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.

Casablanca

8.2

To Catch a Thief

7.3

Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans

7.8

White Christmas

7.2

How to Marry a Millionaire

6.8

Around the World in Eighty Days

6.6

Monsieur Verdoux

7.7

The Lady Eve

7.2

The Caine Mutiny

7.2

A Star Is Born

7.1

Written on the Wind

6.9

The Big Clock

7.3

Christmas in Connecticut

7.0

Easter Parade

7.0

The Great Ziegfeld

6.2

Camille

7.0

Drácula

6.7

Hellzapoppin'

7.1

Lady for a Day

7.0

Imitation of Life

7.0

Christmas in July

6.9

It's Always Fair Weather

7.0

Dishonored

6.8

Pat and Mike

6.3

Hold That Ghost

6.7

Dance, Girl, Dance

6.4

Young Man with a Horn

6.3

The Black Pirate

6.8

You Were Never Lovelier

7.1

Rocketship X-M

4.8

Room for One More

6.3

No Man of Her Own

6.9

Keeper of the Flame

6.6

Born to Be Bad

5.9

Ziegfeld Girl

6.5

Mister 880

6.9

Slightly Scarlet

6.1

Above Suspicion

6.5

The Strange Door

6.2

Trouble Along the Way

5.9

The Falcon Takes Over

6.0

Down Argentine Way

6.0

Hollywood Story

6.6

East Side, West Side

7.0

On the Riviera

6.0

Without Reservations

6.2

Serenade

5.5

The Big Street

5.8

Mission to Moscow

5.2

Tom, Dick and Harry

5.5

Johnny Allegro

6.3

The World Moves On

5.7

The Red Dance

6.2

What Price Glory

6.0

Lucky Me

6.7

Variety Girl

6.1

Blue, White, and Perfect

6.3

The Buccaneer

6.4

Small Town Girl

5.7

The Merry Widow

5.8

Pier 23

5.2

Young Man with Ideas

4.7

Something to Live For

6.8

Four Star Playhouse

6.1

Devil Monster

2.0

Woman Wanted

6.3

The Mexican Spitfire's Baby

4.3

Cocktail Hour

5.2

Second Fiddle

4.5

The Square Jungle

6.0

Grand Canary

4.1

The Jazz Singer

5.5

Maisie Goes to Reno

6.2

Mexican Spitfire Out West

4.6

Only Yesterday

6.8

Niagara Falls

6.8

Luxury Liner

6.3

4 Devils

7.0

Captain Calamity

3.0

An Innocent Affair

4.7

Twilight on the Rio Grande

2.5

Murder at Glen Athol

6.5

I'll Take Romance

5.0

Storm Over the Andes

5.0

Caravan

5.0

Should Husbands Work?

2.0

The Sea Fiend

1.0

Angel of Mercy

6.0

Unknown Blonde

1.0

Sins of the Fathers

6.0

Curmudgeon

0.0

The Canyon of Light

0.0

Fleetwing

0.0

The Legion of the Condemned

0.0

Rich Relations

0.0

The Devil of the Sea

0.0

Ankles Preferred

0.0

The Wizard

0.0

Bold Love

0.0

Mother Knows Best

0.0

Let’s Be Ritzy

0.0

A Man About Town

0.0

The Lily

0.0

East is West

0.0

The Heart of Salome

0.0

The Exalted Flapper

0.0