The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Amazon.com

The misconception about this animated film from Disney was that it was a movie for kids--something Victor Hugo never had in mind. In fact, despite a cute brace of singing gargoyles who are Quasimodo's (Tom Hulce) best friends, this version of Hugo's classic tale is really adult entertainment, with a strong set of songs by Alan Menken. The story remains mostly the same (though tricked out with a happier ending than Hugo's): Quasimodo, the ward of repressive monk Frollo, falls for a gypsy girl named Esmerelda (Demi Moore)--though she loves one of the king's guards (Kevin Kline). But they are all put in jeopardy by the wicked Frollo, whose secret passion for Esmerelda leads him to seek her death. At times too dark and even a shade kinky, something that may scare younger viewers. --Marshall Fine

Description

Inspired by Victor Hugo's classic novel, Disney brings the heroic adventures of Quasimodo, the gentle and lonely bell ringer of Notre Dame, to spectacular life. This critically acclaimed Disney masterpiece is an "uplifting, thrilling story with a heart-touching message that emerges from the comedy and song" (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times). At the urging of his hilarious gargoyle pals Victor, Hugo, and Laverne, Quaismodo leaves the solitary safety of his tower, venturing out to find his first true friend, the gypsy beauty Esmerelda. The most unlikely of heroes, Quasi fights to save the people and the city he loves and, in turn, helps us to see people for who they are, rather than how they appear. The star-studded voice cast includes Jason Alexander, Tom Hulce, Kevin Kline, and Demi Moore in a magnificent Disney musical from renowned composer Alan Menken.

Customer Reviews:

Disney Classic.......2007-08-11

This is another Disney Classic. Music is fun. "Lesson" is cleverly presented. Didn't notice any adult humor in this one.

An underrated treasure from the Disney catalog .......2007-08-03

"The Hunchback of Notre Dame" is one of the treasures of the Disney catalog.

The film was not as commercially or critically successful as other Disney animated films at the time of release and it is not hard to see why - this is Disney's darkest animated film with themes of sexual desire, social injustice, and religious hypocrisy.

With these meaty themes this film may well be more enjoyable to adults than kids. Still it's a thrilling ride filled with great animation, memorable characters, and great songs by Alan Menken and Stephen Swartz.

Educational, Entertaining, Child-Friendly and Parent-Safe.......2007-07-18

I bought this DVD for my 8 year old son who had recently finished a research project on France. While studying and learning about Notre Dame, I introduced him to this Walt Disney version of this classic story by Victor Hugo. What a smash hit it has been in our home. My son has watched it many times, has explained it to family members and friends and has since been inspired to read a children's version of the book. We just love this movie! If you're looking to expand childrens' knowledge of classic literature, then this is (as a teaching tool for children) the most appropriate and user-friendly rendidition. Enjoy watching and discussing the many story elements, events, and moral messages that exist in this story. It is also really quite funny and adult friendly as it has some very clever references which you may not quite catch the first time around...but watch it again and again and be entertained! The characters are colorful and multi-dimensional, the actors are superb (love all the actors doing the voice-overs!), the animation is great, and the music is fantastic. The ending is an interesting and happy one, unlike Hugo's, which of course lends itself to another lesson to discuss. Very well-done!

One of the best Disney movies ever made.......2007-05-18

I stand true to my title. This is deffinetly my favorite movie ever. People, don't listen to the overprotective parents claiming that this is a horrble dark movie. Yes, it is dark, and yes it needed a PG rating but the kids won't understand it in the first place.I didn't understand the song "Hellfire" until I was twelve. Please do not shove that world is good junk down our throats. Overall, this is a fantastic movie. It has phenomenol singing, timeless characters, and an overall great plot. Admidetlly, you might was to show it to 8 and up just because they might understand it better. I highly recomend this breathtaking movie

