Countess Dracula – 1971

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
RCA Sound System
Made at Pinewood Studios, London, England
Eastmancolor 93 mins
Storyline
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.
Watch the trailer on YouTube
Crew
Function | Credited | Age at Release | Birth | Death | Age | Hammer Credits |
Art Director | Philip Harrison | 35 | 1936 | Living | 85 | 1 |
Assistant Director | Ariel Levy | 26 | 12 Mar 1944 | Living | 76 | 2 |
Based on an idea by | Gabriel Ronay | 1 | ||||
Camera Operator | Ken Withers | 42 | 21 Aug 1928 | Living | 92 | 14 |
Choreographer | Mia Nardi | 1 | ||||
Construction Manager | Arthur Banks | 18 | ||||
Continuity | Gladys Goldsmith | 45 | 1926 | 1979 | 53 | 6 |
Costume Designer | Raymond Hughes | 33 | 1 Apr 1937 | 1 Dec 2015 | 78 | 1 |
Directed by | Peter Sasdy | 35 | 27 May 1935 | Living | 85 | 6 |
Director of Photography | Kenneth Talbot, BSc | 50 | 17 Jan 1920 | 1 May 1993 | 73 | 9 |
Dubbing Mixer | Ken Barker (2) | 53 | 1918 | 13 Feb 2001 | 83 | 10 |
Editor | Henry Richardson | 34 | 13 Jan 1936 | 31 Jul 2017 | 81 | 4 |
Hairdressing Supervisor | Pat McDermot | 41 | 1930 | 2015 | 85 | 5 |
Make-up Supervisor | Tom Smith | 50 | 15 Aug 1920 | 3 Apr 2009 | 88 | 5 |
Music Composed by | Harry Robinson | 38 | 19 Nov 1932 | 17 Jan 1996 | 63 | 26 |
Musical Supervisor | Philip Martell | 63 | 6 Oct 1907 | 11 Aug 1993 | 85 | 5 |
Produced by | Alexander Paal | 60 | 18 May 1910 | 8 Nov 1972 | 62 | 4 |
Production Manager | Christopher Sutton | 39 | 1 Sep 1931 | Living | 89 | 7 |
Screenplay by | Jeremy Paul | 31 | 29 Jul 1939 | 3 May 2011 | 71 | 2 |
Sound Editor | Alban Streeter | 41 | 1930 | Living | 91 | 7 |
Sound Recordist | Kevin Sutton | 3 | ||||
Special Effects | Bert Luxford | 42 | 23 Jul 1928 | 4 Apr 2003 | 74 | 1 |
Story by | Alexander Paal | 60 | 18 May 1910 | 8 Nov 1972 | 62 | 4 |
Story by | Peter Sasdy | 35 | 27 May 1935 | Living | 85 | 6 |
Wardrobe Master | Brian Owen-Smith | 3 |
Cast
Character | Actor | Age at Release | Birth | Death | Age | Hammer Appearances |
1st Boy | Andrew Burleigh | 1 | ||||
2nd Boy | Gary Rich | 1 | ||||
Belly Dancer | Hulya Babus | 1 | ||||
Bertha | Sally Adcock | 21 | 11 May 1949 | Living | 71 | 1 |
Captain Balogh | Peter Jeffrey | 41 | 18 Apr 1929 | 25 Dec 1999 | 70 | 1 |
Captain Dobi | Nigel Green | 46 | 15 Oct 1924 | 15 May 1972 | 47 | 2 |
Circus Midget | Albert Wilkinson | 33 | 1938 | Living | 83 | 1 |
Circus Midget | Ismed Hassan | 1 | ||||
Clown | Ian Trigger | 32 | 30 Sep 1938 | 6 Jan 2010 | 71 | 1 |
Countess Elizabeth Nadasdy | Ingrid Pitt | 33 | 21 Nov 1937 | 23 Nov 2010 | 73 | 3 |
Gypsy Dancer | Biddy Hearne | 1 | ||||
Gypsy Dancer | Diana Sawday | 1 | ||||
Gypsy Dancer | Lesley Anderson | 1 | ||||
Gypsy Girl | Nike Arrighi | 23 | 3 Sep 1947 | Living | 73 | 2 |
Ilona Nadasdy | Lesley-Anne Down | 16 | 17 Mar 1954 | Living | 66 | 1 |
Imre Toth | Sandor Eles | 34 | 15 Jun 1936 | 4 Sep 2002 | 66 | 3 |
Janco | Peter May | 2 | ||||
Julia (the Nanny) | Patience Collier | 60 | 19 Aug 1910 | 13 Jul 1987 | 76 | 1 |
Kitchen Maid | Marianne Stone | 48 | 23 Aug 1922 | 21 Dec 2009 | 87 | 9 |
Man | Paddy Ryan | 59 | 3 Jan 1911 | 10 May 1990 | 79 | 2 |
Master Fabio | Maurice Denham | 61 | 23 Dec 1909 | 24 Jul 2002 | 92 | 4 |
Pregnant Woman | Anne Stallybrass | 32 | 1 Dec 1938 | Living | 82 | 1 |
Priest | John Moore | 1 | ||||
Rosa | Jessie Evans | 52 | 1 Aug 1918 | 2 Mar 1983 | 64 | 1 |
Second Cook | Joan Haythorne | 55 | 12 Apr 1915 | 27 Aug 1987 | 72 | 1 |
Sergeant of Bailiffs | Leon Lissek | 44 | 1927 | Living | 94 | 2 |
Teri | Susan Brodrick | 25 | 27 Mar 1945 | Living | 75 | 3 |
The Seller | Charles Farrell | 70 | 6 Aug 1900 | 27 Aug 1988 | 88 | 2 |
Young Man | Michael Cadman | 28 | 12 May 1942 | Living | 78 | 1 |
Ziza | Andrea Lawrence | 29 | 20 Jun 1941 | Living | 79 | 5 |
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.
Details were complied viewing the actual film.
Source of viewing copy – The Hammer Graveyard Collection