), an ageing, over-the-hill Robin Hood in Robin and Marian (1976), a British soldier on a mission to become king in The Man Who Would Be King (1975) and an ex-con thwarting a nerve gas attack from Alcatraz in The Rock (1996).

You can see all of these film as part of the season as well as joining Professor Spicer for his illustrated talk on Connery on Sun 4 Sept, where he will discuss his career, including his television work, his long struggle to escape ‘Bondage’, and the gradual development of his persona, marred by his misogyny.