Countess Dracula / The Vampire Lovers
by Peter Sasdy, Roy Ward Baker
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Actor: Ingrid Pitt, Maurice Denham, Nigel Green, Patience Collier, Sandor ElèsDirector: Peter Sasdy, Roy Ward Baker
Brand: Sony
Writer: Peter Sasdy
Writer: Alexander Paal
Writer: Gabriel Ronap
Writer: Harry Fine
Writer: Jeremy Paul
Writer: Michael Style
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Published), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Letterboxed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.66:1
Running Time: 184 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-08-26
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
DVD Reviews of Countess Dracula / The Vampire Lovers
DVD Review: Two Impressive Late Hammer Productions Starring The Delectable Ingrid Pitt
Summary: 5 Stars
The "Midnite Movies Double feature", label has been responsible for making available some terrific lesser known horror efforts that otherwise might be forgotten. This particular double feature combines two of my absolute favourite late Hammer efforts in "Countess Dracula", and "The Vampire lovers", both which star the alluring Polish actress Ingrid Pitt who was perfect for the types of roles she undertook in these two films. Made at the beginning of the 1970's decade just as the famed Hammer Studios were beginning to go into decline, these two films are most worthy late additions to the film catalogue of the famed "Studio that Dripped blood". Both films have the typical Hammer trademark of a lavish look with stunning sets and costumes despite their low budgets, and great atmosphere and performances from the excellent casts assembled. Ingrid Pitt really made a name for herself in these two efforts and has been forever after identified as a Hammer star which does tend to obscure the fact that she actually made very few films for Hammer Studios. However as the wily and deceptive Countess posing as her own younger daughter in "Countess Dracula", and as the seductive vampire Carmilla seeking fresh young blood in "The Vampire Lovers", Ingrid Pitt assured herself an immortal place in the history of Hammer Studios great gothic horror efforts alongside greats such as Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.
"Countess Dracula", which is the more lavish of the two films stars Ingrid Pitt, not as an outright vampire as the title of the film would suggest, but instead as a character based on the infamous 16th Century Hungarian Countess Elizabeth Bathory. This sadistic madwoman was responsible for some of the most repulsive and brutal mass murders in that region's history and was reputed to bath in the blood of young virgins as a way of retaining her youthful good looks. The film of course takes liberties with parts of that legend and we find "Countess Nodosheen" as she is now called, discovering that by bathing in virgin's blood she is automatically transformed from her present haggard appearance into that of a beautiful young woman. The Countess has her own daughter Ilona (Lesley -Anne Down), kidnapped so that she will not arrive at the castle and upset her plans and then sets her own sights on young handsome Lt. Imre Toth (Sandor Eles), much to the chargin of besotted Capt. Dobi (Nigel Green) who is aware of what she is doing but is unable to resist the demands of the woman he has always loved. The youthful looks of the Countess however only last for short periods and thus require fresh killings on a regular basis to supply her with the required blood. The entire countryside becomes terrified by the disappearances of many young girls and things begin to catch up with the Countess when, masquerading as her own daughter she allows Lt.Toth to court her leading to a marriage ceremony. However things completely unravel when Llona arrives unexpectedly at the Castle just as the ceremony begins and the Countess suddenly reverts to an old woman right at the altar. In the ensuring struggle to get away the Countess attempts to kill her daughter but by mistake ends up killing Lt Toth. At the stories conclusion we then witness an imprisoned and haggard Elizabeth facing the prospect of the gallows for all the crimes she has committed in her search for eternal youth that rightly earned her the infamous nickname of "Countess Dracula".
"The Vampire Lovers", based on the J.S.LeFanu novel "Carmilla", was the first of the "Karnstein Trilogy", which also included Hammer's "Lust for a Vampire", and the excellent "Twins of Evil". Ably directed by the talented horror director Roy Ward Baker this first installment tells the story of vampire seductress Marcilla/Carmilla (Ingrid Pitt), who is the last survivor in a long line of murderous vampires. Left by her "mother" the Countess (Dawn Addams) in the care of neighbour General Von Spielsdorf (Peter Cushing), Marcilla proceeds to prey on his beautiful young daughter Laura, (Pippa Steel), who begins having horrific nightmares about a huge cat and suffers from a strange anemic condition that eventually results in her death. Marcilla mysteriously disappears only to turn up at the home of Laura's friend Emma Morton (Madeleine Smith) after a staged collison of the Countess's carriage enables Marcilla, now being called Carmilla, to stay at the home of Emma's father Sir Roger Morton (George Cole). Carmilla now sets her sights on the attractive young Emma and begins to drain the life blood out of the young girl. Emma's governess Mme. Perrodot (Kate O'Mara), after initial suspicion about Carmilla also falls under her spell via a charmed brooch. Emma's young friend Carl (Jon Finch), begins to suspect Carmilla of foul play and rides to the house where he engages in a deadly battle with Carmilla who after killing Mme. Perrodot retreats to the old Karnstein Castle. Here however Carmilla has to contend with the united forces of Sir Robert and General Spielsdorf who have been alerted as to Carmilla's real identity and here she is dispatched by General Spielsdorf by the traditional method of killing vampires, via a sharp stake being driven through the heart and then decapitation of the body. The men then observe the portrait of Carmilla hanging on the castle wall aging before their eyes until her features are reduced to those of a skeleton.
Far from being the last gasps of a film studio in decline I feel these two horror efforts from Hammer Productions really proved what the studio was still capable of producing. "Countess Dracula", in particular has a lavishness about it that was uncommon even in the halycon days of Hammer's output in the late 1950's and early 1960's. It benefited greatly from utilsing many of the props and sets left over from the Hal Wallis production of "Anne of the Thousand Days" which had finished filming just prior to the "Countess Dracula" start date at Pinewood Studios. Both films but most especially "The Vampire Lovers", were of course mainly significant in further emphasising nudity and topics such as lesbianism on screen which would have been unheard of back in the days of the Hammer landmark films such as "The Curse of Frankenstein", and "Horror of Dracula". Despite these films more adult content and liberal use of blood, what we have here is a totally enjoyable double feature of two rarely seen films starring Ingrid Pitt in her horror movie prime. Horror film collectors are strongly advised to collect this "Midnite Movies Double Feature", edition which is essential for every admirer, like myself, of the wonderful work produced by England's legendary Hammer Studios. Enjoy!
Description of Countess Dracula / The Vampire Lovers
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