Barry Norton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Barry Norton (born Alfredo Carlos Birabén; June 16, 1905 – August 24, 1956) was an Argentinian-American actor. He appeared in over 90 films, starting in silent films from 1925 until his death in 1956. He is perhaps best known for his role as Juan Harker in Universal Pictures' Spanish-language version of Drácula in 1931, the English language role of Jonathan Harker originated by David Manners. Arriving in Hollywood in the 1920s, Norton first appeared as an extra in The Black Pirate (1926) but was soon cast in Fox Films' The Lily that same year. His big break came when he was given the role of Pvt. "Mother's Boy" Lewisohn in What Price Glory?, which turned out to be a huge commercial success. He landed substantial roles in Legion of the Condemned and 4 Devils (both 1928), which were also very successful. His acting was well received by audiences and critics at the time, and during the silent era he avoided being typecast as a Latin lover. One theater owner in Golden City, Montana said, "[Norton] has as yet to show me a bad performance. There's a boy that is a 'natural'."
In the early 1930s, Norton could still get leading roles in major films. Major Hollywood studios started producing alternate-language versions of their prestige productions, and he became one of dozens of Latino actors needed. Drácula was one of these films, but Norton also appeared in Spanish-language versions of Paramount on Parade (1930), The Benson Murder Case (1930), and The Criminal Code (1931). In a few cases, he appeared in both versions of a film. Examples include Storm Over the Andes (Spanish version: Alas sobre El Chaco), The Sea Fiend (El diablo del Mar), and Captain Calamity (El capitan Tormenta), the latter film reuniting him with Lupita Tovar, his romantic interest from Dracula.
In addition to roles in Spanish-territory films, he had roles in numerous major films, usually playing sophisticated Europeans. With the decline in Spanish-language film production in Los Angeles, Norton's opportunities for leading roles became less and less frequent. Though he had a pleasing voice, his Argentine accent seemed incongruous with his appearance. According to some sources, he never mastered English very well. In 1933, he secured what would be his last important role, playing Jean Parker's Spanish fiancé in Frank Capra's Lady for a Day (1933). Although he would continue to work for another 15 years, Norton's last credited screen role would be Should Husbands Work? (1939). For the rest of his career, Norton continued to reside in Los Angeles and obtain small roles in films. Many films he appeared in are now considered to be classics.
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Films (115)
The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of the Latino Image in American Cinema
2002
Around the World in 80 Days
1956 · Extra (uncredited)
Written on the Wind
1956 · Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Serenade
1956 · Party Guest (uncredited)
Slightly Scarlet
1956
The Square Jungle
1955 · Boxing Match Spectator (uncredited)
It's Always Fair Weather
1955 · Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
To Catch a Thief
1955 · Frenchman (uncredited)
White Christmas
1954 · Carousel Club Diner (uncredited)
A Star Is Born
1954 · Benefit Attendee (uncredited)
The Caine Mutiny
1954 · Ship's Officer (uncredited)
Lucky Me
1954 · Diner / Party Guest (uncredited)
How to Marry a Millionaire
1953 · Plane Passenger (uncredited)
Small Town Girl
1953 · Party Guest
Trouble Along the Way
1953 · Party Guest
The Jazz Singer
1953 · Nightclub Patron
The Merry Widow
1952 · Club Patron (uncredited)
What Price Glory
1952 · Priest (uncredited)
Pat and Mike
1952 · Golf Spectator (uncredited)
Young Man with Ideas
1952 · Lawyer at Seminar (uncredited)
Something to Live For
1952 · Man in Tweeds (uncredited)
Room for One More
1952 · Boy Scout Ceremony Attendee (uncredited)
The Strange Door
1951
Strangers on a Train
1951 · Tennis Match Spectator (uncredited)
Hollywood Story
1951 · Christmas Parade Spectator (uncredited)
Pier 23
1951 · Waiter (uncredited)
On the Riviera
1951 · Party Guest (uncredited)
