St Andrews hosts gala screening of Scots film

Moving tale of Tom Morris golf family given UK premiere in their home town

Hollywood glamour arrived in St Andrews last night as stars of the eagerly-awaited movie Tommy’s Honour attended its UK premiere at the town’s NPH Cinema.

Director Jason Connery (son of Sir Sean) and actors Jack Lowden (Young Tommy) and Therese Bradley (Tommy’s mum Nancy) were given red carpet treatment at the gala screening alongside producers, film industry executives and other guests.

The black tie event, organised in association with the Old Course Hotel, was also attended by members of the public who paid between £25 and £125 per ticket for the special screening, which was preceded by a drinks reception.

The film, which made its debut at the Edinburgh International Film Festival last summer and won a Scottish Bafta for best feature film, goes on general release across UK cinemas next Friday.

Based on an acclaimed book, the film revolves around the complex relationship between pioneering father and son golf champions ‘Old’ Tom Morris (played by Peter Mullan) and ‘Young’ Tommy Morris (played by Jack Lowden) who were from St Andrews and between them won eight Open championships in the 19th Century.

Young Tommy died in St Andrews on Christmas Day 1875 aged just 24 while Old Tom worked right up until his death at the age of 86 – outliving his whole family.

All of the action in Tommy’s Honour was shot in Scotland including the St Andrews area, where Old Tom was a greenkeeper and golf club maker, as well as Falkland and Balcarres near Colinsburgh, where a cow pasture doubled as the Old Course.

Speaking to The Courier, director Jason Connery said it was “lovely” the gala screening was being held in St Andrews just a few doors from where the real Morris legends lived.

He said: “They are Scottish heroes and rightly so. St Andrews and the Old Course is such a magnificent place. It’s so lovely that the screening is there and I’m very happy for it to be there.”

David Morris, managing director of the NPH Cinema, said: “It is fitting that the premiere should be held here in St Andrews, Old Tom Morris’ home, and particularly as the house where he was born is next door to the cinema.”

Old Course Hotel general manager Stephen Carter added: “It’s an honour for us to be involved in this. Young Tom Morris and Old Tom Morris are iconic in this town with many visitors being taken in by their remarkable and emotional story.”

In today’s Courier Weekend magazine, Michael Alexander speaks to producer Jim Kreutzer about the making of the movie.

Pictures: Steven Brown. From left: producers Jim Kreutzer and Ken Whitney, director Keith Bank, Fiona Ufton, Therese Bradley, Jack Lowden and director Jason Connery at the UK premiere of the film Tommy’s Honour in St Andrews.

Jack Lowden plays Young Tommy Morris in the film, Tommy’s Honour.