Review of Countess Dracula (1971) by Eric R — 10 Aug 2010

Nothing to do with Hammer Horror's long-running Dracula series, this one is actually closer in tone and structure to Hammer's Karnstein Trilogy, it's based on legends of a "Blood Countess" who lived in Hungary in the 17th Century, and that makes the setting for this gruesome but compelling tale.

This has the elderly Countess Elisabeth Nádasdy (Ingrid Pitt) who has just inherited a castle from a relative, and she accidentally discovers that she can become young again if she bathes in the blood of young women.

She gets the castle's steward Captain Dobi (Nigel Green) to assist in the kidnapping and murder of young girls from the area, in her youthful state, Elisabeth poses as her daughter Ilona Nadasdy (Lesley-Anne Down), who is being held in a house outside of town.

The youthful Elisabeth falls for Lt. Imre Toth (Sandor Elès, off Crossroads), but to keep the illusion that she is young, she needs more and more blood. Then, the castle historian Grand Master Fabio (Maurice Denham) learns of what is going on.

It is a dark and brooding tale, through it has it's moments of Hammer silliness, but when the gore comes it's all good. Pitt gives a great performance both young and old. It does end a bit abruptly though, but alot of Hammer films did that.