Bela Lugosi painting set for auction

DALLAS, July 7 (UPI) -- A 1930's portrait of Bela Lugosi is expected to fetch at least $80,000 when it goes on public auction in Dallas this month, auction organizers said Wednesday.

The oil-on-canvas portrait hung in the Hollywood home of the "Dracula" star until his death at 73 in 1956. Grey Smith of the Dallas-based Heritage Galleries and Auctioneers said the portrait was painted in 1932 or 1933 by Geza Kende, who -- as Lugosi -- was a native of Hungary.

"It was painted about a year after the renowned 'Dracula' movie came out in 1931, and it captures the essence of Hollywood's master of the macabre, especially the penetrating, almost hypnotic quality of Lugosi's eyes," said Smith. "The portrait depicts Lugosi the way he wanted to be seen by Hollywood -- slim, handsome, debonair in a suit and holding a coat and hat as the epitome of the leading man. But Hollywood insisted on casting him as one monster or mad scientist after another, and his fans only envisioned him as Count Dracula."

The portrait will be auctioned July 17 as part of a public sale that will include hundreds of vintage Hollywood movie posters.