Countess Dracula (4 Stars)

Despite having been forgotten for years, this is now the best known film starring Ingrid Pitt. It showcases both her beauty and her acting talent as the infamous Countess Elizabeth Bathory. Please don't expect historical accuracy. If you want to know more of the facts about the Countess, watch other films about her, in particular "The Countess". Even for historians it's difficult to separate the truth from the legends. This Hammer Horror film doesn't even adhere to the legends. It makes up new legends. Every character in the film is fictional, with the exception of Countess Bathory herself.

The film begins shortly after the death of Elizabeth's husband, Count Nadasdy. His family, friends and servants are gathered for the reading of the Will. By all accounts, he was a good man. Naturally, his wife inherited most of his riches, but he also left generous gifts to his friends and his most loyal servants. Everyone is happy with what he's been given, except for Captain Dobi, who's inherited the Count's military uniforms. He considers this an insult, compared with young Lieutenant Toth, who has inherited the Count's 74 horses. Maybe it really was intended as an insult, because the Count suspected Dobi of being his wife's lover.

How old is the Countess? In actual fact, she was 44 when her husband died, but in the film she looks closer to 65. She's ashamed of the way she looks in comparison with the young serving maids. By accident, she discovers that her skin becomes younger if she rubs blood on herself. She kills a maid and applies the blood to herself, which makes a complete transformation.

Captain Dobi is astounded by the change, but Elizabeth is no longer interested in him. He's too old for her. She's attracted to the young Lieutenant Toth. She pretends to be her daughter Ilona and begins an affair with the Lieutenant. Unfortunately, the effects of the blood are only temporary. She needs to keep killing girls in order to remain young. At first the effect lasts two days, but as she continues the time becomes less and less, so she has to increase the frequency of the murders. Captain Tobi commits the murders for her, but can she trust him when he's jealous of her affair with the Lieutenant?

The Hammer Horror films of the 1960's are known for their Gothic horror. In the 1970's the Gothic feeling subsides. That's a shame. To make up for it, the 1970's Hammer Horror films add nudity, but very sparsely, just a little glimpse here and there. This is the luscious Ingrid Pitt bathing in blood.

	Order from Amazon.com
	Order from Amazon.co.uk