Disney taking over Paris.......2007-05-10

I didn't really like the movie but it of course might just be me and my biases against the beginning of the movie, which just like Bambi, I hated. This Disney animated cartoon takes places in fifteenth century Paris and is mainly about a hunchback named Quasimodo who lived in the bell tower of Notre Dame. The minister of justice at the time if Claude Frollo almost kills Quasimodo in the beginning of the movie but was forced by the Archdeacon to raise Quasimodo, who he keeps hidden away in the tower. During the festival of fools, he meets Esmeralda, a spirited gypsy and Phoebus, a soldier, who find themselves at odds with Frollo and his cruelty against the gypsies. Adventure about the three of them trying to overcome the evil of the reigning government and the tyrants within it.

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (Ultimate Edition)

Average customer rating:

Is This The TCM Restoration?

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (Ultimate Edition)
Starring: Lon Chaney , Patsy Ruth Miller , Norman Kerry , Kate Lester , and Winifred Bryson
Director: Wallace Worsley
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
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ASIN: B000TEUSI6
Release Date: 2007-10-09

Description

Lon Chaney stars as the gentle outcast Quasimodo in the first film version of Victor Hugo's classic novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Paris of 1482 was meticulously recreated on the back lot of Universal Studios for this powerful drama that turned Chaney into a screen legend -- now presented in the ultimate special edition of this timeless classic.

Mastered in high definition from an original multi-tinted print.

New symphonic score compiled by Donald Hunsberger, adapted and conducted by Robert Israel. Recorded in Europe in digital stereo. Insert essay and optional audio essay through the film, both by Michael F. Blake, author of two books on Lon Chaney. Facsimile reproduction of original souvenir program.

Gallery of Original 3-D stills (3-D viewing glasses are included with this DVD). Extensive gallery of 2-D stills including production shots, scenes and advertising materials. Behind-the-scenes footage of Lon Chaney out of makeup on the set.

Customer Reviews:

Is This The TCM Restoration?.......2007-07-24

I'm assuming this is the expanded TCM Restoration. If so, this will be significantly better then any previous edition. The Turner restoration is stunning by comparison with all previous editions.

One possible caveat: Image really messed up the dvd mastering/authoring on the similar Phantom Of The Opera collection. There was significant ghosting on movement. Image told me by email the cause was Milestone provided them a poor PAL to NTSC conversion for the master & no one caught it before pressing the $30 sets.

Average customer rating:

Although the casting & acting ...
The best Hunchback
Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)
One of the best b & w films ever
A small masterpiece, projecting love of the fantastic, the mystical, and the grotesque...,

The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Starring: Charles Laughton , Cedric Hardwicke , Thomas Mitchell , Maureen O'Hara , and Edmond O'Brien
Director: William Dieterle
Manufacturer: Turner Home Ent
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ASIN: 6304698615
Release Date: 1998-01-06

Amazon.com

Of the many film versions of Victor Hugo's novel, this classic from Hollywood's golden year of 1939 remains the best, rivaled only by the 1923 silent version starring Lon Chaney. In his triumphant attempt to create a performance as memorable as Chaney's, Charles Laughton played the lovelorn Parisian hunchback Quasimodo under a disfiguring costume and gruesome makeup that rendered the actor almost unrecognizable. The result is a gripping and heartfelt portrayal of the misshapen bell ringer who falls desperately in love with the beautiful gypsy Esmeralda (played by Maureen O'Hara). The lavish production also greatly benefits from exquisitely moody black-and-white cinematography, brilliant medieval set design, and the atmospheric direction by German expatriate William Dieterle, whose style was heavily influenced by German films of the era. The DVD release includes the original theatrical trailer plus an additional audio track with authoritative commentary by film historian Paul Mandell. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Although the casting & acting ..........2007-09-11

... are flawless, the sets superb, everybody remember Victor Hugo wrote a book, but not so many seem to remember the story he wrote, since a lot of the script (especially the preposterous "happy" ending) come from shameless Hollywood tradition about thinking (are they able to think anyway?) their way of reinventing any story is the best in the world. Anyone who have read the book should forget he did, so one can enjoy the other qualities of this movie. Anyway, I think Victor Hugo stopped quite a while ago worrying about copyright's infringement, which, unfortunately doesn't apply to the Hollywood Factory (ask any author who's been conned, there's no shortage), only to the consumers of their products.

