Countess Dracula / The Vampire Lovers

Starring:Ingrid Pitt, Nigel Green, Sandor ElÃ¨s, Maurice Denham, Patience Collier, Peter Jeffrey, Lesley-Anne Down, Leon Lissek, Jessie Evans, Andrea Lawrence, Susan Brodrick, Ian Trigger, Nike Arrighi, Peter May, John Moore (III), Joan Haythorne, Marianne Stone, Charles Farrell (II), Sally Adcock, Anne Stallybrass
Director: Peter Sasdy, Roy Ward Baker
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Polish-born actress Ingrid Pitt's erotically supercharged presence is the highlight of this double bill of vampire chills from Hammer Films. In Countess Dracula, Pitt stars as an aging noblewoman (inspired by the real-life Erzebeth Bathory) who discovers the secret to eternal youth in the veins of young virgins, while in The Vampire Lovers (based on J. Sheridan LeFanu's "Carmilla"), Pitt's sensuous bloodsucker seduces Hammer starlets Madeleine Smith and Kate O'Mara and incurs the vengeful wrath of Peter Cushing. Countess is the more sober of the two films, with Jeremy Paul's script and Peter Sadsy's direction playing out more like an Old Dark House mystery than Hammer horror, while Lovers' aims for comic-book thrills with plenty of nudity and violence (much of which was trimmed from the American version, but reinstated here); in both cases, Pitt's sexy/scary performances make this DVD a memorably viewing experience for vintage and new-school horror fans alike. --Paul Gaita

Customer Reviews:

Yeah Baby, Oh Yeah!.......2007-01-24

Break out the popcorn, turn down the lights and you will enjoy such thrills and frights! Better than standard fare with righteous femme fatales. VAMPYRES! Four stars 'cause you get two equally succoming split tail flicks. Better than Hammer any day.

Countess Dracula/The Vampire Lovers.......2007-01-18

Having a morbid facsination with the real historical figure Elizabeth Bathory, I was glad to find "Countess Dracula". It wasn't exactly what I'd expected, but it was still good-- I'd thought the movie would stick more to the facts about Elizabeth's life, but instead, it shows events as they probably appeared through the Countess's eyes (and the Countess wasn't entirely sane). If you have your heart set on finding a strictly factual retelling of her story, don't get it. If you want a traditional vampire story, definitely don't get it. But if you're looking for a good "old-school" horror film, about real events as seen from a unique and somewhat warped pespective, then I recommend it. I personally liked it, but you should just know what you're getting.

I have to agree with many of the other reviewers here, though, when they say "Vampire Lovers" was the better of the two. Everyone knows Stoker and his "Dracula", but it seems the only people who know also of "Carmilla", a novella written by another Irishman, J. Sheridan LeFanu, in the 1800's, are the vampire freaks and geeks. This is too bad, because "Carmilla" was very, very ahead of its time, not to mention very romantic and beautifully-written. And "Vampire Lovers" captures this perfectly. Yeah, there're points where the music is a bit overly dramatic, and the special effects aren't the greatest, but it was made in the 70's after all, and the excellant acting and the story itself make those things more than forgivable. Considering when it was made, I was surprized by how far the movie went with scenes between the two female leads-- it didn't dance around their relationship any more than the novella did! Really, the movie stuck with the book for the most part-- the biggest change was that the movie put all the events into sequence, rather than flash back and jump around in time like the book did. I believe if I was disappointed by anything at all in this movie, it was that the director didn't take the opportunity to change the ending, because if I'd had my way, Carmilla would've taken off with Emma by her side! Daring as the novella was, I guess that was one tradition LeFanu felt obligated to stick with-- the vampire must die at the end. And it's hard not to notice how eager the men were to drive their stakes into her. Hmm. Typical. Though lesbianism is clearly punished in the end, it's easy for anyone who's either lesbian or just plain old romantic (with some gothic leanings!) to reinterpret the story, as one of tragic love in a judgemental and harsh society. The thing I found most striking, in the book, and even more so in the movie, was the agression, possessiveness, and passion of the character Carmilla-- the way she didn't seem to care what she had to do, to have the woman she loved.

One more thing-- I don't recommend watching the trailers for either of the movies before watching the movies themselves. They do not do either of these movies justice!!

