Rating: 
Summary: One of Hammer's best finally gets the treatment it deserves!
Review: "The Vampire Lovers" is one of my favorite Hammer movies, possibly my very favorite. (Other contenders would be "Hound of the Baskervilles," "Taste the Blood of Dracula" and "Twins of Evil.") "The Vampire Lovers" is also the best of many, many film versions of Sheridan Le Fanu's novel Carmilla. (Runner-up: Roger Vadim's "Blood and Roses.") Finally, it's also the best lesbian vampire movie of all time, narrowly edging out "The Hunger" and "Daughters of Darkness."
The film hinges on a fantastic lead performance from Ingrid Pitt as the vampire Carmilla. The beautiful Madeline Smith also turns in a nice performance as Carmilla's doe-eyed victim, and Peter Cushing is his usual masterful self in a fairly small role containing his most brutal vampire slaying moment of all, finally restored to all its gory glory. The movie is uniformly well-acted, as well as well-written and well-directed, which unfortunately can't be said for all Hammer titles.
I've been waiting to have this movie uncut and in widescreen for years, and I would have settled for just those two things, which MGM provides in a beautiful new transfer. But they go further. They also include an interesting commentary track with Pitt, the director and the writer! And on top of that, they include a fantastic feature consisting of Ingrid Pitt reading twelve minutes of passages from Le Fanu's novel over an exhaustive still gallery from the film! (The still gallery isn't even mentioned as a feature on the box.) And a trailer. And finally, on top of all these wonderfully done features, they include a whole other movie, Hammer's "Countess Dracula," also starring Pitt.
I've never been a huge fan of this film, and probably wouldn't have bought it were it released on its own, but I'm happy to own it as a bonus! "Countess Dracula" also includes a commentary and trailer. "Countess Dracula" is billed as the main attraction here, but anyone who watches both films will realize that "The Vampire Lovers" is the superior title. You'll probably only watch "Countess" once, but you'll watch "The Vampire Lovers" again and again.
If you're a fan of vampire movies, Hammer movies, or horror in general, you owe it to yourself to get this DVD. It's a truly fantastic DVD production (the best yet of MGM's Midnight Movies series, well, tied with "The Trip") and a real bargain.
Rating: 
Summary: T & A & H (Hammer, that is)
Review: At last, two latter-day Hammer horror classics arrive, and in a bargain-priced deluxe treatment! MGM has really done a fine job with this Ingrid Pitt double-feature. Both films feature commentary from Pitt and others involved in the productions. The commentaries are a bit dry, but nonetheless informative and entertaining. As an added bonus, you get Ingrid Pitt reading excerpts from "Carmilla" (upon which THE VAMPIRE LOVERS was loosely--very loosely--based).COUNTESS DRACULA has not been, to my knowledge, commercially available in the U.S. until now. The widescreen transfer is certainly an improvement over my old "bootleg" VHS copy, with rich colors and a remarkably clean and crisp audio track. That being said, I find the film itself to be the lesser of the two on this disc. But of course, it's nice to have this rarely-seen Hammer flick. THE VAMPIRE LOVERS finds Pitt it top form as the tortured Mircalla Karnstein. Even more delightful is doe-eyed Madeline Smith as Emma, the bewitching innocent caught up in this sapphic web of fangs and flesh. This is one "Midnite Movies" offering that any fan of classic horror will definitely want to own. Or, if you're just curious about Hammer films or Ingrid Pitt, here's a very affordable way to check 'em out. Recommended, for sure.
Rating:
Summary: A Double Whammy of Ingrid Pitt's Heaving Bosom
Review: Being a self described Hammer fan, I must say that these two films are top notch later Hammer productions. Countess Dracula really doesn't have anything to do with DRACULA or VAMPIRES as an aging noblewoman finds the secret to eternal youth by bathing in the blood drained from virgins in the noblewoman's kingdom. No FANGS, no crosses, no stakes or drinking of blood- just bloody bathtime fun with Ingrid Pitt! The Vampire Lovers film (better of the two) with REAL vampire/dracula references and lots of weird lesbianism goin' on between Ingrid Pitt & the other young, nubile, (& unfortunate) women victims in the film. I would definitely recommend both films to anyone who likes classic horror and/or vampire tales...
Rating:
Summary: BLOODY, Bathtime FUN With Ingrid Pitt!!!
Review: Being a self described Hammer fan, I must say that these two films are top notch later Hammer productions. Countess Dracula really doesn't have anything to do with DRACULA or VAMPIRES as an aging noblewoman finds the secret to eternal youth by bathing in the blood drained from virgins in the noblewoman's kingdom. No FANGS, no crosses, no stakes or drinking of blood- just bloody bathtime fun with Ingrid Pitt! The Vampire Lovers film (better of the two) with REAL vampire/dracula references and lots of weird lesbianism goin' on between Ingrid Pitt & the other young, nubile, (& unfortunate) women victims in the film. I would definitely recommend both films to anyone who likes classic horror and/or vampire tales...