The best Hunchback.......2007-08-26

I was raised watching the Anthony Quinn version of Victor Hugo's classic Hunchback of Notre Dame. I only discovered the 1939 Charles Laughton version in the past year. I was immediately impressed by the care and expense taken with this movie. Laughton and Hardwicke are excellent in the roles of Quasimodo and the evil Frollo. The photography is stunning, with luminous close-ups and chiaroscuro lighting of dramatic scenes. The film shows why this was Hollywood's golden period. The business of creating art was never more successful than at RKO.
My main complaint about this DVD is that the film has not been restored as it truly deserves. While there is dirt and other flaws on the film, it does not degrade the wonderful images of the film. The DVD has good detail and the B&W photography is very revealing of detail and textures. Also, while there is a nice documentary, the film deserves a commentary track as well.

Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939).......2007-06-21

This peerless adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic anti-clerical novel features a triumphant, heart-rending performance by Laughton, who's virtually unrecognizable beneath his grotesque costume and makeup. With its moody atmosphere and expressionistic set design, "Hunchback" rivals the 1923 silent original, which starred Lon Chaney, but it is the superb acting by Laughton, O'Hara, and Hardwicke, as the hate-mongering hierarch, that make it the finest of all screen versions. Dieterle's commanding direction of all the details, from the medieval gloominess to the tragically human storyline, holds it all together. You'll fall hump over heels for "Hunchback," a gothic love story like no other.

One of the best b & w films ever.......2007-02-12

Wow, I watched this today, and can't believe how impressed I am. The acting, by nearly everyone, was excellent, the story was great, the sets were awesome, the costumes were right-on.

This was one of Maureen O'Hara's first films, filmed when she was just 18 years old. She has played all kinds of roles since playing the beautiful gypsy girl Esmerelda, but for some reason, Esmerelda, to me, really stands out from her swashbuckling/Sahara sands movies. Esmerelda is just more realistic than Maureen's roles playing some diplomat's daughter. And more interesting, too.

I have never seen Edmund O'Brien before, and wasn't quite sure what to make of him. He reminded me a bit of Mark Hamill. I have no idea why. Maybe it was his 'brotherly' rather than 'husbandly' role in this movie. I was glad when Esmerelda saw the light & realized he was much better for her than the fellow who was murdered. Poor Quasimodo, left to cuddle up to a gargoyle! Better luck next time, Quasi!

A small masterpiece, projecting love of the fantastic, the mystical, and the grotesque...,.......2007-01-02

The Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris is shrouded in romance, myth, mystery and intrigue... Throughout the ages, poets and writers have drawn inspiration from her splendor... Generations have found both wonder and terror in the gargoyles that appear menacingly from her thin structures...

Hailed by critics as the most important of French Romantic writers, Victor Hugo invented his own version of the historical novel, combining the local color and historical detail of Honoré de Balzac and the spiritual lecture of George Sand..

The film, set in 15th century medieval period, tells a moving story of a Gypsy girl Esmeralda who comes to Paris to intercede with the King Louis XI (Harry Davenport) for her people... While there, she earns her living as a dancer arising passion in the Chief Justice of Paris, Jean Frollo, a sinister priest, who discovers that she favors Captain Phoebus (Alan Marshal).

Frollo sends the deformed bell-ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral, Quasimodo, to kidnap her... Esmeralda is rescued by the captain of the guard who is later stabbed by Frollo with the blame being thrust on her...

Under torture, she confesses to the crime and is sentenced to be hung... But she is saved by the hunchback who attempts to shelter her in the cathedral...

