Countess Dracula [2 Discs] [Blu-ray/DVD]

Director: Peter Sasdy

Overview

This excellent period horror from Hammer Studios, stars the voluptuous Ingrid Pitt as an aging, foul-tempered countess who discovers a radical new beauty plan that involves bathing in the blood of virgins. Miffed at having to share her late husband's estate with her teenage daughter, she decides to have the girl kidnapped so she can take her place, thanks to her newfound girlish appearance. This youthful illusion is fleeting, however, wearing off quickly and prompting the countess to slaughter several more young wenches in order to maintain it. Her addiction to blood and beauty rapidly consumes her, and she succumbs to madness... which leads to her ultimate horrific downfall during her own wedding. There is no direct connection made to Hammer's Dracula series, aside from the title and some vague whispers of "Countess Dracula" on the soundtrack during the film's closing shot. Instead, the premise is inspired by the deeds of a real-life murderess -- Elizabeth Bathory, a 16th-century Hungarian noblewoman who was reputed to have bathed in the blood of more than 600 murdered virgins.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/06/2014
UPC:	0654930316092
Original Release:	1972
Rating:	PG
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Language:	English
Time:	1:33:00
Sales rank:	16,717

Special Features

Audio commentary with actress Ingrid Pitt, director Peter Sasdy, screenwriter Jeremy Paul and actor Jonathan Sothcott; Immortal countess: the cinematic life of Ingrid Pitt - featurette; Archival audio interview with Ingrid Pitt; Still gallery; Theatrical trailer; Reversible cover artwork

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Ingrid Pitt	Countess Elisabeth Nodosheen
Nigel Green	Capt. Dobi
Sandor Eles	Lt. Imre Toth
Patience Collier	Julie
Maurice Denham	Fabio
Peter Jeffrey	Balogh
Lesley-Anne Down	Ilona
Leon Lissek	Sergeant
Jessie Evans	Rosa
Andrea Lawrence	Zizi
Nike Arrighi	Gypsy
Charles Farrell	Seller
Hulya Babus	Belly Dancer
John Moore	Priest
Joan Haythorne	Second Cook
Marianne Stone	Kitchen Maid
Anne Stallybrass	Pregnant Woman
Paddy Ryan	Man
Albert Wilkinson	Circus Midget
Harry Robertson	Composer

Technical Credits

Jeremy Paul

Alexander Paal	Producer
Bert Luxford	Special Effects
Jeremy Paul	Screenwriter

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Countess Dracula
1. Chapter 1 [7:50]
2. Chapter 2 [6:22]
3. Chapter 3 [9:33]
4. Chapter 4 [5:19]
5. Chapter 5 [7:56]
6. Chapter 6 [9:16]
7. Chapter 7 [7:10]
8. Chapter 8 [7:22]
9. Chapter 9 [8:59]
10. Chapter 10 [7:02]
11. Chapter 11 [7:42]
12. Chapter 12 [8:27]

Menu

Disc #1 -- Countess Dracula
Countess Dracula: Chapters

Editorial Reviews

This is one of the more underrated films from the latter days of the Hammer Films dynasty. Countess Dracula is often unfairly viewed by fans and critics as a poor relation to The Vampire Lovers but it's an effective little chiller in its own right. Jeremy Paul's script plays fast-and-loose with the facts of the real-life case that inspired this story but it delivers a well-modulated mix of chills and sauciness at a fast pace. It also uses its 'royals-victimize-the-peasants' storyline to make some surprising and effective commentary on the vicious-cycle mentality of the English class system. The heroes are a bit colorless but Countess Dracula makes up for this flaw with some delightful villains: Ingrid Pitt tears into the lead role with melodramatic vigor, creating a character who can be seductive, pathetic and terrifying all in the same scene, and Nigel Green is appropriately imposing (and sardonically witty) as her fearsome royal accomplice. Best of all, Countess Dracula boasts stylish direction from Peter Sasdy, who stages the film's melodramatic twists and turns with grisly flair. Along the way, he creates some genuinely chilling setpieces, including a creepy moment where Countess Bathory tricks and kills a gypsy girl and the film's macabre wedding day finale. In the end, Countess Dracula's mix of campiness and grue is not for all tastes but fans of gothic soap operas will find plenty to enjoy here.