A 1970s Sean Connery film hailed as a "masterpiece" is being shown this afternoon (Tuesday, 21st October) on Film 4.

The legendary Scottish actor, who died in 2020, is chiefly known for becoming the original star to play Ian Fleming's suave MI5 spy James Bond on screen.

Yet one of his most celebrated pictures, which came out in 1976 and boasted a stellar ensemble, has largely faded from public memory in the years since.

Robin and Marian brought together the Bond icon with Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn in an epic and romantic take on the timeless Robin Hood legend.

It's being broadcast on Film 4 this afternoon at 4:30pm and will subsequently be available to watch completely free with advertisements on Channel 4, reports the Express.

Alongside Connery and Hepburn is a dazzling supporting cast from beloved classic cinema, featuring Jaws' Robert Shaw in the role of the Sheriff of Nottingham and Richard Harris, the first Professor Dumbledore in Harry Potter, portraying Richard the Lionheart.

The picture also stars the likes of Nicol Williamson (Excalibur), Denholm Elliott (A Room With a View), The Two Ronnies' Ronnie Barker taking on Friar Tuck and an early turn from The Lord of the Rings' Ian Holm.

Admirers have remained devoted to the film through the decades, with one five-star Google review describing it as "one of my favourite films".

"John Williams soundtrack. Sean Connery, Robert Shaw, Audrey Hepburn, Richard Harris... How could it not be great?" Another viewer made a bold declaration: "This is the best Robin Hood film adaptation, the characters on both sides are a lot more fleshed out and given a more human touch."

A third hailed it "a great love story", writing: "An excellent film with so many brilliant actors. If you're English from the 50s or 60s you were brought up on Robin Hood and saw many unbelievable versions of the story.

"This version is believable and lets you wallow in that time in history. It's a little tongue in cheek and funny and sensitive and you want to believe that this is exactly what happened."

The adoration spilled over onto Letterboxd, where one glowing review branded it director Richard Lester's "emotionally affecting masterwork".

"The world of Robin and Marian is a world in which you wish you could live forever," they gushed.

"I cried 5 times while watching this," another fan confessed. "I am really glad that happened. I know that I always say that but I can not describe what I felt while watching this.

"I am in awe because once again, I felt the magic of cinema. The movie feels real, it's humane cinema at its finest, and I never wanted it to end."

They went on to rave: "The movie has some of the most breathtaking compositions I have ever seen, some of the most passionate, fragile and emotional acting I have ever seen and I swear to god it even has one of the most powerfully moving pieces of music I have ever heard."

One ardent fan hailed it as "still a masterpiece" after all these years. Fancy a nostalgic journey through British history with Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn this week?

Sean Connery 'masterpiece' that made fans 'cry five times' is on TV today - The Mirror