Much of the rich atmosphere is concretely seen in this version: The persecution of Gypsies; the happy Festival of the Fools; the conclave of thieves and beggars in the Court of Miracles; the punishment of Quasimodo; the Cathedral and its role as the center of medieval Paris... The highest dramatic moment of the film comes when Clopin (Thomas Mitchell) calls upon his half-starved mob to attack the fortified cathedral and rescue Esmeralda...

Charles Laughton is cast as Quasimodo, Hugo's extremely disfigured man... Quasimodo is a monstrous 'King of Fools' with inner beauty, strength and nobility... He is deaf for the sound of the bells he loves... In this distorted body with ugly face, there is lot of humanity, kindness and gratitude...

Sir Cedric Hardwicke plays the privileged arch villain Jean Frollo, who controls medieval France... He is an ambitious priest who resists the force of political change against the church... He is a man with emotion and passion, blinded by a false light, obsessed, confused and tormented by a lustful desire...

Maureen O'Hara plays the enchanting Esmeralda, a young naive Gypsy dancer, innocent and pure...

Edmond O'Brien (in his film debut) plays an impertinent dreamer who arouses laughter and amusement with his adventures in the Court of Miracles...

Harry Davenport plays a fascinated King, happy to live in an age of great beginnings, determined to take his bath twice a year...

William Dieterle's film is a small masterpiece, projecting deep feeling for the human soul, love of the fantastic, the mystical and the grotesque...

Average customer rating:

A sequel for redemption
A pale shadow of the brilliant original
Not as good as the original, but still good
Certainly Doesn't Compare with the First
A Tour de Force!

The Hunchback of Notre Dame II
Starring: Jason Alexander , Jennifer Love Hewitt , Tom Hulce , Paul Kandel , and Charles Kimbrough
Director: Bradley Raymond
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
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ASIN: B00005T7H3
Release Date: 2002-03-19

Amazon.com

Most of the original characters from Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame--plus a few new ones--return for this animated sequel. Esmeralda (Demi Moore) and Phoebus (Kevin Kline) now have a son named Zephyr (Haley Joel Osment), with whom Quasi (Tom Hulce) has become friends. When the circus comes to town, the hunchback becomes enchanted by a magician's assistant, Madellaine (Jennifer Love Hewitt), but the her boss, the vain Sarousch (Michael McKean), is also a thief with an eye for the cathedral's jeweled bell. He forces Madellaine to woo Quasi while he carries out the theft. Will he get away with it? Will Madellaine learn to see the inner Quasi? And will he be able to trust again when he learns of her deception? Songs and humorous high jinks from the gargoyles, including Jason Alexander's Hugo, illustrate the lesson that--as in the first feature--you can't judge a book by its cover. This sequel is squarely aimed at a younger audience than the original was; children from 5 to 10 should be very entertained. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Description

Return to the magnificence of Notre Dame in Disney's all-new movie, The Hunchback of Notre Dame II - a fun, romantic adventure told with vibrant animation and music as soaring as its setting. Still the faithful protector of Notre Dame's beloved bells, Quasimodo now rings them with the help of Zephyr, who is Quasi's best friend. Stopping with Zephyr at a traveling circus owned by the evil magician Sarousch, Quasi is captivated by Sarousch's lovely assistant, Madellaine. But greedy Sarousch is about to force Madellaine to help him steal the Cathedral's most famous bell. Encouraged by some laughable romantic advice from his gargoyle pals, Quasi listens to his own heart and discovers that he, too, must look past appearances to find true love.

Customer Reviews:

A sequel for redemption.......2007-05-10

Defiantly not the best sequel in the world, at least this time they strive to give Quasimodo a love interest who is actually interested in him back. Quasimodo stops by a traveling circus and falls for the evil magician's assistant, Madellaine. The evil magician, Sarouch, tries to force Madellaine to help him steal Notre Dame's most famous bell. I guess it is a good thing that Quasimodo now has a love interest but I would think that Disney could come up with a better plot line to achieve that goal than the one that they did.

