''International Velvet'' is a 1978 American film and a sequel to the 1944 picture ''

National Velvet ''National Velvet'' is a novel by Enid Bagnold (1889–1981), first published in 1935. It was illustrated by Laurian Jones, Bagnold's daughter, who was born in 1921. Plot summary ''National Velvet'' is the story of a 14-year-old girl named ...

'' starring

Tatum O'Neal Tatum Beatrice O'Neal (born November 5, 1963) is an American actress. She is the youngest person ever to win an Academy Award, winning at age 10 for her performance as Addie Loggins in '' Paper Moon'' (1973) opposite her father, Ryan O'Neal. S ...

Christopher Plummer Arthur Christopher Orme Plummer (December 13, 1929 – February 5, 2021) was a Canadian actor. His career spanned seven decades, gaining him recognition for his performances in film, stage, and television. He received multiple accolades, inc ...

Anthony Hopkins Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins (born 31 December 1937) is a Welsh actor, director, and producer. One of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actors, he is known for his performances on the screen and stage. Hopkins has received many accolad ...

and

Nanette Newman Nanette Newman (born 29 May 1934) is an English actress and author. She appeared in nine films directed by her husband Bryan Forbes, including ''Séance on a Wet Afternoon'' (1964), ''The Whisperers'' (1967), '' Deadfall'' (1968), ''The Stepfor ...

, and directed by

Bryan Forbes Bryan Forbes CBE (; born John Theobald Clarke; 22 July 1926 – 8 May 2013) was an English film director, screenwriter, film producer, actor and novelist described as a "Renaissance man"Falk Q. . BAFTA. 17 October 2007. Retrieved 9 May 2013 an ...

. The film received mixed reviews. ''International Velvet'' was partly filmed at

Birmingham University , mottoeng = Through efforts to heights , established = 1825 – Birmingham School of Medicine and Surgery1836 – Birmingham Royal School of Medicine and Surgery1843 – Queen's College1875 – Mason Science College1898 – Mason Univers ...

, England.

Plot

After her parents are killed in a car crash, teenage Sarah Velvet Brown is forced to leave her home in

Cave Creek, Arizona Cave Creek is a town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. It is part of the Phoenix metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population of the town was 4,892. History Cave Creek was settled in 1870 by soldiers on horseback from Fo ...

, to go to England to live with her aunt Velvet Brown and Velvet's boyfriend John. After the events of ''National Velvet'' Donald got married, had Sarah, and moved from England to Arizona. When Velvet was a similar age to Sarah, she and her horse, The Pie, entered the legendary

Grand National The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England. First run in 1839, it is a handicap ...

horse race and crossed the finish line first; however, Velvet and The Pie were instantly disqualified because Velvet was a 14-year-old girl. 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 later finds out that Velvet has bought him for her. Sarah aptly names him Arizona Pie. She shows enough talent to be selected for the British Olympic team, where she is the junior, but she does well under the stern guidance of Captain Johnson. Sarah lives up to her dream and enters the

Olympic Olympic or Olympics may refer to Sports Competitions * Olympic Games, international multi-sport event held since 1896 ** Summer Olympic Games ** Winter Olympic Games * Ancient Olympic Games, ancient multi-sport event held in Olympia, Greece b ...

Three Day Event helping Great Britain win the team competition. She falls in love with an American competitor named Scott Saunders and moves back to America with him. At the conclusion of the film, Sarah is married to Scott, and she gives her Olympic gold medal to Velvet when she returns to England to visit and introduces Scott to Velvet and John.

Cast

as Sarah Velvet Brown *

as John Seaton *

as Captain Johnson *

as Velvet Brown *

Peter Barkworth Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a su ...

as Pilot *

Dinsdale Landen Dinsdale James Landen (4 September 1932 – 29 December 2003) was an English actor. His television appearances included starring in the shows ''Devenish'' (1977) and ''Pig in the Middle'' (1980). ''The Independent'' named him an "outstanding ac ...

as Mr. Curtis * Sarah Bullen as Beth *

Jeffrey Byron Jeffrey Byron (born Timothy Paul Stafford; November 28, 1955) is an American actor and writer. Byron has acted in both film and television, and co-wrote one movie script (''The Dungeonmaster''). Byron was born in Santa Monica, California, the ...

as Scott Saunders *

Richard Warwick Richard Warwick (29 April 1945 – 16 December 1997) was an English actor. He was born Richard Carey Winter, the third of four sons, at Meopham, Kent, and made his film debut in Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 production of ''Romeo and Juliet'' in the r ...

as Tim * Daniel Abineri as Wilson * Jason White as Roger * Martin Neil as Mike *

Douglas Reith Douglas Reith is a British actor and teacher. He is best known for his role as Lord Merton in the television series ''Downton Abbey'' (2010-2015), as well as its two follow-up films. Early life Reith was born in Melton, Suffolk. He studied acti ...

as Howard * Dennis Blanch as Policeman *

Norman Wooland Norman Wooland (16 March 19053 April 1989) was an English character actor who appeared in many major films, including several Shakespearean adaptations. Wooland was born in Düsseldorf, Germany to British parents. During the Second World War he ...

as Team Doctor * Susan Jameson as T.V. Interviewer *

Brenda Cowling Brenda Rose Cowling (23 April 1925 – 2 October 2010) was an English actress from London. Cowling wanted to be a film actress from the time she was a child; however, upon leaving school, she trained instead as a shorthand typist. Biography Aft ...

as Alice * David Tate as Commentator

Production

It was the first film shot in England financed by MGM since 1971. The majority of the countryside riding and home scenes were filmed in and around the Flete Estate in South Devon, including Mothecombe Beach and the nearby village of Holbeton. The Cross-Country riding sequences were filmed in the grounds of Burghley House near Stamford, Lincolnshire.

Release

''International Velvet'' was released in New York and Los Angeles on July 19, 1978. Bryan Forbes's novelization of ''International Velvet'' was published to coincide with the film's release.

References

External links

* * * * * * {{Bryan Forbes 1978 films 1978 drama films American drama films American sequel films Films about horses Films based on British novels Films directed by Bryan Forbes American horse racing films Films about the Summer Olympics Films about Olympic equestrian sports Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films Films shot at Pinewood Studios Films scored by Francis Lai Films shot in Greater Manchester 1970s English-language films 1970s American films