International Velvet (film)

International Velvet is a 1978 American drama film and a sequel to the 1944 classic National Velvet starring Tatum O'Neal, Christopher Plummer, Anthony Hopkins and Nanette Newman.^[1] The film received mixed reviews. International Velvet was partly filmed at Birmingham University, England.

Plot

The film follows the story of a teenage girl from Cave Creek, Arizona, Sarah Velvet Brown (Tatum O'Neal). Sarah is the daughter of Velvet's younger brother Donald Brown, and is orphaned when Donald and his wife are killed in a car accident. Velvet becomes Sarah's legal guardian after the death of her brother and sister-in-law. Sarah is sent to England to live with Velvet Brown (Nanette Newman) and Velvet's boyfriend John (Christopher Plummer). 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 horse race and won; however, she was instantly disqualified because she was an adolescent female. 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 (combining the name of his sire and Sarah's home state).

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 (Anthony Hopkins). Sarah lives up to her dream and enters the Olympic 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 engaged to Scott and she gives her Olympic gold medal to Velvet. Sarah eventually returns to England and introduces Scott to Velvet and John.

Cast

• Tatum O'Neal as Sarah Velvet Brown
• Christopher Plummer as John Seaton
• Anthony Hopkins as Captain Johnson
• Nanette Newman as Velvet Brown
• Peter Barkworth as Pilot
• Dinsdale Landen as Mr. Curtis
• Sarah Bullen as Beth
• Jeffrey Byron as Scott Saunders
• Richard Warwick as Tim
• Daniel Abineri as Wilson
• Jason White as Roger
• Martin Neil as Mike
• Douglas Reith as Howard
• Dennis Blanch as Policeman
• Norman Wooland as Team Doctor
• Susan Jameson as T.V. Interviewer
• Brenda Cowling as Alice

Release

International Velvet was released in New York and Los Angeles on July 19, 1978.^[2]

In 1992, 14 years after the movie was released Bryan Forbes's novelization of "International Velvet" became available on May 7, 1992.^[3]

References

External links

• International Velvet at the Internet Movie Database
• International Velvet at AllMovie
• International Velvet at the TCM Movie Database
• International Velvet at the American Film Institute Catalog
• International Velvet at Box Office Mojo