A pale shadow of the brilliant original.......2007-02-24

I had such high hopes for this one. I consider the first Hunchback of Notre Dame to be THE greatest modern Disney movie, period. It looks fantastic, has memorable music and a grand theatricality that leaves other so-called "children's films" in the dust. But direct-to-video sequels are notorious substandard, and I put off buying this one for several years. But then I thought, "OK, if they managed to get the original voice cast back, MAYBE there's something to this."

But the sad truth is, everything I loved about the first film is missing. The main problem, as many have stated, is that the animation is just plain terrible. It looks cheap, like most made-for-television animation (I know there are exceptions, but they are few and far between). The story is cliched, even for Disney. And even with the impressive vocal talents of Tom Hulce, Jason Alexander, etc., it doesn't really matter if the character aren't given anything interesting to do. I will grant that the music isn't all that bad, which is why I'm giving this a generous 2 stars.

Maybe very young children will like it. Or parents who feel the first film is too intense for the very young (and I would agree with them...the first Hunchback should have been given a PG rating). But for any adults who enjoyed the original, this one's a major letdown.

Not as good as the original, but still good.......2006-08-20

What is wrong with you people? This movie isn't all THAT bad. True, it may not be the same as the original, but I still like it nonetheless. And my dad, who is rather choosy when it comes to movies, also likes this movie. My brothers and sisters, and even my best friend, love this movie as well.

The animation could be slightly better, and the music may not have the same grip on you as the music from the original, but who cares? Who says movies have to be the same all the time?

So come on, people, quit your complaining and cut Disney some slack. There are worse movies out there than this one, you know.

Certainly Doesn't Compare with the First.......2005-11-17

Okay, I love the Hunchback of Notre Dame...one, that is. I rented this movie from my local library, and was so glad that I didn't actually pay money even to rent it. I looked on the back, and it said there was only a runtime of about 68 minutes. That told me something right there. The movie has no plot, no evident storyline, and the animation is just awful. I'm not an expert or anything, but I've noticed that a lot of direct to video sequels share this quality. If you're looking for a villain as good as Frollo, do not expect it from this movie. The first movie is always the best!

A Tour de Force!.......2005-08-11

I read some of these reviews, and I must say, you really don't have an eye to see, an ear to hear, or a heart to feel any of these Disney movies anymore. You gotta look past the technical stuff and focus more on the real stuff, such as the message of the story. This film, like so many other great Disney films, have great messages and themes for all of us to live by. I watched it, and it is really magnifique! The characters are remarkable, the animation is beautiful, and the songs are so fantastic! I can't see any reason why anyone would hate this film.

The story begins on the day before the Parisian festival Le Jour D'Amour, and everyone is preparing for this special day. It's a day full of love and romance for everyone. Quasimodo (Tom Hulce, Amadaeus) wishes he had someone to share this day with, but everyone, including Esmeralda (Demi Moore, Striptease, G.I. Jane), Phoebus (Kevin Kline, The Road to Eldorado, Wild Wild West), and the gargoyles: Hugo (Jason Alexander, Sinfeld, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella), Victor (Charles Kimsborough), and Laverne (Winters), encourage Quasimodo not to give up hope. Just as they are finishing preparations, a huge spectacle comes to Paris. The circus comes to town! Leading the troupe is the evil Sarousch (Michael McKean), who has been stealing treasures all over France without anyone noticing. He hears about a very special bell called La Fidelle ("the faithful one"), which is ordinary on the outside, but on the inside, is filled with jewels. He sends out his slave, Madelline (Jenifer Love Hewitt, Sister Act II, The Tuxedo), to lure the bell ringer away from the towers of Notre Dame so that he could steal it. When Madelline enters the tower, she sees Quasimodo's room and gazes in awe at the numerous bells and his mini city of Paris. Quasimodo is hiding from her because she doesn't want her to see how hideous he looks. But it is too late. Madelline sees him and runs away, horrified by the way he looks. Quasimodo is sad, but doesn't give up hoping that he will fall in love. He just needs an "ordinary miracle". Will Quasimodo fall in love with Madelline? Will Saroucsh steal the bell? Will Madelline see past Quasimodo's hideous appearance and see the true beauty inside of him?

