UK, 1970
92m 51s
35mm, Eastmancolor, 1.85:1
mono, English
A British horror film directed by Peter Sasdy. Despite the title, it doesn't form part of Hammer's Dracula series but is instead a variation on the legend of Elizabeth Bathory.
Plot Summary
In 18th century Hungary, the aged and recently widowed Countess Elizabeth Nadasdy accidentally discovers that the blood of virgins can restore her long-lost youth. Before long, none of the virgin girls in the local vicinity are safe from Nadasdy's blood-lust…
Credits
Crew
Directed by: Peter Sasdy
© MCMLXX [1970] Hammer Film Productions Limited
The Rank Organisation presents a Hammer production
Produced by: Alexander Paal
Production Manager: Christopher Sutton
Screenplay by: Jeremy Paul
Story by: Alexander Paal and Peter Sasdy
Based on an idea by Gabriel Ronay
Assistant Director: Ariel Levy
Continuity: Gladys Goldsmith
Director of Photography: Ken Talbot [real name: Kenneth Talbot]
Camera Operator: Ken Withers
Editor: Henry Richardson
Music Composed by: Harry Robinson
Musical Supervisor: Phillip Martell [real name: Philip Martell]
Sound Recordist: Kevin Sutton
Dubbing Mixer: Ken Barker
Sound Editor: Al Streeter
Costume Designer: Raymond Hughes
Wardrobe Master: Brian Owen-Smith
Make-up Supervisor: Tom Smith
Hairdressing Supervisor: Pat McDermot
Special Effects: Bert Luxford
Art Director: Philip Harrison
Construction Manager: Arthur Banks
Choreographer: Mia Nardi
Made at Pinewood Studios, London, England
Cast
Ingrid Pitt (Countess Elisabeth Nadasdy)
Nigel Green (Captain Dobi)
Sandor Eles (Imre Toth)
Maurice Denham (Master Fabio)
Lesley-Anne Down (Ilona)
Patience Collier (Julie)
Peter Jeffrey (Captain Balogh)
Leon Lissek (Sergeant of Bailiffs)
Jessie Evans (Rosa)
Andrea Lawrence (Ziza)
Susan Brodrick (Teri)
Ian Trigger (clown)
Nike Arrighi (gypsy girl)
Peter May (Janco)
John Moore (priest)
Joan Haythorne (second cook)
Marianne Stone (kitchen maid)
Charles Farrell (the seller)
Sally Adcock (Bertha)
Anne Stallybrass (pregnant woman)
Paddy Ryan (man)
Michael Cadman (young man)
Hulya Babus (belly dancer)
Lesley Anderson, Biddy Hearne, Diana Sawday (gypsy dancer)
Andrew Burleigh (1st boy)
Gary Rich (2nd boy)
Albert Wilkinson, Ismed Hassan (circus midgets)
Alternative Titles
Comtesse Dracula – France
Draculan himo – Finnish title
Jag ett monster – Sweden
La morte va a braccetto con le vergini – Italy
Production Notes
Release
In the USA the film was originally rated “R” but was subsequently re-rated “PG” 1Variety vol.268 no.5 (13 September 1972) p.26 (USA) (Re-Rate Trend Goes On)
References
Periodicals
- Cinefantastique vol.2 no.4 (Summer 1973) p.32 – review
- Cinema of the '70s no.1 (2020) pp.49-68 – illustrated article ( Straight on till '79: A decade of Hammer horror by Ian Taylor)
- Filmfacts vol.15 no.19 (1972) pp.473-474 – credits, reprinted reviews
- Films and Filming vol.17 no.8 (May 1971) p.96 – review
- The Hollywood Reporter vol.223 no.21 (12 October 1972) p.4 – review
- The House That Hammer Built no.7 (February 1998) pp.405-408 – illustrated credits, synopsis, review
- Kine Weekly no.3304 (6 February 1971) p.8 – review
- Monthly Film Bulletin vol.38 no.446 (March 1971) p.47 – credits, synopsis, review
- Today's Cinema no.9828 (4 August 1970) p.6 – credits
- Today's Cinema no.9880 (12 February 1971) p.8 – review
- Variety vol.268 no.5 (13 September 1972) p.26 – article ( Re-Rate Trend Goes On)
Books
- Chopped Meat: British Horror of the 1970s by Darrell Buxton p.unpaginated – note
- English Gothic by Jonathan Rigby pp.172, 173 – illustrated review
- Film Review 1971-72 by F. Maurice Speed (ed) p.220
- Hammer Complete: The films, the Personnel, the Company by Howard Maxford pp.146-148 – illustrated credits, synopsis, review
- Ingrid Pitt, Queen of Horror: The Complete Career by Robert Michael “Bobb” Cotter pp.52-57 – credits, synopsis, review
- Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee p.76 – credits
- Ten Years of Terror British Horror Films of the 1970s by Harvey Fenton and David Flint (eds.) – illustrated credits, review (by Harvey Fenton)
- Vampire Films of the 1970s: Dracula to Blacula and Every Fang Between by Gary A. Smith pp.63-66; 206 – review, synopsis; credits
