The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1996 G, 95 min. Genre: Animation / Family / Drama / Musical
Director: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise Cast: Tom Hulce, Demi Moore, Tony Jay, Mary Wickes, Kevin Kline, Paul Kandel, Jason Alexander, David Ogden Stiers, Mary Kay Bergman, Jim Cummings, Corey Burton, Bill Fagerbakke, Charles Kimbrough, Gary Trousdale, Heidi Mollenhauer
Victor Hugo's powerful 1831 melodrama is brought to the screen by Disney in this animated offering. It glides over the corruption of church and politics and concentrates on hunchback Quasimodo (voice of Tom Hulce) who has been hidden in the bell tower of Notre Dame Cathedral by his adopted father Frollo (voice of Tony Jay). Quasimodo's gargoyle friends–Victor (voice of Charles Kimbrough), Hugo (voice of Jason Alexander), and Laverne (voice of Mary Wickes)– encourage him to attend a festival where he meets sensuous gypsy Esmeralda (voice of Demi Moore) and handsome soldier Phoebus (voice of Kevin Kline). Now, Frollo's cruel tactics rise to the fore as he tries to destroy the gypsies' home. Quasimodo comes to their aid, and, by story's end, Phoebus and Esmeralda go off together, and Quasimodo returns to the bell tower.
|  | |
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1982 TV, 150 min. Genre: Drama / Horror / Romance aka: Hunchback
Director: Michael Tuchner Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Derek Jacobi, Lesley-Anne Down, Robert Powell, John Gielgud, David Suchet, Gerry Sundquist, Tim Pigott-Smith, Alan Webb, Roland Culver, Nigel Hawthorne, Rosalie Crutchley, David Kelly, Joseph Batchley, Dave Hill
This made-for-TV miniseries stars Anthony Hopkins as the hunchback Quasimodo who is the bell ringer at Notre Dame Cathedral. Quasimodo leaves the bell tower and attends a festival during which, through a series of unfortunate events, he ends up the victim of a flogging. The sensuous gypsy Esmeralda (Lesley-Anne Down) consoles him by bringing him water, and Quasimodo falls in love with her. Later, after she is falsely accused of murder, Quasimodo rescues Esmeralda and brings her to the safety of the cathedral. But, his love for Esmeralda is doomed because she is in love with handsome soldier Phoebus (Robert Powell). This film features an outstanding supporting cast to provide an enthralling version of Victor Hugo's novel.
|  | |
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1956 N/R, 104 min. Genre: Foreign / Drama / Horror
Director: Jean Delannoy Cast: Gina Lollobrigida, Anthony Quinn, Jean Danet, Alain Cuny, Robert Hirsch, Danielle Dumont, Philippe Clay, Maurice Sarfati, Jean Tissier, Valentine Tessier, Jacques Hilling, Jacques Dufilho, Roland Bailly, Roger Blin, Marianne Oswald
Anthony Quinn does a fine job as hunchback Quasimodo, the bell ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral, who tries to fetch gypsy Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida) for the Chief Justice Frollo (Alain Cuny). He does reach Esmeralda and falls in love with her, but his efforts to bring her to Frollo fail, and Quasimodo gets arrested. Now, Esmeralda runs to the arms of Phoebus (Jean Danet)–leaving Quasimodo heartbroken.
|  | |
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1923 N/R, 93 min. Genre: Drama / Horror / Thriller
Director: Wallace Worsley Cast: Lon Chaney, Patsy Ruth Miller, Norman Kerry, Ernest Torrence, Tully Marshall, Kate Lester, Nigel De Brulier, Brandon Hurst, Raymond Hatton, Winifred Bryson, Harry von Meter, Nick De Ruiz, Roy Laidlaw, Ray Myers, Eulalie Jensen
Lon Chaney achieved stardom in this film as Notre Dame Cathedral bell ringer Quasimodo. Hunchbacked and friendless, he is crowned King of the Fools at a festival where gypsy Esmeralda (Patsy Ruth Miller) is entertaining the crowd as a diversion while her adopted father Clopin (Ernest Torrence) plots to overthrow the aristocracy. Notre Dame archdeacon Dom Claude (Nigel De Brulier) orders Quasimodo to kidnap Esmeralda, but the kidnapping plot fails, and Quasimodo is flogged. Esmeralda brings Quasimodo water, and later, when she is falsely accused of murder, Quasimodo rescues her and takes her to safety in the church. He falls in love with Esmeralda, but their union is not to be, and when he sees Esmeralda with her true love Phoebus (Norman Kerry), Quasimodo takes his own life.
|  | |
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1939 N/R, 114 min. Genre: Drama
Director: William Dieterle Cast: Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Hara, Cedric Hardwicke, Thomas Mitchell, Edmond O'Brien, Alan Marshal, Walter Hampden, Harry Davenport, George Zucco, Fritz Leiber, Katharine Alexander, Etienne Girardot, Arthur Hohl, Minna Gombell, Helene Whitney
The bell ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral, deformed hunchback Quasimodo (Charles Laughton), falls in love with beautiful gypsy Esmeralda (Maureen O'Hara) when the Chief Justice of Paris Jean Frollo (Cedric Hardwicke) sends him to abduct her. The abduction plan fails when Captain of the Guard Phoebus (Alan Marshal) saves her, and Quasimodo is sentenced to a flogging. Now, Esmeralda is the only one willing to bring water to Quasimodo while he is being held captive in the public square. But, more problems develop, and Quasimodo's love for Esmeralda will end in tragedy. A great movie.
|  | |
|  | | The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) |
 | |
| Oscar: Best Supporting Actor for A Fish Called Wanda (1988) |
 | | The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1982) |
 | |
| Oscar: Best Actor for The Silence of the Lambs (1991) |
|
| Oscar: Best Supporting Actor for Arthur (1981) |
 | | The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1956) |
 | |
| Oscars: Best Supporting Actor for Viva Zapata! (1952), Best Supporting Actor for Lust for Life (1956) |
 | | The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) |
 | | The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) |
 | |
| Oscar: Best Actor for The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933) |
|
| Oscar: Best Supporting Actor for Gone With The Wind (1939) |
|
| Oscar: Best Supporting Actor for The Barefoot Contessa (1954) |
In The News
|