This film has great songs, including "Le Jour D'Amour", "An Ordinary Miracle", "Fa-La-La-La Fallen in Love", and "I'm Gonna Love You". It's really tres, tres bien!

This film, as I said earlier, has great themes, which are: it's not outside but inside that counts; Stand up for what you believe in; and believe in miracles. Who knows? The ordinary might become the extraordinary!

Please buy this film, and if you watched it before, watch it again, but this time, watch it with your heart, and feel the story talking to you. It's a really true love story for all of us.

Average customer rating:

Love it!
Awsome DVD
The Definitive Musical of The 20th Century!
EXCELLENT!
A musical, but not as we know it

Notre Dame de Paris
Starring: Hélène Ségara , Daniel Lavoie , Bruno Pelletier , Garou , and Patrick Fiori
Director: Gilles Amado
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ASIN: B00005Y7KX
Release Date: 2001-04-24

Description

This 150 minute DVD feature film stars Bruno Pelletier, Garou, Helen Segara, Patrick Fiori, Julie Zenatti, Daniel Lavoie and includes a 15 minute making-of documentary.

Customer Reviews:

Love it!.......2007-07-08

First, about the seller. Fast delivery, nicely packed. The DVD is placed inside a little book with pictures and lyrics, which allowed me to follow the French subtitles and sing it along ... in French. I like Garou as Quazimodo. And the Belle song is my favorite. Esmeralda - yes, I agree, too old and motionless. Well, no fix can be done with that one.
But if you like european style music and french language - the DVD is for you. I am now intended to re-read the Hugo's book.

Awsome DVD.......2007-02-22

This is one of the best opera I have ever seen. I have been waiting for the DVD release for many years, and finally its here!

The Definitive Musical of The 20th Century!.......2007-02-06

Conventional wisdom has it that the French don't like musicals. Not true at all, as the success of this show demonstrates. Plamondon and Cocciante have concocted a masterpiece that perfectly captures all the important parts of Hugo's novel, and magnificently transports the whole thing to the stage. The handful of young unknowns who star in this production on the video tape (most of them from Quebec) are almost overwhelming in their talent as singers, dancers, and dramatic performers. Bruno Pelletier shines as the anguished, tortured priest. Hélène Ségara (the only French star in the cast) totally captures our hearts as the doomed Esméralda, and Garou (the name means "Werewolf" in French!) demands and receives all our sympathy as the hapless Quasimodo. Incredibly powerful supporting performances by Patrick Fiori as Phoebus, Julie Zenatti as Fleur-de-lys and Luc Merville as Clopin round out a cast that can do no wrong.

Imagine Riverdance on steroids, "West Side Story" meets "Cirque de Soleil", or a Paris riot set to music, and you have an idea of the scope of this incredible show. The choreography is the most energetic, not to say frenetic, I have ever seen, and the most imaginative. It's hard to decide, at times, if we are watching a dance or a gymnastics exhibition.

If you can't get to Las Vegas, Montreal or Paris to see the show live on stage, this is the next best thing. For me it totally eclipsed every rock opera and musical which preceded it, to become the definitive musical of the 20th century. And I believe it will be at least another generation before anyone can come up with a way to surpass it.

EXCELLENT!.......2006-07-27

I was not lucky enough to see the original production of this show. But, after listening to the 2 CD version over and over again, I finally bought this.

