Looking back I think my earliest memory of Dan Duryea was probably watching westerns with my Father on Saturday afternoon television. Ride Clear of Diablo with Audie Murphy and Night Passage with both Murphy and James Stewart stand out to the best of my recollections. Both films allowed Dan to chew the scenery and from that point on both his face and that off centered laugh and grin have been branded to my brain ever since. While he did play lead roles it’s the rattle snake mean characters that one doesn’t easily forget. Then I discovered the Noir films and like Burt Lancaster in Criss Cross you’re best not to turn you’re back to him.
“You think I’m a killer, don’t you? ”
Dan and Peter add up to a Noir lover’s dream.
The voice of Dan meets the smooth tones of Mason.
Like Duryea, John Payne could fit nicely in both worlds. Noir and the western.
Teaching a novice like Anthony (Tony) Curtis how to play it tough.
Riding with Audie one last time and a quote that suits so many of his on screen characters.
“I got myself a policy: never do an honest days work unless it’s absolutely necessary. ”
Remember that before there was a “Bruce Dern”, there was a Dan Duryea and he sure is fun to watch.
Mike's Take On the Movies 
I have some of the same memories. I Remember seeing him in one film and then looking for him in others. A nice gallery.
Thanks for stopping in. Dan is one of those guys that makes any movie better.
Duryea was a tremendous screen presence, always elevating the movie he appeared in. The grin, the laugh and the voice are all so distinctive and worked fine for both heroes and villains – and everything in between.
He even added flavor in more or less co starring roles in flicks like Thunder Bay and did a lot of TV work (mostly westerns) down the stretch as well.
Replying to your comment because I couldn’t say it better than this, especially about him elevating everything.
Reblogged this on Dan Duryea Appreciation.
Thanks for this great poster collection, Mike. Dan has always been a favourite of mine since childhood too. We in the UK are blessed to have TV channel Talking Pictures TV providing us with superb, often overlooked old films 24 hours a day. They recently broadcast a British film made in 1964 starring Dan Duryea entitled “Do You Know This Voice?” Amazing to see Dan being highly unpleasant in the streets of south London for a change. There is a very good feature on the film on the Reel Streets website if you care to take a look: https://www.reelstreets.com/films/do-you-know-this-voice/
Like your website, Reelstreets is a place I can get lost in for hours. Thanks again and keep up the good work.
Thanks for stopping in and glad to hear there’s more Dan Duryea fans out there. Thanks as well for the tip. Since posting this I’ve acquired an original Terror Street one sheet and a Sky Commando one as well. https://mikestakeonthemovies.com/2022/06/18/sky-commando-1953/