The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Watch: The Hunchback of Notre Dame

9/6/19231h 53m

Theatrical Release (US)

Overview:

In 15th century France, a gypsy girl is framed for murder by the infatuated Chief Justice, and only the deformed bellringer of Notre Dame Cathedral can save her.

Director:

Wallace Worsley

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$1,250,000.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

paris, france
based on novel or book
death sentence
black and white
silent film
hunchback
notre dame cathedral
roma

Cast

Lon Chaney

~ as ~

Quasimodo

Patsy Ruth Miller

~ as ~

Esmeralda

Norman Kerry

~ as ~

Phoebus de Chateaupers

Kate Lester

~ as ~

Madame de Condelaurier

Winifred Bryson

~ as ~

Fleur de Lys

Nigel De Brulier

~ as ~

Don Claudio

Brandon Hurst

~ as ~

Jehan

Ernest Torrence

~ as ~

Clopin

Tully Marshall

~ as ~

El Rey Luis XI

Harry von Meter

~ as ~

Mons. Neufchatel

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

CinemaSerf
Written 3 year(s) ago
7
I reckon that this has to be the saddest of all love stories ever written - in any language! Although top billing goes to the pathetically grotesque Lon Chaney as the bell-ringer "Quasimodo", I think the plaudits must go to Patsy Ruth Miller as the persecuted gypsy "Esmerelda" in this 1923 adaptation of Victor Hugo's story. The score is hauntingly effective as both battle prejudice, jealousy and enmity from high and low society; with plots for revolution against the rather despotic rule of Louis XI never far from the theme. Chaney's make up is not great, even by the standards of the day, and it would not look out of place in a "Tarzan" film, but that matters little to the wonderfully evocative efforts from director Wallace Worsley to enshrine this classical story of lust, power and sadness to film, with a narrative that emphasises more of the emotional aspects of the story than many of it's successors. Particularly effective is the use of light and staging (partly Parisian, partly Californian) too. 2¼ hours may look long, but this positively flies by - rarely, if ever, making you want it to hurry up. Great stuff.