A Brilliant Conflict

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

I enjoy this movie for apparently all the wrong reasons: 1. I couldn't bear Elizabeth Taylor who over-acted in every movie she ever made. Nannette Newman is a much better actress, as well as being (in my opinion) better looking, like-wise Tatum O'Neil.2. I always put on my video of it whenever the grand-kids come to visit. They love it and it keeps them quiet for a couple of hours, except in the middle where one of them, a horse-lover, can't watch the distressing scenes in the aircraft.3. I hate watching show jumping. These sequences are far too long in the movie, but then I can fast-forward the tape when they appear.4. Anglo-US relations can be fractious at times. Nice to see a movie where they're not. But it was pleasant to see the Brits "win" against the Yanks, even if it took a Yank to do it.5. Except for (3) above, I actually think this is a better movie than the original "National Velvet" (a film I thought was highly overrated and was somewhat implausible, and in which Elizabeth Taylor, although still young at the time, was her usual hammy self).Stick "International Velvet" in your library. If you've horse lovers in the family, it can, like "Black Beauty", come in handy at times.

I have read a comment from another person who comments upon the lack of ethnic inclusion. This film is based in the very early years when ethnic minorities were not even considered, therefore I really don't think ethnic status is that relevant. It also may be seen as dull by todays standards but it is a classic which cannot be repeated no matter who takes the lead role. Yes it is a film where everyone is perfect and by some peoples standards a little cheesy but my advice would be: if you don't like it don't watch it. For families where horses are a part of life then this film makes a change from the violence etc on the TV now. The thing which I find can have the most effect is that the moral of the story is that you shouldn't give up when the odds are stacked against you - a prime example of life which most children should learn.

I saw this movie when I was 13. I think I must have seen it 50 times if not more. I bought 2 copies of the book, and have collected more than a few items of memorabilia that have to do with the movie over the years. I was so jealous of Tatum O'Neal, I wished it was me in the picture. I have been to Ledyard-where they filmed Sarah's first visit to the US as a member of the US team and it was awesome to see the 3 day eventing up close and personal. I love horses and even had my own for quite a while. (I even wanted to change his name to Arizona Pie but figured since he'd had his name for sometime that every time I called him, I was afraid he wouldn't come!!!) I have a copy of the movie and treasure it like it's gold! This movie is for anyone young or old who loves horses. It's a great family movie and one to be watched over and over again.

This is a good, enjoyable and fairly accurate depiction of the eventing world, with plenty of good riding action (shot with real event riders, not stunt actors) - a perfect movie for riding fans. Yes, it is set in a world of fairly wealthy people with posh accents, but that is the context of the film. You don't find many ethnic minority people from housing estates, with cockney accents, competing in top level eventing (even now).Fans of the book National Velvet will spot lots of inconsistencies (The Pie isn't piebald and the dates are wrong). If viewed as a completely separate film in it's own right, though, then the interactions between the heroine and her 'adoptive' parents are very genuine. Even so, the plot is incidental to the riding and so some parts are a bit weak, but that won't bother any horse fans. And to the various reviewers who commented on the heroine being played by an American actor - they obviously haven't actually seen the film because the heroine is American.