Barry Norton
Acting • Born 1905-06-16 – Died 1956-08-24
Biography
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.
Filmography
110 credits
Curmudgeon
Movie • 1930
Storm Over the Andes
Movie • 1935
Diaz
The Canyon of Light
Movie • 1926
Ricardo Deane
Lady for a Day
Movie • 1933
Carlos
Without Reservations
Movie • 1946
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
The Strange Door
Movie • 1951
What Price Glory
Movie • 1926
Pvt. Kenneth 'Mother's Boy' Lewisohn
Dishonored
Movie • 1931
Young Lieutenant - Firing Squad
Cocktail Hour
Movie • 1933
Philippe
No Man of Her Own
Movie • 1950
Country Club Patron (uncredited)
Fleetwing
Movie • 1928
Jaafor
The Great Ziegfeld
Movie • 1936
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
White Christmas
Movie • 1954
Carousel Club Diner (uncredited)
Devil Monster
Movie • 1946
Robert Jackson
Young Man with a Horn
Movie • 1950
Man at Train Station / Café Guest (uncredited)
Luxury Liner
Movie • 1933
Prince Vladimir Gleboff
The World Moves On
Movie • 1934
Jacques Girard (1924)
Written on the Wind
Movie • 1956
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
4 Devils
Movie • 1928
Adolf
How to Marry a Millionaire
Movie • 1953
Plane Passenger (uncredited)
Murder at Glen Athol
Movie • 1936
Tom Randel
Captain Calamity
Movie • 1936
Carr
To Catch a Thief
Movie • 1955
Frenchman (uncredited)
Lucky Me
Movie • 1954
Diner / Party Guest (uncredited)
East Side, West Side
Movie • 1949
Del Rio Club Patron (uncredited)
Variety Girl
Movie • 1947
Plane Passenger (uncredited)
The Big Clock
Movie • 1948
Man at Van Barth's (uncredited)
Christmas in Connecticut
Movie • 1945
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Hellzapoppin'
Movie • 1941
Party Guest (uncredited)
Christmas in July
Movie • 1940
Co-Worker in Office (uncredited)
The Legion of the Condemned
Movie • 1928
Byron Dashwood
Keeper of the Flame
Movie • 1943
Rich Relations
Movie • 1937
Don Blair
Casablanca
Movie • 1943
Gambler at Rick's (uncredited)
The Devil of the Sea
Movie • 1935
Roberto
Ankles Preferred
Movie • 1927
Jimmy
Woman Wanted
Movie • 1935
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
I'll Take Romance
Movie • 1937
Juan
Mister 880
Movie • 1950
Restaurant Diner (uncredited)
The Wizard
Movie • 1927
Reginald Van Lear
A Star Is Born
Movie • 1954
Benefit Attendee (uncredited)
Caravan
Movie • 1934
Young Officer at Beer Garden (Uncredited)
Second Fiddle
Movie • 1939
Nightclub Patron
An Innocent Affair
Movie • 1948
Rocket Roof Patron (uncredited)
Pier 23
Movie • 1951
Waiter (uncredited)
Should Husbands Work?
Movie • 1939
Ronald McDonald
The Sea Fiend
Movie • 1936
Robert Jackson
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
Movie • 1927
Ballroom Dancer / Kissing Couple (uncredited)
Niagara Falls
Movie • 1941
Hotel Guest (uncredited)
Bold Love
Movie • 1930
Monsieur Verdoux
Movie • 1947
Garden Party Guest (uncredited)
The Lady Eve
Movie • 1941
Passenger on Ship (uncredited)
Blue, White, and Perfect
Movie • 1942
Man at Ship Dock (uncredited)
Slightly Scarlet
Movie • 1956
Pat and Mike
Movie • 1952
Golf Spectator (uncredited)
The Black Pirate
Movie • 1926
Youth (uncredited)
The Caine Mutiny
Movie • 1954
Ship's Officer (uncredited)
It's Always Fair Weather
Movie • 1955
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Mother Knows Best
Movie • 1928
Boy
On the Riviera
Movie • 1951
Party Guest (uncredited)
Rocketship X-M
Movie • 1950
Reporter (uncredited)
Room for One More
Movie • 1952
Boy Scout Ceremony Attendee (uncredited)
The Square Jungle
Movie • 1955
Boxing Match Spectator (uncredited)
Dance, Girl, Dance
Movie • 1940
Dissaproving Theatre Patron (uncredited)
Down Argentine Way
Movie • 1940
Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)
Angel of Mercy
Movie • 1939
President Garfield's Secretary (uncredited)
The Red Dance
Movie • 1928
Rasputin's Assassin (uncredited)
Let’s Be Ritzy
Movie • 1934
Rogers
Unknown Blonde
Movie • 1934
Bob Parker
Grand Canary
Movie • 1934
Robert Tranter
Around the World in 80 Days
Movie • 1956
Extra (uncredited)
Twilight on the Rio Grande
Movie • 1947
Rurale
You Were Never Lovelier
Movie • 1942
One of Maria's Suitors (uncredited)
Born to Be Bad
Movie • 1950
Charity Ball Guest (uncredited)
The Jazz Singer
Movie • 1953
Nightclub Patron
Trouble Along the Way
Movie • 1953
Party Guest
Mexican Spitfire Out West
Movie • 1940
Hotel Guest
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
Movie • 1941
Nightclub Patron
The Buccaneer
Movie • 1938
Villere
Above Suspicion
Movie • 1943
German Cafe Patron (Uncredited)
Tom, Dick and Harry
Movie • 1941
Bowler (uncredited)
Mission to Moscow
Movie • 1943
Ball Guest (uncredited)
A Man About Town
Movie • 1927
Amos, a Centerville Clerk
The Lily
Movie • 1926
Max de Maigny
East is West
Movie • 1930
Billy Benson
Drácula
Movie • 1931
Juan Harker
Only Yesterday
Movie • 1933
Jerry (Uncredited)
Johnny Allegro
Movie • 1949
Young Man with Ideas
Movie • 1952
Lawyer at Seminar (uncredited)
Hollywood Story
Movie • 1951
Christmas Parade Spectator (uncredited)
Imitation of Life
Movie • 1934
Young Man Proposing Toast (uncredited)
Hold That Ghost
Movie • 1941
Club Patron (uncredited)
The Heart of Salome
Movie • 1927
Henri Bezanne
Something to Live For
Movie • 1952
Man in Tweeds (uncredited)
Small Town Girl
Movie • 1953
Party Guest
Serenade
Movie • 1956
Party Guest (uncredited)
Camille
Movie • 1936
Emile (uncredited)
Ziegfeld Girl
Movie • 1941
Palm Beach Casino Patron (uncredited)
The Falcon Takes Over
Movie • 1942
Nightclub Patron (Uncredited)
Sins of the Fathers
Movie • 1928
Tom Spengler
Maisie Goes to Reno
Movie • 1944
Nightclub Patron (Uncredited)
The Big Street
Movie • 1942
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
The Merry Widow
Movie • 1952
Club Patron (uncredited)
Easter Parade
Movie • 1948
Diner at Rooftop Show (uncredited)
The Exalted Flapper
Movie • 1929
Prince Boris of Dacia
Strangers on a Train
Movie • 1951
Tennis Match Spectator (uncredited)
The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of the Latino Image in American Cinema
Movie • 2002
The Toast of New Orleans
Movie • 1950
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
The Gangster
Movie • 1947
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Four Star Playhouse
TV • 1952
Man in Audience / Backstage Guest (uncredited)