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.

Cast

Curmudgeon

Storm Over the Andes

(Diaz)

The Canyon of Light

(Ricardo Deane)

Lady for a Day

(Carlos)

Without Reservations

(Nightclub Patron (uncredited))

Galas de la Paramount

(Self - Master of Ceremonies)

The Strange Door

What Price Glory

(Pvt. Kenneth 'Mother's Boy' Lewisohn)

Dishonored

(Young Lieutenant - Firing Squad)

Cocktail Hour

(Prince Philippe de Longville)

No Man of Her Own

(Country Club Patron (uncredited))

Fleetwing

(Jaafor)

The Great Ziegfeld

(Nightclub Patron (uncredited))

White Christmas

(Carousel Club Diner (uncredited))

Devil Monster

(Robert Jackson)

Young Man with a Horn

(Man at Train Station / Café Guest (uncredited))

Luxury Liner

(Prince Vladimir Gleboff)

The World Moves On

(Jacques Girard (1924))

Written on the Wind

(Courtroom Spectator (uncredited))

4 Devils

(Adolf)

How to Marry a Millionaire

(Plane Passenger (uncredited))

Murder at Glen Athol

(Tom Randel)

Captain Calamity

(Carr)

To Catch a Thief

(Frenchman (uncredited))

Lucky Me

(Diner / Party Guest (uncredited))

East Side, West Side

(Del Rio Club Patron (uncredited))

Variety Girl

(Plane Passenger (uncredited))

The Big Clock

(Man at Van Barth's (uncredited))

Christmas in Connecticut

(Restaurant Patron (uncredited))

Hellzapoppin'

(Party Guest (uncredited))

Christmas in July

(Co-Worker in Office (uncredited))

The Legion of the Condemned

(Byron Dashwood)

Keeper of the Flame

Rich Relations

(Don Blair)

Casablanca

(Gambler at Rick's (uncredited))

The Devil of the Sea

(Roberto)

Ankles Preferred

(Jimmy)

Woman Wanted

(Nightclub Patron (uncredited))

I'll Take Romance

(Juan)

Mister 880

(Restaurant Diner (uncredited))

The Wizard

(Reginald Van Lear)

A Star Is Born

(Benefit Attendee (uncredited))

Caravan

(Young Officer at Beer Garden (Uncredited))

Second Fiddle

(Nightclub Patron)

An Innocent Affair

(Rocket Roof Patron (uncredited))

Pier 23

(Waiter (uncredited))

Should Husbands Work?

(Ronald McDonald)

The Sea Fiend

(Robert Jackson)

Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans

(Ballroom Dancer / Kissing Couple (uncredited))

Niagara Falls

(Hotel Guest (uncredited))

Bold Love

Monsieur Verdoux

(Garden Party Guest (uncredited))

The Lady Eve

(Passenger on Ship (uncredited))

Blue, White, and Perfect

(Man at Ship Dock (uncredited))

Slightly Scarlet

Pat and Mike

(Golf Spectator (uncredited))

The Black Pirate

(Youth (uncredited))

The Caine Mutiny

(Ship's Officer (uncredited))

It's Always Fair Weather

(Nightclub Patron (uncredited))

Mother Knows Best

(Boy)

On the Riviera

(Party Guest (uncredited))

Rocketship X-M

(Reporter (uncredited))

Room for One More

(Boy Scout Ceremony Attendee (uncredited))

The Square Jungle

Dance, Girl, Dance

(Dissaproving Theatre Patron (uncredited))

Down Argentine Way

(Racetrack Spectator (uncredited))

Angel of Mercy

(President Garfield's Secretary (uncredited))

The Red Dance

(Rasputin's Assassin (uncredited))

Let’s Be Ritzy

(Rogers)

Unknown Blonde

(Bob Parker)

Grand Canary

(Robert Tranter)

Around the World in Eighty Days

(Extra (uncredited))

Twilight on the Rio Grande

(Rurale)

You Were Never Lovelier

(One of Maria's Suitors (uncredited))

Born to Be Bad

(Charity Ball Guest (uncredited))

The Jazz Singer

(Nightclub Patron)

Trouble Along the Way

(Party Guest)

Mexican Spitfire Out West

(Hotel Guest)

The Mexican Spitfire's Baby

(Nightclub Patron)

The Buccaneer

(Villere)

Above Suspicion

(German Cafe Patron (Uncredited))

Tom, Dick and Harry

(Bowler (uncredited))

Mission to Moscow

(Ball Guest (uncredited))

A Man About Town

(Amos, a Centerville Clerk)

The Lily

(Max de Maigny)

East is West

(Billy Benson)

Drácula

(Juan Harker)

Only Yesterday

(Jerry (Uncredited))

Johnny Allegro

Young Man with Ideas

(Lawyer at Seminar (uncredited))

Hollywood Story

(Christmas Parade Spectator (uncredited))

Imitation of Life

(Young Man Proposing Toast (uncredited))

Hold That Ghost

(Club Patron (uncredited))

The Heart of Salome

(Henri Bezanne)

Something to Live For

(Man in Tweeds (uncredited))

Small Town Girl

(Party Guest)

Serenade

(Party Guest (uncredited))

Camille

(Emile (uncredited))

Ziegfeld Girl

(Palm Beach Casino Patron (uncredited))

The Falcon Takes Over

(Nightclub Patron (Uncredited))

Sins of the Fathers

(Tom Spengler)

Maisie Goes to Reno

(Nightclub Patron (Uncredited))

The Big Street

(Nightclub Patron (Uncredited))

The Merry Widow

(Club Patron (uncredited))

Four Star Playhouse

(Man in Audience / Backstage Guest (uncredited))