In 18th century Hungary, the recently widowed Countess Elizabeth Nadasdy is an aged, embittered crone. After her husband’s funeral and the reading of his will, which is not entirely to her advantage, she prepares for bed, not in the best of moods. She loses her temper with a servant girl and lashes out at her, drawing blood which splashes on to her face. Later, the Countess can hardly believe her eyes – the area of skin spattered by the girl’s blood has lost all signs of ageing and now appears smooth and young. It is the prelude to the horrifying blood bath to come, as the old woman, becoming increasingly unbalanced, strives to regain and retain her lost beauty and youth.
Production Details
A Hammer production released by the Rank Organisation
Copyright MCMLXX Hammer film Productions Ltd, – All rights reserved
MPAA Approved Certificate No. 22873
The characters and incidents portrayed and the names used herein are fictitious and any similarity to the name, character, or history of any person is entirely accidental and unintentional
Based on “The Bloody Countess” by Valentine Penrose, and an idea by Gabriel Ronay
RCA Sound System
Made at Pinewood Studios, London, England
Eastmancolor 93 mins
Filming Began: 27th July 1970
UK Release: 14th July 1971
Studio:
Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire
Stills from film
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Original Poster
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Footnotes
Despite its pretensions to fiction in the opening credits, Countess Dracula may have its roots in fact, being based on the legend of a certain 17th century Hungarian noblewoman called Elisabeth Bathory.
Alexander Paal had previously co-produced (with Michael Carreras) two films for Hammer, Mantrap (1952) and Four-Sided Triangle (1953).
Among many roles, actor Nigel Green played Hercules in Jason and the Argonauts (1963). He died following an overdose of sleeping pills in 1972, aged 47. It is unknown if his death was intentional.