Ensofter Overrated and overhyped

Tedfoldol everything you have heard about this movie is true.

Livestonth I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

Nicole I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

zardoz-13 Hammer Studios look like they blew more than a wad on "Taste the Blood of Dracula" director Peter Sasdy's "Countess Dracula," with beautiful Ingrid Pitt as the titular protagonist. Mind you, this blood-soaked and sex-drenched saga has nothing to do with the infamous Count Dracula, Hammer's most profitable franchise. Instead, at the end of the movie, as Countess Elisabeth and her minions Captain Dobi and Julie are being taken to a place of execution, we hear some of the spectators scream "Countess Dracula." This elegantly produced, atmospheric, horror movie concerns the notorious Hungarian noblewoman Countess Báthory de Ecsed who restored her beauty by bathing in the blood of virgins. Hollywood and the European film industry have made at least forty movies about this wicked wench. Gothic as all get-out, the story is set during the 17th century, and Hammer has gone out of its way to make this eerie but far from horrific tale look dignified. This isn't a Jesús Franco sex orgy, but Sasdy does indulge in frontal nudity, with Ingrid Pitt baring her breasts. Leslie-Ann Downe had gotten to that point in her career, but she delivers an entirely sympathetic performance as the leading lady's daughter Ilona. The crisis begins when our protagonist discovers that she can bathe in the blood of a virgin and her beauty is restored despite the ravages of time. Meantime, the young and beautiful Countess Elisabeth has her guardian, Captain Dobi (Nigel Green of "Play Dirty"), see to it that her daughter is waylaid and turned over to the care of a grimy farmer to keep her confined and away from the castle. The Countess has taken an amorous interest in Imre Toth's recent arrival. Toth (Sandor Elès of "Love and Death") has come to not only attend the funeral of the Countess' late husband but also remain for the reading of the will. Gorgeous and hot-bloodied as she is, the Countess decides to masquerade as her daughter and say that her mother is locked up in her room. Eventually, the Countess realizes to her horror that the blood of one dead dame isn't enough to insure her immortal beautiful. She arranges it so that Captain Dobi and her trusted servant Julie (Patience Collier of "Fiddler on the Roof") to procure her some fresh flesh and blood. Naturally, in the castle as well as the village, fear runs rampant and everybody is paranoia. Pitt is perfect for the starring role, but she is forced to wear some awful old lady make-up to look ancient. Again, she does flaunt her breasts. The conspiracy goes on for a while until she is at the wedding altar when her face shrivels up and appalls Toth. There is some violence, primarily a butcher cutting up meat. At 93 minutes, "Countess Dracula" won't traumatize anybody, but this film looks genuinely respectable, with a first-class cast and exceptional production values.

dworldeater Countess Dracula is an excellent, erotic Gothic horror film starring 60's/70's megababe Ingrid Pitt, brought to life by the legendary Hammer Horror studios. Based on historical accounts of the tyrant Countess Elisabeth Bathory who slaughtered 600 girls and bathed in their blood to maintain her beauty. Hammer films had no shortage of gorgeous, big breasted babes, but in the late 60's/early 70's the movie industry was changing with a demand for more overt sexuality and nudity. Hammer filled that demand with erotic/Gothic horror crossover films such as this and The Vampire Lovers(also from Hammer and also starring Ingrid Pitt)thus creating a new genre of erotic horror and bringing forth a wave of lesbian vampire movies in the 70's. Make no mistake, this is a top quality film and is not pornographic. The film and acting performances are solid and serious. There is great ambiance, suspense and dread. Ingrid Pitt in addition to having an awesome body, had a great screen presence and was a talented actress in her own right had no problem carrying the film. While the film does show its share of skin, Countess Dracula is still a fairly classy production in a similar quality of previous classics from Hammer studios.

AaronCapenBanner Peter Sasdy directed this (loosely) based on fact historical account of the Countess Elizabeth(played by Ingrid Pitt) an aging ruler who discovers the secret of youth by bathing in the blood of innocent young women, which restores her own youthful beauty, and inspires her take on younger men as lovers, much to the consternation of her loyal lover Captain Dobi(played by Nigel Green). The number of missing young women draws the wrath of the village, who begin a revolt, but Elizabeth only cares about herself, which will encourage Captain Dobi to abandon her, and leave her to face the consequences of her murderous actions. Good cast and direction, but film is lurid and unoriginal; ultimately a misfire, though Pitt certainly makes it semi-watchable at least.

Spikeopath Countess Dracula is directed by Peter Sasdy and written by Jeremy Paul. It stars Ingrid Pitt, Nigel Green, Sandor Eles, Maurice Denham, Patience Collier and Lesley-Anne Down. Out of Hammer Film Productions, music is by Harry Robertson and Eastmancolor cinematography by Kenneth Talbot.Why didn't they just call it Countess Bathory? Or just Elizabeth Bathory? Film has nothing to do with Dracula or Vampires, and is basically an interpretation of Madame Bathory, who back in olde Hungary killed any number of girls for kicks and a vain belief that bathing in virginal blood would keep her young. It's this last aspect that Hammer focus on, unfurling a story where the Countess strikes on the secret of eternal youth, and who then promptly has her daughter kidnapped and proceeds to impersonate her. Thus with that she gets to romance a young man, but of course as the bodies start to pile up, and the Countess' suitor and confidant's begin to get their noses pushed out of joint, things quickly go downhill fast.As a technical production it's good Hammer fare. Costuming, colour photography, set design and acting performances are perfectly pleasing. Unfortunately it's all very predictable, and worse still considering the plot points of interest, it's pretty bloodless, playing out as some sort of period based drama with the odd bit of dastard behaviour thrown in for good measure. Nothing really happens to perk up the story, and sadly the finale is something of a damp squib. The red blooded amongst us can't help but enjoy the twin lovelies of Pitt and Down, and the wonderful Nigel Green can't believe his luck as he gets to canoodle with our Ingrid! But all told it's not very sexy, not very horror and only works as a good period drama if you set expectation at that level. 6/10