Dan Duryea Publicity Still (1950s or 1960s)

Dan Duryea. He was that fabulous villain of the silver screen. He comes on the screen and you know he's the bad guy. Whether it was sneering, sniveling or just being slimy, Dan D. could do it all. It's even more fun to know that he was a nice guy in real life. That means that his acting was super! Well, here is a fabulous (and large) publicity still of Dan in one of his serious poses. I'm not sure what film this is from, but it looks to be from the late '50s or early '60s. If anybody can identify this, please, don't hesitate to leave a blog comment or to contact me directly!

Just click on the picture to download at full size.

 Lots more Dan D. photos to post, so check back. Also, if you don't see what you're looking for just let me know. I might have it waiting to be posted!

Remembering Dan's Son, Peter Duryea (1939-2013)

Dan Duryea's oldest son, Peter, passed away on Sunday, March 24. I just found out about it last night, so this post is a couple days overdue.  While his father may have made a career as a Silver-Screen "heavy", Peter Duryea did not follow in his father's footsteps. He did try his hand at acting for a time, even appearing in two films and the Daniel Boone TV episode with his Dad. His most remembered role was Lt. Jose Tyler, navigator of the USS Enterprise, in the pilot episode of "Star Trek".



Peter worked at a lot of occupations during his life, having been a writer, director, documentary filmmaker, boat guide, and naturalist.

He majored in math and physics at Amherst College in Massachusetts, not intending to act, but someone asked him to appear in a play --- and Peter found that he enjoyed acting. He acted in Houston and New York before moving back to Hollywood. In the course of nine years, Peter appeared in six films and thirty television shows. Similarly to his father's experience in the advertising world, Peter found that the pace of a Hollywood career was too hectic for him. He moved to Canada in 1973, settling in Gray Creek.

He was involved with a lot of community projects, and he continued working for the community the rest of his life. He started the "Kootenay Lake Players", a children's theater group, and he was a volunteer board member for the "Kootenay Lake East Shore Eldercare Co-op".

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Peter's most well-known achievement was the founding and building of the Guiding Hands Recreation Society's Tipi Camp and Nature Retreat. He was very well respected by the local community, as stated in the obituary in the Nelson Star: "It's a measure of Peter Duryea's worth that appearing in one of the most popular shows in television history wasn't his most noteworthy accomplishment. To most of the world, Duryea was best known for a bit role in the pilot episode of the original Star Trek series. But on Kootenay Lake, he was a revered East Shore elder and environmentalist who fought against clearcut logging and started a now-thriving nature retreat."

Peter Duryea died on Sunday at his home after a long illness. The funeral and a private family service are to be held at the Gray Creek Cemetery tomorrow, Thursday, 28 March 2013. I have put Peter's memorial on FindaGrave.com, so if you would like to, drop by and leave some "virtual flowers" for him.

Dan Duryea and Peter in 'Daniel Boone Show'

Dan Duryea, Hollywood's quint-essential villain, played in all kinds of films and television shows. The Sound of Fear is an episode from the first season of The Daniel Boone Show starring Fess Parker. This is one of the rare appearances that Dan made with his real-life son, Peter Duryea. Here is a publicity still of the two of them in costume for the show.

Just click on the photo above to download at full size.

I've also posted the whole show, so if you want to watch that, just click on the "Browse By TV Show" tab at the top of this page. More Dan D. stuff coming soon!

Watch Daniel Boone: 'The Sound of Fear'

Dan Duryea played it all. From gangsters to reporters to Sergeants. One of the strangest roles may be his appearance on The Daniel Boone Show starring Fess Parker. Mr. Duryea in a tri-cornered hat is not exactly what you expect. He holds true to form and plays a hard-hearted villain. The most remarkable thing about this episode is the fact that Dan's real-life son, Peter, also had a part. He plays Dan's son in the show, and it's worth seeing the finale to see just how much the son really resembles the father! This show originally aired on 02 Feb 1965.



I've also posted a publicity still of Dan and Peter in this show. You can get to it by clicking the "Search By TV Show" tab at the top of this page.
 

The Underworld Story (1950) Comic Book

Dan Duryea may have been considered one of Hollywood's greatest heels and villains on the Silver Screen, but he could be a great "good guy", too. The hero roles may have been few-and-far-between, but were certainly worth waiting for. The Underworld Story is one of Dan's greatest roles (in my opinion, that is) --- he runs the gamut of character and emotion in this one. And, as always, his acting is superb.