Mister 880
1950 · Restaurant Diner (uncredited)
Born to Be Bad
1950 · Charity Ball Guest (uncredited)
The Toast of New Orleans
1950 · Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Rocketship X-M
1950 · Reporter (uncredited)
Young Man with a Horn
1950 · Man at Train Station / Café Guest (uncredited)
No Man of Her Own
1950 · Country Club Patron (uncredited)
East Side, West Side
1949 · Del Rio Club Patron (uncredited)
Johnny Allegro
1949
An Innocent Affair
1948 · Rocket Roof Patron (uncredited)
Easter Parade
1948 · Diner (uncredited)
The Big Clock
1948 · Man at Van Barth's (uncredited)
The Gangster
1947 · Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Variety Girl
1947 · Plane Passenger (uncredited)
Monsieur Verdoux
1947 · Garden Party Guest (uncredited)
Twilight on the Rio Grande
1947 · Rurale
Devil Monster
1946 · Robert Jackson
Without Reservations
1946 · Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Christmas in Connecticut
1945 · Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Maisie Goes to Reno
1944 · Nightclub Patron (Uncredited)
Above Suspicion
1943 · German Cafe Patron (Uncredited)
Mission to Moscow
1943 · Ball Guest (uncredited)
Keeper of the Flame
1943
Casablanca
1943 · Gambler at Rick's (uncredited)
You Were Never Lovelier
1942 · One of Maria's Suitors (uncredited)
The Big Street
1942 · Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
The Falcon Takes Over
1942 · Nightclub Patron (Uncredited)
Blue, White and Perfect
1942 · Man at Ship Dock (uncredited)
Hellzapoppin'
1941 · Party Guest (uncredited)
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
1941 · Nightclub Patron
Niagara Falls
1941 · Hotel Guest (uncredited)
Hold That Ghost
1941 · Club Patron (uncredited)
Tom, Dick and Harry
1941 · Bowler (uncredited)
Ziegfeld Girl
1941 · Palm Beach Casino Patron (uncredited)
The Lady Eve
1941 · Passenger on Ship (uncredited)
Mexican Spitfire Out West
1940 · Hotel Guest
Christmas in July
1940 · Co-Worker in Office (uncredited)
Down Argentine Way
1940 · Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)
Dance, Girl, Dance
1940 · Dissaproving Theatre Patron (uncredited)
Should Husbands Work?
1939 · Ronald McDonald
Second Fiddle
1939 · Nightclub Patron
Angel of Mercy
1939 · President Garfield's Secretary (uncredited)
The Buccaneer
1938 · Villere
I'll Take Romance
1937 · Juan
Rich Relations
1937 · Don Blair
Camille
1936 · Emile (uncredited)
Captain Calamity
1936 · Carr
Marihuana (El monstruo verde)
1936 · Carlos
The Sea Fiend
1936 · Robert Jackson
The Great Ziegfeld
1936 · Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Murder at Glen Athol
1936 · Tom Randel
Así es la mujer
1936 · Agente de prensa
The Devil of the Sea
1935 · Roberto
Woman Wanted
1935 · Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Storm Over the Andes
1935 · Diaz
Caravan
1934 · Young Officer at Beer Garden (Uncredited)
Imitation of Life
1934 · Young Man Proposing Toast (uncredited)
Grand Canary
1934 · Robert Tranter
The World Moves On
1934 · Jacques Girard (1924)
Let’s Be Ritzy
1934 · Rogers
Unknown Blonde
1934 · Bob Parker
Only Yesterday
1933 · Jerry (Uncredited)
Lady for a Day
1933 · Carlos
Cocktail Hour
1933 · Philippe
Luxury Liner
1933 · Prince Vladimir Gleboff
El comediante
1931 · Federico
El pasado acusa
1931 · Roberto Robinson
Dishonored
1931 · Young Lieutenant - Firing Squad
Drácula
1931 · Juan Harker
East is West
1930 · Billy Benson
Curmudgeon
1930
Bold Love
1930
El Cuerpo del Delito
1930 · Adolph Mahler
The Exalted Flapper
1929 · Prince Boris of Dacia
Sins of the Fathers
1928 · Tom Spengler
The Red Dance
1928 · Rasputin's Assassin (uncredited)
Mother Knows Best
1928 · Boy
4 Devils
1928 · Adolf
Fleetwing
1928 · Jaafor
The Legion of the Condemned
1928 · Byron Dashwood
The Wizard
1927 · Reginald Van Lear
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
1927 · Ballroom Dancer / Kissing Couple (uncredited)
A Man About Town
1927 · Amos, a Centerville Clerk
The Heart of Salome
1927 · Henri Bezanne
Ankles Preferred
1927 · Jimmy
The Canyon of Light
1926 · Ricardo Deane
What Price Glory
1926 · Pvt. Kenneth 'Mother's Boy' Lewisohn
The Lily
1926 · Max de Maigny
The Black Pirate
1926 · Youth (uncredited)
