Customer Reviews

International Velvet [VHS]

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've never understood why this movie has been so largely ignored by viewers and critics since its release in 1978.

I saw "National Velvet" when I was young, and truthfully, I hated it. I was able to get my mother to take me to see "International Velvet" because of her love of Elizabeth Taylor (her peer) and the original. I loved this movie for many reasons, but it was wonderful to see Tatum O'Neal (a slightly-older peer of mine) in such a wonderful, heart-warming role.

Ms. O'Neal moved so gracefully in this movie from age 8 to 18 without question. She portrays Sarah Velvet Brown, niece of the "original" Velvet Brown - winner of the Grand National. At the beginning of the film, Sarah arrives in England to live with her Aunt Velvet and "Uncle" John after the car-accident deaths of her parents in their home town of Cave Creek, Arizona.

She soon develops a keen interest in horses, and raises Velvet's horse, "Pi"'s son, "Arizona Pi" to adulthood and eventually rides him to to the Olympics.

This is a true "coming-of-age" story with SUPERB cinematography (a stunningly-beautiful sea-side English locale), haunting score and stellar acting by a first-class cast, including two of my all-time favorite actors, Christopher Plummer and Sir Anthony Hopkins.

A year or so ago, I happened to catch the tail-end of a short featurette on this film, on the Independent Film Channel. It featured clips and details about how Tatum O'Neal learned to ride entirely for, and during the production of this movie. The race-footage clearly shows Tatum doing most, if not all, of the actual riding, even in the most difficult steeplechase sequences.

Even if you're not a horse-lover, you'll adore this movie.

NOW, LET'S GET IT RELEASED ON DVD!!!

I have watched this movie many many times and it is still a favorite. The first time I saw it in the theater my friend and I cried through almost the entire thing and I still do. It is heartwarming, entertaining and being a horse lover it meets all my requirements for a great movie. All four main characters are wonderfully cast. The scene where they retire "Pie" still gives me a lump in my throat it is so touching. The scenery is also beautiful. I highly recommend this movie to anyone.

This is a superb movie that I still love & remember from childhood. It also has one of the most gorgeous & moving soundtracks of any film I can remember. So, where is the DVD edition and the soundtrack CD?? This film deserves a release in DVD format ... and a soundtrack on CD!

Like its predecessor, National Velvet, International Velvet (1978) boasts a stellar cast: teenager Tatum O' Neal, the gorgeous Nanette Newman, and leading men Christopher Plummer and Sir Anthony Hopkins. It also has a more believable plot and a top-notch writer/director in Bryan Forbes (The Stepford Wives, The Slipper and the Rose, The Guns of Navarone, Colditz). The main stories are Sarah Brown's (O'Neal), an American orphan who finds herself in England with an aunt she doesn't know (Newman as the adult Velvet Brown), and of the horses and people inextricably entwined in their lives. A poignant and graceful growing up story of the challenges facing a difficult teenager and the adults who raise her, International Velvet has something for both horse lovers and non horse-lovers alike. More important than Sarah's bid for the Olympics is the love that is won. The cinematography and soundtrack are stunning and each should have been nominated for an Oscar; Tatum should have won another with this role, too. Beautiful scenery. An under-rated feel-good family film!

Warning: Box of tissues useful when watching this movie as, amid the love and triumph, there is some gritty realism.

A terrific film for the young rider discovering 3 day eventing. Well made and none of those truly glaring inconsistencies that tend to make horse people cringe! Enjoy it yourself or treat your horse crazy daughters.

As a person who has spent their entire life around horses, I felt that this flim truely showed the impact that they can have on ones' life. I enjoyed watching this film as a child and rediscovering it as an adult. It is certainly a MUST-SEE for horse lovers of any age.

This movie takes you through the turbulent childhood of Sarah Brown as she moves to live with an Aunt she's never met after her parents are killed in a car accident. At first they have nothing in common, until Sarah discovers the love of riding. This is a good wholesome movie for the whole family to enjoy, but entertaining enough to keep you captivated throughout the movie.

There are so many reasons to watch and re-watch INTERNATIONAL VELVET. The calibre of the acting is high, even from young Tatum, who does not exhibit the "cute" type of performance anyone who saw NATIONAL VELVET might expect. I was surprised again and again at the sophistication of her acting. British subtlety abounds. Plummer and Hopkins are, of course, off the charts as always. I loved the plot, aside from the quick marriage of Sarah towards the end, but that may be because I'd paired her off with Hopkins. The tension was on a par to watching the Olympics from the sidelines, very intense and absorbing. The scenery and the photography are beautiful enough in their own to make watching the movie worthwhile, especially the views of the ocean and the small Englsh village. I may just have to buy this movie. Whether you love horses or England or sport or just a good yarn, this film fllls the bill.

I have both National Velvet and International Velvet and both are really good movies. However some of the details of the second movie doesnt fit into the first one. Ok for instance Arizona Pie is suppose to be the Pie's son. The Pie was a gelding in the first movie. So he couldnt have offspring. Also the Pie was a sorrel with a white blaze and 4 white legs. and in the second hes a dark brown to almost black. Also National Velvet took place in the 1920s and Im assuming International Velvet took place in the 70s. so that would make velvet almost 60 or so. But overall the movie is good but wished they would of gotten the facts right before they made the movie

I love this movie. It is a must for any horse crazy girl. When I was a child I probably watched it 100 or more times. I still have the tape where it was recorded from HBO and it is close to being worn out.