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''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. The novel tells the story of a teenaged girl who wins a horse racing compet ...
'' starring
Tatum O'Neal Tatum Beatrice O'Neal (born November 5, 1963) is an American actress. At the age of 10, she became the youngest person ever to win a competitive Academy Award, for her performance as Addie Loggins in '' Paper Moon'' co-starring her father, Ry ...
,
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. His accolades included an Academy Aw ...
,
Anthony Hopkins Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins (born 31 December 1937) is a Welsh actor. Considered one of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actors, he is known for List of Anthony Hopkins performances, his performances on the screen and stage. Hopkins ha ...
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 Order of the British Empire, 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 2 ...
. The film received mixed reviews. ''International Velvet'' was partly filmed at
Birmingham University The University of Birmingham (informally Birmingham University) is a Public university, public research university in Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Queen's College, Birmingham (founded in 1825 as ...
, England.


Plot

Following the events of ''National Velvet'', Velvet Brown's younger brother, Donald, has since married and moved to
Arizona Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...
. After Donald and his wife are killed in a car crash, their 14-year-old daughter, Sarah, goes to England to live with her aunt, Velvet, and Velvet's partner, John. When Velvet was about Sarah's age, she and her horse, Pie, raced in the legendary
Grand National The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England. First run in 1839, it ...
horse race and finished first; however, Velvet and Pie were immediately disqualified because teen-aged Velvet was an under-aged girl and an unlicensed jockey. The Pie was retired to stud, and his last foal is born shortly after Sarah's arrival in England. Sarah wants the colt, so Velvet buys him for her. Sarah aptly names him Arizona Pie. Sarah shows enough riding talent to be selected for the British Olympic equestrian team. She is a junior member but progresses well under the stern guidance of Captain Johnson. Sarah achieves 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 bet ...
Three Day Event helping Great Britain win the team competition. She falls in love with American competitor, Scott Saunders. They marry and move back to America. At the film's conclusion, they return to England to visit Velvet and John. Sarah gives Velvet her Olympic medal.


Cast

*
Tatum O'Neal Tatum Beatrice O'Neal (born November 5, 1963) is an American actress. At the age of 10, she became the youngest person ever to win a competitive Academy Award, for her performance as Addie Loggins in '' Paper Moon'' co-starring her father, Ry ...
as Sarah Velvet Brown *
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. His accolades included an Academy Aw ...
as John Seaton *
Anthony Hopkins Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins (born 31 December 1937) is a Welsh actor. Considered one of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actors, he is known for List of Anthony Hopkins performances, his performances on the screen and stage. Hopkins ha ...
as Captain Johnson *
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 ...
as Velvet Brown *
Peter Barkworth Peter Wynn Barkworth (14 January 1929 – 21 October 2006) was an English actor. He twice won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor; for ''Crown Matrimonial'' in 1975 and for '' Professional Foul'' and ''The Country Party'' in 1978. He also starre ...
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 t ...
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 t ...
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 ac ...
as Howard * Dennis Blanch as Policeman *
Norman Wooland Norman Wooland (16 March 19103 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, ...
as Team Doctor *
Susan Jameson Susan I. M. Jameson (born 13 August 1941) is an English actress. She is best known for three roles: portraying Esther Lane in the BBC crime drama series ''New Tricks'' between 2003 and 2013, voicing Mrs Wibbsey opposite the Fourth Doctor Tom B ...
as T.V. Interviewer *
Brenda Cowling Brenda Rose Cowling (23 April 1925 – 2 October 2010) was an English actress from London. Biography 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. ...
as Alice * David Tate as Commentator *
James Smillie James Smillie, (born 28 November 1944), also credited variously as Jim Smillie and Jim Smilie, is a Scottish/Australian actor. He has worked in both Britain and Australia in film, extensively on stage, on television, with voice-over and anima ...
as Commentator


Production

It was the first film shot in England financed by MGM since 1971. The head of MGM at the time was Richard Shepherd, who was former agent for
Bryan Forbes Bryan Forbes Order of the British Empire, 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 2 ...
. 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 Burghley House () is a grand sixteenth-century English country house near Stamford, Lincolnshire. It is a leading example of the Elizabethan prodigy house, built and still lived in by the senior (Exeter) branch of the Cecil family and is Grade ...
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.


See also

*
List of films about horses Movies about horses constitute a popular film genre. Some examples include: 0–9 * ''8 Seconds'' (1994) * ''50 to 1'' (2014) A * ''Above the Limit'' (1900) * ''Aces of the Turf'' (1932) * ''A Day at the Races (film), A Day at the Races'' (193 ...
*
List of films about horse racing The following is a list of films featuring horse racing. List See also *List of films about horses * List of highest grossing sports films * List of sports films References {{Horse topics * Films about animals playing sports Horse ra ...


References


External links

* * * * * {{Bryan Forbes 1978 films 1978 children's films 1978 drama films American drama films American sequel films Films about horses Films based on British novels Films directed by Bryan Forbes Films with screenplays 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