This post is one that I've been meaning to put up for a long time. When The Underworld Story was released in 1950, a comic book came out with it. Twenty-four pages of comics that tell the story as seen in the film. I got these beautiful images of each page from a very nice comic book collector online who posted them for people to enjoy. Unfortunately, my computer crashed the next week and I lost all of my bookmarks. Try as I might, I've not been able to find his site again, so I'm beginning to think that he took it down. So, thanks goes to someone for these images --- and I'll be sure to add his name in if I can find the site again.

Because of the amount of images, I've posted them here in thumbnail size. Just click on them to see at full size (which is quite large and easy to read).

I've posted a lot of pictures and posters from this film, so be sure to check them out via the "Search By Film" tab at the top of this page. Also, feel free to e-mail me if there is anything in particular that you're interested in. I've got lots of Duryea stuff to post . . .

Dan Duryea: 'The Nicest Heel in Hollywood'

Dan Duryea was one of the greatest on-screen "heels" in Hollywood during the 1940s and '50s. Today, most people probably don't even know his name. Despite this lack of recognition, Duryea's acting abilities and innate talent rival that of any of his dramatic-actor contemporaries.

I am SO thrilled to finally be able to post this. After a little bit of persuasion, my sister edited this amazing tribute to Mr. Duryea. It is a montage dedicated to his long career and the many roles he played, so it took us a couple of months to get as many of Dan's movies as we could to watch and clip. Sit down with a cup of coffee or something, because it is just short of twenty minutes --- but if you like Mr. Duryea, then you'll love it. See below for a list of films used here.


If you enjoy this, I know that it would mean a lot to my sister to hear some feedback, as she has a lot of work invested here. You can send comments via a blog post comment below (at the bottom of this post) or send a message to DanDuryeaFan@gmail.com.

FILMS IN THE MONTAGE:
The Little Foxes (1941)
Ball of Fire (1941)
Sahara (1943)
The Woman in the Window (1944)
The Valley of Decision (1945)
Along Came Jones (1945)
Lady on a Train (1945)
Scarlet Street (1945)
Black Angel (1946)
Criss Cross (1949)
Too Late for Tears (1949)
Winchester '73 (1950)
The Underworld Story (1950)
Chicago Calling (1952)
Thunder Bay (1953)
Ride Clear of Diablo (1954)
Silver Lode (1954)
Battle Hymn (1957)
Night Passage (1957)
Wagon Train: The Cliff Grundy Story (1957)
The Flight of the Phoenix (1965)
The Hills Run Red (1967)

Dan Duryea Publicity Still from 1943

Dan Duryea came to Hollywood in 1940 to film The Little Foxes. That role established him as one of the quint-essential movie villains or heavies, and he's been known for that ever since.

Just click on the picture to download it full size.

This fabulous publicity still (and absolutely huge scan) is courtesy of Jerry, who went to a lot of time and trouble getting this for me. Thank you, Jerry! Despite his reputation as a heavy, this photograph was taken in 1943. Dan's only film that year was the Humphrey Bogart WWII film, Sahara. In that, Dan played the sympathetic role of Jimmy Doyle. This was the studio's test of Mr. Duryea as a nice guy. Unfortunately, audiences didn't react to this very well --- so, Dan was back to villain parts and sniveling weenies.

Be sure to check out all of the other Duryea photos through the "photos" button in the column on right or via the "Search by Topic" tab at the top of this page.

I haven't had much time on the computer lately, which means no chances to work on more Duryea photos in Photoshop. Hopefully, things will calm down soon and posts will get more regular. Keep checking back.

Dan Duryea Publicity Shot for 'The Burglar'

Dan Duryea was recognized as one of the top tough guys in Hollywood throughout the 1940s and 1950s. He played 'em all! Gangsters, crime ring leaders, blackmailers and small-time crooks. He tried, periodically, to lighten his on-screen image by appearing in lighter (sympathetic) roles, but the audiences weren't as keen to see him as a nice guy.

Just click on the picture to download it full size.

This is a fabulous (and large) publicity picture of Dan taken around the time of The Burglar. I had a little trouble identifying the age of this picture, as it seems to have been used to publicize both The Burglar and Kathy-O. It's a nice picture, and shows a gentler side --- not the typical sneer and glare!

To see other pictures from this film, just use the "Search by Film" tab at the top of this page.

Dan Duryea in Scenes from 'The Burglar' (1957)

Dan Duryea played the title role in this 1957 film. His character's name was "Nat Harbin", and the role was complete with a death scene. Here are some pictures showing Dan in various scenes from the movie. (That's Peter Capell with Dan in the second picture.)

Just click on any picture to download it full size.

To see some more pictures from this film, just use the "Search by Film" tab at the top of this page.

'The Burglar': Lobby Card (1957)

Dan Duryea starred with a young Jayne Mansfield in the 1957 film, The Burglar. This is a Black & White lobby card from the movie.

