The Hunchback of Notre Dame

12/29/19391h 57m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ Impact! Power! Fire! Pathos! Drama! ~

Overview:

Paris, France, 1482. Frollo, Chief Justice of benevolent King Louis XI, gets infatuated by the beauty of Esmeralda, a young Romani girl. The hunchback Quasimodo, Frollo's protege and bell-ringer of Notre Dame, lives in peace among the bells in the heights of the immense cathedral until he is involved by the twisted magistrate in his malicious plans to free himself from Esmeralda's alleged spell, which he believes to be the devil's work.

Director:

William Dieterle

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$1,800,000.00

Revenue:

$6,877,900.00

Key words:

sibling relationship
paris, france
based on novel or book
unrequited love
racism
kindness
hunchback
notre dame cathedral
bell ringing
beggar clan
physical deformity
sanctuary
bell ringer
15th century
gypsy woman
church asylum

Cast

Charles Laughton

~ as ~

The Hunchback Quasimodo

Cedric Hardwicke

~ as ~

Frollo

Thomas Mitchell

~ as ~

Clopin

Maureen O'Hara

~ as ~

Esmeralda

Edmond O'Brien

~ as ~

Gringoire

Alan Marshal

~ as ~

Phoebus

Walter Hampden

~ as ~

Archdeacon

Harry Davenport

~ as ~

King Louis XI

Katharine Alexander

~ as ~

Madame de Lys

George Zucco

~ as ~

Procurator

View full cast & crew

Reviews (2)

John Chard
Written 10 year(s) ago
9
Incredible film-making, bravo for real classics.

What a truly lavish and gorgeous film this is, thematically it pulls the emotions in different directions, and as a story it's as sharp as a tack. Boasting a quite incredible performance from Charles Laughton as the tragic bell ringer Quasimodo (no nomination Academy, are you flipping sure?), and sets that are simply out of this world, this film to me defines classic cinema.

Into the mix we get a radiant Maureen O'Hara as Esmeralda who lights up the screen in every scene she is in, it's a very special performance in view of it being her first lead US turn. However, really the film's triumph lies with its script, a very aware piece of writing encompassing political goings on and the corruption of the church set around the hunchback's tragic love. The make up of Laughton leaves an indelible image when brought into focus with the great detail of the surroundings, and the score is mightily appropriate.

All in all this film cost 2 Million Dollars for RKO Studios, one of their most expensive outlays, but they were rewarded in spades as the film was a monster success and here in the modern day age of cinema the film still stands up as a benchmark for great movie making. 9/10
CinemaSerf
Written 3 year(s) ago
8
The is a wonderfully evocative version of the timeless Victor Hugo story of love, desire, cruelty and brutality in 1490's Paris. Charles Laughton turns in a tour de force performance as the physically and mentally disabled "Quasimodo" who is feared, loathed and ridiculed by the local population. When a wandering gypsy girl "Esmerelda" (quite possibly Maureen O'Hara's best ever performance) is found guilty of murder he rescues her and gives her sanctuary in the high bell tower of Notre Dame cathedral. Here she is easy prey for the already infatuated "Frollo" - superby depicted by Sir Cedric Hardwicke. What follows is the stuff of great literature adapted with adroit skill and sympathy by Sonya Levein (screenplay) and directed by William Dieterie. The use of light and shadow, Alfred Newman's nimble score and an authentic set (recreated in California) make this by far the best rendering of this story on film.