The Hunchback of Notre Dame
About The Hunchback of Notre Dame
In Paris in 1482, Quasimodo rings the bells of Notre Dame for his guardian, Chief Justice Frollo. Frollo wants the Romani dancer Esmeralda and calls the want witchcraft. He has Quasimodo seize her. She is sentenced, and Quasimodo swings down from the cathedral and carries her into sanctuary. Frollo still comes for her. Charles Laughton plays Quasimodo. Maureen O'Hara plays Esmeralda. Cedric Hardwicke plays Frollo.
Cast & crew
More about The Hunchback of Notre Dame
William Dieterle directed. Pandro S. Berman produced. Sonya Levien and Bruno Frank adapted Victor Hugo's 1831 novel. Joseph H. August photographed. Alfred Newman composed. Robert Wise and William Hamilton edited. 116 minutes. Thomas Mitchell plays Clopin. Edmond O'Brien plays Gringoire. Alan Marshal plays Phoebus. It was the only feature shown at the first Cannes festival. The rest of that festival was cancelled when the war started. Nominated for Best Score and Best Sound.
Themes
Look
Joseph H. August shot the cathedral square and the gallery.
Music
Alfred Newman composed the score.
Preservation
A print survives.
Notes
- Laughton's makeup is the bells and the hump, not a mask he takes off.
- O'Hara is Esmeralda. This is one of her early American leads.
- Cannes 1939 showed this picture and then stopped.
- The score and sound nominations did not win.
Scenes
- Quasimodo swings down from the gallery and carries Esmeralda inside.
- He speaks to a stone gargoyle after the square is empty.
Influenced by
- Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1831)
Quotes
Why was I not made of stone, like thee?
