Main Cast: Tatum O'Neal, Christopher Plummer, Anthony Hopkins, Nanette Newman, Peter Barkworth
Release Year: 1978
Country: UK
Run Time: 126 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
Thirty-four years after the release of National Velvet, MGM came up with this attractively filmed sequel. Tatum O'Neal stars as the niece of Velvet Brown, Elizabeth Taylor's character from the first film (the Taylor role is played herein by Nanette Newman, the wife of director Bryan Forbes). Like her aunt, O'Neal is horse-happy, and hopes to become an Olympic equestrienne. There are a few tense moments when O'Neal fails to measure up to her aunt's overexacting standards, and when the girl evinces jealousy concerning auntie's live-in love Christopher Plummer. But with the help of crusty old trainer Anthony Hopkins, O'Neal proves herself every inch the horsewoman that Velvet had been so long ago. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Dinsdale Landen - Mr. Curtis; Sarah Bullen - Beth; Jeffrey Byron - Scott Saunders; Richard Warwick - Tim; Daniel Abineri - Wilson; Jason White - Roger; Martin Neil - Mike; Douglas Reith - Howard; Kenneth Benda - Presentation Official; Ronald Chenery - Air Crew Assistant; Brenda Cowling - Alice; Marsha Fitzalan - British Rider; Susan Jameson - TV Interviewer; James Smilie - Commentator; David Tate - Commentator; Trevor Thomas - Black Athlete; David Wilkinson - Young Wilson; Norman Wooland - Team doctor; Bryan Forbes - Announcer; Stephanie Cole - Teacher; Jack Dearlove - Official; Dennis Blanch - Policeman
Credit
Dorothy Edwards - Costume Designer, John Furness - Costume Designer, John Furniss - Costume Designer, John Hilling - Costume Designer, Philip Shaw - First Assistant Director, Bryan Forbes - Director, Timothy Gee - Editor, Francis Lai - Composer (Music Score), Eric Allwright - Makeup, Keith Wilson - Production Designer, Tony Imi - Cinematographer, Bryan Forbes - Producer, Ian Whittaker - Set Designer, Ken Barker - Sound/Sound Designer, Richard Graydon - Stunts, Richard Graydon - Stunts Coordinator, Bryan Forbes - Screenwriter, Enid Bagnold - Book Author
International Velvet is a 1978 dramatic film. It was a sequel to the 1944 classic, National Velvet.
International Velvet is the story of an American girl, Sarah Brown, who is orphaned when her parents are killed in a car crash. She is sent to England to live with her aunt Velvet Brown and Uncle John. When Velvet was a similar age to Sarah, she and her horse, The Pie, entered the legendary Grand National horse race and won; however, she was instantly disqualified due to her young age and the fact that women were not allowed to ride in the race. The Pie is ultimately put out to stud upon his retirement. He sires his last foal after Sarah's arrival in England. Sarah and Velvet are present for the birth of this foal and Sarah eventually decides that she'd like to purchase him. She takes the "job" of helping her uncle with his writers block in an attempt to earn money. After much saving, she is told that the foal has been bought by another. She later finds out that her Aunt Velvet has bought him for her. Sarah aptly names him "Arizona Pie" (combining the name of his sire and the state in which Sarah lived). Sarah lives up to her dream and enters the OlympicThree Day Event helping Great Britain win the team competition. She falls in love with an American competitor and moves back to America with him. At the conclusion of the film she gives her Gold Olympic medal to her Aunt Velvet when she surprises her with a visit.
