Countess Dracula (1972)

Simply Perfect

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Peter Sasdy directed this (loosely) based on fact historical account of the Countess Elizabeth(played by Ingrid Pitt) an aging ruler who discovers the secret of youth by bathing in the blood of innocent young women, which restores her own youthful beauty, and inspires her take on younger men as lovers, much to the consternation of her loyal lover Captain Dobi(played by Nigel Green). The number of missing young women draws the wrath of the village, who begin a revolt, but Elizabeth only cares about herself, which will encourage Captain Dobi to abandon her, and leave her to face the consequences of her murderous actions. Good cast and direction, but film is lurid and unoriginal; ultimately a misfire, though Pitt certainly makes it semi-watchable at least.

Countess Dracula is directed by Peter Sasdy and written by Jeremy Paul. It stars Ingrid Pitt, Nigel Green, Sandor Eles, Maurice Denham, Patience Collier and Lesley-Anne Down. Out of Hammer Film Productions, music is by Harry Robertson and Eastmancolor cinematography by Kenneth Talbot.Why didn't they just call it Countess Bathory? Or just Elizabeth Bathory? Film has nothing to do with Dracula or Vampires, and is basically an interpretation of Madame Bathory, who back in olde Hungary killed any number of girls for kicks and a vain belief that bathing in virginal blood would keep her young. It's this last aspect that Hammer focus on, unfurling a story where the Countess strikes on the secret of eternal youth, and who then promptly has her daughter kidnapped and proceeds to impersonate her. Thus with that she gets to romance a young man, but of course as the bodies start to pile up, and the Countess' suitor and confidant's begin to get their noses pushed out of joint, things quickly go downhill fast.As a technical production it's good Hammer fare. Costuming, colour photography, set design and acting performances are perfectly pleasing. Unfortunately it's all very predictable, and worse still considering the plot points of interest, it's pretty bloodless, playing out as some sort of period based drama with the odd bit of dastard behaviour thrown in for good measure. Nothing really happens to perk up the story, and sadly the finale is something of a damp squib. The red blooded amongst us can't help but enjoy the twin lovelies of Pitt and Down, and the wonderful Nigel Green can't believe his luck as he gets to canoodle with our Ingrid! But all told it's not very sexy, not very horror and only works as a good period drama if you set expectation at that level. 6/10

Countess Elisabeth Nadasdy rules a province 17th Century Hungary with an iron rod . After striking one of her servants blood splatters on the ageing Countess skin . Wiping it off she notices her skin is rejuvenated and realises that blood has somehow become an exiler of youth This wasn't a highly regarded horror from the Hammer on its release though it has gained a reputation as being one of the more underrated films from the studio . One can see why it gained a lacklustre reception . Not a lot happens and it feels more like a cheap period historical costume drama . It's also never revealed as to how the natural laws of science are broken and blood from a virgin can regenerate the body of a old woman . Of course it's inspired by the real life case of Countess Elizabeth Bathory who may have killed scores of young women in the delusion of bathing in their blood would give her back her youth but that was down to wish fulfillment motivated by psychosis rather than any scientific fact Regardless of its poor reputation at the time it does work best at showing the cruelty of Serfdom and of Hammers rabid contempt of the class system . The film opens with a Serf being if not murdered by the arrogant Captain Dobi then definitely becoming a victim of manslaughter . Upon being asked by the mother of a missing servant where her daughter could be Dobi replies " How should I know ? Try the local whorehouse " and you get the feeling Leonid Brezhnev might have had a hand in this production somewhere . Dobi is played by prolific character actor Nigel Green who is by a few other well known British characters such Peter Jefferey and Maurice Denham so if nothing else it does have a slightly better cast list than the average Hammer movie

Today's beauty experts claim that super-concentrated amino-peptides are the way to go for younger looking skin, but ask Countess Elisabeth Nodosheen (Ingrid Pitt) and she'll tell you that nothing beats bathing in the blood of virgins. With loyal steward Captain Dobi (Nigel Green) and faithful servant Julie Sentash (Patience Collier) at her side to lure a steady stream of pure young women to her castle, the elderly Countess is able to keep wrinkles at bay and continue her love affair with handsome young soldier Lt. Imre Toth (Sandor Elès).Hammer's Countess Dracula is based on the real-life figure of Countess Erzsebet Bathory (1560–1614), who was responsible for the torture and deaths of over 600 virgin girls and, as legend would have it, bathed in the blood of her victims in order to retain her youth; surprisingly, given it's gore-drenched historical background, the film turns out to be a relatively 'dry' affair, director Peter Sasdy focusing his attention not on the more grisly details of the Countess's drastic beauty regime, but rather on its central character's controlling, self-obsessive nature and abuse of power. The result would be one of Hammer's less memorable movies, if it wasn't for the plentiful female nudity (Pitt's impressive norks even help me to turn a blind eye to her 'child-catcher' nose) plus the added amusement of some particularly large hats.