'Vampire Princess' Was Dracula Based on the Ghoulish Obsessions of a Real-Life Woman?

'Vampire Princess' Was Dracula Based on the Ghoulish Obsessions of a Real-Life Woman?

Halloween Begins Early on DVD and on Smithsonian Channel(TM) Beginning week of October 14

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Just in time for Halloween, the story of a real-life Vampire Princess is unearthed Oct. 14 on DVD from Infinity Entertainment Group and begins showings on Sunday, Oct. 19 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel(TM).

Dracula is a grim tale believed to be based on Romanian legend and the morbid imaginings of a Victorian novelist. Now archaeologists, historians and forensic scientists have evidence that the legendary vampire was not modeled on a medieval count from Transylvania, but on the fate of a real 18th century bohemian princess named Eleonore von Schwarzenberg.

Bram Stoker's Dracula, in fact, once had a different first chapter -- indicating that he was inspired not by a man but by a woman. It opens with a spectacular vampire attack at the tomb of an Austrian princess. And references in the original manuscript allude to the region where Eleonore lived, now part of the Czech Republic.

Recent excavations near the Princess's castle have uncovered the first archaeological evidence of vampire hysteria; three bodies buried in the style of "Magia Pasthuma," a ritual to prevent the undead from rising. One skeleton's head rests between his legs, stones weighing down his limbs, a rosary binding his hands; another has a wooden stake protruding from his chest.

And for the first time archaeologists have done what the princess's contemporaries feared the most -- re-opened her bizarre grave and examined it for the first time.

Historians have searched through the castle's extensive archives and discovered evidence of Eleonore's unorthodox lifestyle. Secreted behind the castle's great walls, the princess had a penchant for the occult. When she died in 1741, wasted and pale from a mysterious illness, she was thought to suffer "vampire illness."

Is she the origin of our vampire myths and the inspiration for the most famous horror story of all time? Was Dracula really a woman?

Vampire Princess is an ORF Universum Production in association with Smithsonian Networks. Written and directed by Klaus T. Steindl and Andreas Sulzer. Writer: Klaus Feichtenberger. Narrator: Brad Abelle. Executive producer: Walter Kohler. David Royle, Vice President, Programming and Production, for Smithsonian Channel. Charles Poe, Vice-President Production for Smithsonian Channel.

Vampire Princess is presented in full frame 4x3 with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1 letterbox and 5.1 Dolby audio. Special features include closed captioning.

About Smithsonian Networks

Smithsonian Networks (SN), is a joint venture between Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution. It was formed to create new channels to showcase scientific, cultural and historical programming based largely upon the assets of the Smithsonian Institution, the world's largest museum complex. Smithsonian Channel features original documentaries, short-subject explorations and innovative and groundbreaking programs highlighting America's historical, cultural and scientific heritage. Visit Smithsonian Networks on the Internet at www.smithsonianchannel.com .

About Infinity Entertainment Group

Infinity Entertainment Group, headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif., is a multi-service home entertainment retail distributor specializing in independent films, television programming, special-interest, documentaries, anime and music. Clients include Smithsonian Networks, MOJO HD, Falcon Picture Group, Bandai Entertainment, Roxbury Entertainment, SJ2 Entertainment and Retromedia. Hit titles include the iconic Route 66 television series, now available on DVD for the first time, and Spike Jones: The Legend. The company was launched in 2006 and is a division of Infinity Resources, Inc., a privately-held, multi-channel marketing and service enterprise with general offices based in suburban Chicago, Ill.

About the DVD
Vampire Princess
Infinity Entertainment Group
Genre: Television/Documentary
Rated: TV-PG
Format: DVD Only
Running Time: Approx. 60 Minutes
Suggested Retail Price: $14.98
Pre-Order Date: September 9, 2008
Street Date: October 14, 2008
Catalog #: IEG2064
UPC Code: #617742206494

Source: Smithsonian Networks

CONTACT: Michael Shepley, +1-212-786-9064, shepleypr@aol.com, or Stuart
Zakim, +1-212-708-1590, Stuart.Zakim@showtime.net, both for Smithsonian
Channel; or Vicki Greenleaf of Greenleaf & Associates, +1-323-660-5800,
vicki@greenleafandassociates.com, for Infinity Entertainment Group; or for
screeners or artwork, Karen Brundage, karen@greenleafandassociates.com

Web site: http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/

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