Viva Ingrid!.......2007-01-03

Compared with "The Vampire Lovers," which is Ingrid Pitt's finest film, "Countess Dracula" seems remarkably flawed. The storyline concerns the historical Elisabeth Bathory, a Hungarian countess who attempted to maintain her youth and beauty by bathing in the blood of numerous virgins whom she slaughtered. Unfortunately, the infamous Blood Countess deserved a better script than Hammer Films afforded her. The drama is simply overburdened with too many episodes of mild gore, tame nudity and "opulent" stage sets--which may have impressed the film-goers of 1970, but which seem almost naive in retrospect. Furthermore, the film's casting is often incredibly inept: note the nondescript dweeb who plays the countess's youthful Beloved! This actor's inadequacy is almost comical. Equally mediocre is the film's flaccid musical score; at best it evokes a gipsy camp rather than the privileged lifestyle of a wealthy noblewoman.
The film's glaring faults are easily outweighed, however, by a single asset: Ingrid Pitt's dynamic performance in the title role. With her screen presence as well as her remarkable beauty, Mistress Pitt is just wonderful to behold. Whenever script and camera focus on her, the effect is hypnotic--the movie's multiple stupidities disappear, and the terrible yet pathetic Blood Countess stands revealed, reincarnated!
Ingrid portrays Countess Bathory as a hopeless Romantic--needing sexual love, while resentful of old age which denies her that love. Frustration leads to misery. Misery leads her to revolt against fate/nature by practicing blood sacrifice. Nevertheless, Ingrid's persona never seems to relish bloodshed, but only uses it to escape the sheer unhappiness of age. For her, that unhappiness verges on madness--which makes her murders almost pardonable.
In her defense there is one more Extenuating Circumstance: the sheer loveliness she attains after her blood-baths. Notice, for example, the tiny scene in which Ingrid appears on horseback--a laughing, sunlit, angelic, golden-haired epitome of Gorgeousness! Frankly, wouldn't most elderly women do anything to gain such splendor?
Whether playing an old hag or a rejeuvenated beauty, Ingrid Pitt is always engaging--a wild creature of imagination who claims not only our belief, but our sympathy as well. Year after year Academy Awards are doled out to far less gifted actresses. While they may enjoy some temporary fame, Ingrid Pitt has actual immortality: she stands among the greatest of horror film icons.

COUNTESS is Mild, But VAMPIRE LOVERS is a Knock Out.......2006-12-06

Hammer Studios typically tricked out its horror films with considerable eroticism--and in the early 1970s thrust a willing Ingrid Pitt into several films that not only ripped bodices but let them drop where they may. This DVD offers the two films that are generally considered the best of her screen work: COUNTESS DRACULA and THE VAMPIRE LOVERS.

Loosely based on the notorious Erzebeth Bathory, who was said to have been responsible for the deaths of six hundred virgins, COUNTESS DRACULA finds Pitt in the role of Elisabeth Nodosheen--an aging aristocrat who discovers that she can regain her youthful beauty by bathing in the blood of any handy virgin. Of the two titles offered here, it is the weaker, a mixture of period costumes and flashes of nudity heightened with the occasional splash of blood. Fans will enjoy it, but those who are not already fans of Hammer horror will probably wonder what all the fuss is about.

The real prize is THE VAMPIRE LOVERS, loosely based on Le Fanu's novella CARMILLA, which finds Pitt playing the role of a lesbian vampire who puts the bite on her victims sexually as well as literally, casually stripping herself before stripping them and coaxing them into a show of heaving breasts before she sinks her teeth into their willing throats. Pitt plays the role with a surprising degree of raised-eyebrow humor. At times she throws away her lines in classic drop-dead manner, at times she very deliberately overplays--but whatever the case one is always aware of a certain self-mockery that lends the entire film a sense of wicked amusement.

The transfers involved are not pristine, but they are very good, and this particularly true of THE VAMPIRE LOVERS, where Pitt's physical charms remain as attractive today as they were when the film was first released. Recommended--and a special thanks to Michael Wilk, who turned me onto them.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Two Impressive Late Hammer Productions Starring the Delectable Ingrid Pitt.......2006-07-11

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!

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