The Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a 1939 American monochrome motion picture. It is considered by some reviewers to be the best of the many film versions of Victor Hugo's classic novel, and perhaps the one that sticks closest to Hugo's plot and intention although the ending differs. Esmeralda and Quasimodo remain alive at the end, unlike the novel, in which both die. Phoebus, who is only wounded in the novel, is killed in this film version; therefore, Esmeralda is arrested and sentenced to hang for murder, not attempted murder.

The story is fictional, but some real-life characters appear in it. The film is set in medieval Paris, France, and tells the tragic tale of a disfigured cathedral bell ringer who falls for the beautiful gypsy, Esmeralda. She, in turn, is in love with Captain Phoebus (Alan Marshal), who sees her only as a temporary distraction. The one other person who truly loves her is the real-life poet Pierre Gringoire (Edmond O'Brien), whom Esmeralda has married to save him from being hanged in a mock trial. The film provides the stage for one of Charles Laughton's greatest portrayals, as the tragic title figure. They are backed up by Maureen O'Hara's sweet Esmeralda, and Cedric Hardwicke's vicious Jehan, in this version (as in the 1923 version), the brother of the good archdeacon, Dom Claude (Walter Hampden). Jehan kills Phoebus out of mad jealousy, and allows Esmeralda to be convicted and sentenced to death, but she is saved by Quasimodo, who kills Jehan at the end of the film.

The film also makes it clear that Esmeralda eventually comes to love Gringoire, whereas in the novel she merely tolerates him.

Cast

• Charles Laughton as Quasimodo
• Cedric Hardwicke as Jehan Frollo
• Thomas Mitchell as Clopin Trouillefou
• Maureen O'Hara as Esmeralda
• Edmond O'Brien as Pierre Gringoire
• Alan Marshal as Captain Phoebus
• Walter Hampden as Dom Claude
• Harry Davenport as King Louis XI
• Helene Whitney as Fleur de Lys
• George Zucco as Procurator
• Fritz Leiber as Old Nobleman
• Etienne Girardot as Doctor
• Minna Gombell as Queen of Beggars
• Arthur Hohl as Olivier
• Curt Bois as Student
• George Tobias as Beggar
• Rod LaRacque as Phillippe
• Spencer Charters as Court Clerk
• Katharine Alexander as Fleur's Mum
• Kathryn Adams as Fleur's Companion
• Diane Hunter as Fleur's Companion
• Sig Arno as Tailor

Award nominations

• Academy Award for Best Original Music Score (Alfred Newman)
• Academy Award for Best Sound (John Aalberg)

External links

• The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the Internet Movie Database
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Allmovie
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Turner Classic Movies

v • d • e The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo Characters Esmeralda • Claude Frollo • Quasimodo • Captain Phoebus • Clopin Trouillefou • Pierre Gringore • Madellaine Films Esmeralda (1905) • The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1911) • The Darling of Paris (1917) • Esmeralda (1922 film) • The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) • The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) • Notre Dame de Paris (1956) • The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1966) • The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1977) • The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1982) • The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1986) • Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) • The Hunchback (1997) • Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame II (2002) Other Adaptations La Esmeralda (1844 ballet) • Notre-Dame de Paris (1998 musical) • Der Glöckner von Notre Dame (1999 musical)