Just click on the picture to download it full size.

There are more pictures posted for this movie, so you can find them via the "Search by Film" tab at the top of this page.

Dan Duryea as Leo Hubbard (on Broadway)

Dan Duryea had a reputation as an actor of sniveling, sneering and taunting characters in dark films. The character of Leo Hubbard is one closely identified with Duryea the Actor, as it is the role that brought him to Hollywood. He played the sniveling son of the well-to-do Southern family in Lillian Hellman's play, The Little Foxes, on Broadway and on film.

If you're an avid Duryea fan, then you have probably seen the movie. Dan does a great job as the slimy, good for nothing son, Leo. By the time that Samuel Goldwyn brought him to California to put the role on film, Dan had been playing the part for almost two years. Here are two pictures showing Mr. Duryea in The Little Foxes --- but on Broadway!

Just click on either picture to download it full size.

The picture above shows Charles Dingle (as Ben Hubbard), Dan Duryea (as Leo Hubbard), Carl Benton Reid (as Oscar Hubbard) and Tallulah Bankhead (as Regina Giddens).

Just click on either picture to download it full size.

This picture shows Frank Conroy (as Horace Giddens), Tallulah Bankhead (as Regina Giddens) and Dan Duryea (as Leo Hubbard).

To see a program from the play, just CLICK HERE.

Dan Duryea on Broadway: 'The Little Foxes'

Dan Duryea started his acting career on the Broadway stage. His first role was in the play Dead End, written by fellow classmate, Sidney Kingsley. This was a walk-on role paying $40.00 a week, but it led to bigger things. Duryea landed the role of Leo Hubbard in Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes, and it was then that things began to take off.

The play opened on February 15, 1939, at the National Theater. It ran for 410 performances before touring the United States. Dan appeared with the play during the entire run. When Samuel Goldwyn bought the film rights to the story, he also elected to bring several members of the cast to Hollywood, as well. Dan Duryea was one of those members. He moved his family out to California, and that was the last that Broadway ever saw of him.

Thanks to this move, Dan would spend twenty-eight years appearing in over sixty motion pictures and seventy-five television shows. In this manner, his talent has been preserved for future generations --- but it is really thanks to Broadway (and Leo Hubbard!) for Dan's move to films.

Here is a copy of a program from one of the performances during the play's U.S. tour. This particular night was January 23, 1940, in Phoenix, Arizona. Tallulah Bankhead starred as Regina Giddens (Bette Davis would take this part in the film adaptation.). This is the cast as listed in order of appearance:

Abbie Mitchell (Addie)

John Marriott (Cal)

Marie Carroll (Birdie Hubbard)

Carl Benton Reid (Oscar Hubbard)

Dan Duryea (Leo Hubbard)

Tallulah Bankhead (Regina Giddens)

Lee Baker (William Marshall)

Charles Dingle (Benjamin Hubbard)

Eugenia Rawls (Alexandra Giddens)

Frank Conroy (Horace Giddens)

To see pictures of Dan Duryea on stage during The Little Foxes, just CLICK HERE.

Dan Duryea at Home: Fixing the Tractor

Dan Duryea was known to millions as a real "heel" in Hollywood films of the classic era. He was willingly typecast as a sniveling, sneering heavy --- and audiences liked it.

At home, Mr. Duryea was the opposite of his screen persona. He was a devoted husband, loved spending time with his sons, and he was an avid gardener. Here is a picture (taken in 1947) of Dan getting his tractor ready for a day's work around the yard.

Just click on the picture to download it full size.

Dan Duryea, Universal-International star, is not exactly a gentleman farmer, but he spends mch of his spare time landscaping his hillside home that overlooks San Fernando Valley. Dan has built four large terraces on what used to be a steep hill on the back of his property.

Dan Duryea Posed for 'Black Bart' (1948)

Here is one more great shot of Dan Duryea, with that trademark menacing glare, from Black Bart. I forgot to post this with the others, because I didn't realize it was from this film --- as it has a very modern look. It's a nice large image, too!

Just click on the picture to download it full size.

Lots of other pictures and posters from this film, so check them out via the "Search by Film" tab at the top of this page.

Dan Duryea and Pals in 'Black Bart' (1948)

Dan Duryea was a unique star of the Silver Screen. There were lots of other villains and heavies at the studios, but there was never another actor who could "take over" a real Duryea role. Black Bart was Dan's second Western film, and it gave audiences a chance to see him play a semi-sympathetic role. Here he is with his stage-robbing partners, Jeffrey Lynn and Percy Kilbride.

Just click on the picture to download it full size.

I've been posting lots of images from this film, so browse through those via the "Search by Film" tab at the top of this page.