Rating:
Summary: Two Wonderful Films On One Disc
Review: COUNTESS DRACULA is a fictional account of ELIZABETH BATHORY, and is quite fun. But VAMPIRE LOVERS is definately the jewel of this disc. VAMPIRE LOVERS is an adaption of CARMILLA and is really just stunning.
Both of these films are presented in WIDESCREEN and enhanced for 16*9 televisions. They both looks gorgeous.
I was actually looking forward to the release of the VINCENT PRICE midnight movies from MGM much more than this one...but I really enjoyed seeing these films for the first time. Both films also feature commentery by the films star INGRID PITT!
Rating:
Summary: Am I seeing double?
Review: Don't let the PG rating fool you Countess Dracula has some great boob scenes!!! Unfortunately that's about the only reason to watch this excruciatingly dull flick. The best reason to buy this DVD is the inclusion of Vampire Lovers which despite the silly title is a very interesting and exciting film that has all of the fun and atmosphere of Hammer studios earlier vampire flicks starring Christopher Lee but with some interesting new twists. Oh! and it has better boob scenes too!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Countess Bathory/Karnstein Lives!
Review: I first came across The Vampire Lovers in an obscure fantasy magazine article in 1975. As it was not likely to be shown on TV (no Fox then), I wasn't able to see it until 1987, when I viewed a VHS copy. I am very happy to see it in DVD form. It's one of Hammer Film's, indead horror film's most interesting benchmarks. Joseph Sheridan LaFanu's novella was used as cinematic material previously for 1932's Vampyr (although greatly altered), 1961's Blood & Roses (in color and heavy breathing), 1964's Terror in the Crypt (with Chistopher Lee and some good atmosphere), and by Hammer in 1970. The Vampire Lovers is not perfect. It's not as artistic as Daughters of Darkness, nor as HOT as The Hunger. But it's got a nice production going for it, and some very good performances. Ingrid Pitt is not Carmilla as described by LaFanu's story. She's too voluptuous and womanly, not small, delicate, and girlish. But she fit the part as conceived for the film. A succubus of desire and cunning. The quality of the DVD is great. And it's as unedited as you're ever likely to see. The flow of the film is now seemless. And we get to see Ms. Pitt step out of the bath with no cuts. Countess Dracula is the better made film. And with a little help from the used Anna of a Thousand Days sets, much more authentic to the 1500's, where the story is roughly set in, than the fairy tale 17-1800's, where The Vampire Lover's is presumably set in. Ms. Pitt's performance is also more convincing as the youth obsessed Elisabeth Bathory. She gives a very sincere performance of passion and conviction. You never doubt her character's desires, anger, or frustration. You believe she is a royal. You believe she would do ANYTHING to grasp at young love again. One of the tragedy's of her character is that Nigel Green's Captain Dobi would make a much better, and more viral, lover for her than the boyish Sandor Eles. Every actor fits his/her parts. The commentaries by the directors, writers, and star of both films are very informative. Countess Dracula's Hungarian born director Peter Sasdy gives a good analysis. And Ms. Pitt is very touching remembering Peter Cushing. Both films deserve watching again, or for the first time.
Rating:
Summary: A vampire to love
Review: Ingrid Pitt set the standard for women playing vampires. The only performance to come close was Sadie Frost in "Bram Stoker's Dracula." Though lacking the blood and (dare I say it?) bite of other Hammer classics, watching it today reminds me of what I loved watching Chiller Theater on Friday nights on late night local TV. Except now, of course, you get the previously deleted scenes which are hotter and steamier than the bath she takes.
Rating:
Summary: A Double Whammy of Ingrid Pitt's Heaving Bosom
Review: MGM has done a fantastic job restoring Hammer Film "Vampire Lovers". Snippets of gore and nudity have been rightfully reinserted. Although "Vampire Lovers" is worthwhile, Peter Sasdy's "Countess Dracula" is the FAR better film. The entire production from art direction, costumes, cinematography, direction, casting, script is superior. The commentary is also much livelier.
Rating:
Summary: A Double Whammy of Ingrid Pitt's Heaving Bosom
Review: MGM has done a fantastic job restoring Hammer Film "Vampire Lovers". Snippets of gore and nudity have been rightfully reinserted. Although "Vampire Lovers" is worthwhile, Peter Sasdy's "Countess Dracula" is the FAR better film. The entire production from art direction, costumes, cinematography, direction, casting, script is superior. The commentary is also much livelier.
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