Countess Dracula has absolutely nothing to do with Dracula. It is a British film that is based upon the factual historical accounts of Elisabeth Bathory, a real-life vampire ... of sorts.

While abusing a servant girl, the Countess Elisabeth (Ingrid Pitt) discovers that the blood of virgin girls restores her youth. Her daughter Ilona (Lesley-Anne Down) is returning from Vienna, where she has been hidden from the Turks since she was 6.

The countess has Ilona kidnapped and assumes her identity, which requires a steady supply of virgins' blood. Scorning her long-term lover, Captain Dobi (Nigel Green), the countess romances, and becomes engaged to, the young soldier Imre Toth (Sandor Eles), who inherited her husband's stable, cottage and horses.

The scorned Captain Dobi is angry that the count all but excluded him from the will. Now he faces also losing his lover to the same young man. He is furious, jealous and out for revenge.

Fabio (Maurice Denham), the estate's historian, knows something is up. The more he learns, the more the countess needs to dispose of him. Meanwhile, the lovestruck young soldier has no clue about the evil with which he has involved himself until it is too late to leave the relationship alive.

This is a captivating suspense story with loads of tension. It is not scary, but it does make you jump a couple of times. It is a good, high-quality story with all the proper parts to keep you enthralled from the funeral-scene beginning to the violent end. It has far more value as a drama than as a horror film.

Countess Dracula has some of the best sets and costumes to ever appear in any film. Obviously, some major money went into the production. The opulence of the castle is seldom equaled. Juxtaposed with the simplicity of the peasant quarters, it provides an amazingly accurate look at the society of the time. This movie was well-researched.

Many things in this film are historically accurate. The production crew's attention to detail is astounding, right down to the latches on the carriage house doors. The only item that I felt fell short on accuracy was the Gypsy Vanner horses. But since most viewers have no idea what a Gypsy Vanner horse is, this flaw is of absolutely no consequence. If this is the only negative comment a critic can make about a movie, it is an exceptional movie indeed!

Countess Dracula is a movie to see at least twice: once for the story and again for the scenery and set details. This is one film that every serious movie collector should own.