CINEFILER

Barry Norton

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