It's a wonderful show. I do think some of the camera work wasn't great. For instance, the acrobats and dancers are an integral part of this show. They aren't clear here, and are not given equal camera time here. I have heard this show is similar to Cirque de Soleil's shows, but it's impossible to see this when viewing the DVD.

Some of the criticism with this show was that the storyline isn't completely clear. I don't find this to be the case, but I'm familiar with the story. I do think most of it is clear, and viewing the show made me love the music all the more. All of the characters (save Esmeralda, who I'll get to in a minute) are multi-dimensional and, in the 1 1/2 hour showtime, you really get a feel for the anguish these people are all going through. Frollo, in particular, was a real surprise. Instead of being pure evil, one really sees his mental torture. He's even sympathetic at times, except you know all along he will do the wrong thing and cause death and destruction at the end.

Garou (Quasimodo) and Daniel Lavoie (Frollo) are just EXCELLENT. Lavoie's voice is amazing. Patrick Fiori (Phoebus) has a gorgeous tenor. They are all just a pleasure to listen to and watch. Bruno Pelletier, in his role as Gringoire, is perfect.

Fleur de Lys (Julie Zenatti) is wonderful in her small role.

The only real problem I had with the casting was Esmeralda. Her voice is beautiful and she conveys the right emotion in the music. However, part of the problem with this show is that she is supposed to be a gypsy who dances most sensually. It's talked about over and over again. . . the men literally become transfixed watching her. . .mesmerized. We never get to see her dance. Ever. She walks around stiffly and doesn't really move sensually at all. In one of the first numbers she has, "Bohemienne", there is a point where she raises her hands as if she will go into a gypsy dance, but then she doesn't. And, this is a bit of a let down. Is this the director's fault? Is this because Helene Segara cannot dance at all? If she can't dance, then they really needed to show a gypsy dance with one of the cast dancers playing Esmeralda for the interval. This one thing was noticeable enough for me to reduce the 5 stars this show would have received to the four that I gave it.

Also, I thought Helene Segara was made up to look a bit too old for the part. There was just so much makeup, that she didn't look young and innocent. She looked older and harder-- although she is supposed to be young and innocent and unaware of her beauty and the effect she has on those around her. She IS beautiful, yes. But, she she doesn't carry off the innocence at all visually. Noa, who sang Esmeralda on the CD version of this, visually could have carried off the role of Esmeralda even though she's less "classically" beautiful. She's more lithe and dark and has that sensuous body movement that Helene Segara lacks.

Regardless of my criticism here, this is an excellent show and one worth having on DVD.

A musical, but not as we know it.......2006-03-03

I was on a high for days after I watched this show. It is a profoundly moving, synergistic combination of music, acting and dance that has very little in common with traditional musicals as we know them. French musicals have always developed along a different path to the Broadway/West End tradition, and nowhere is it more evident than in the production of "Notre Dame de Paris".

Before getting into the production, a word about the story. This is slimmed down from Victor Hugo's original novel, but essentially faithful to the text. Even Hugo's major thesis, that the age of the cathedrals will be killed by modernity, is touched upon, although the emphasis is on the fear of the gypsies/foreigners. The only significant omission is the subplot with Esmeralda's mother: in this version, Esmeralda is indeed a gypsy, rather than a child stolen by the gypsies from her mother. The character is thus also altered somewhat from the book, although the essentials remain: she is a young woman who is as yet unaware of her own sensuality and finds herself the subject of the unwanted attentions of two men, while falling in love with a third. Helene Segara is peraps a trifle too deliberate in her flirting at the start, but she is stunning in the second act. Vocally, I prefer Noa's version on the cast recording, but this is a matter of taste.

The production itself is very modern, and very sophisticated. It is not a musical in the classical sense, although there are some elements of rock-operas like "Jesus Christ Superstar". Here, the story and themes are expressed through movement (modern dance) as much as music, and some of the numbers that sound fairly repetitive on the recording (Les Sans-Papiers, for instance) come to life with the choreography, which is clearly the intent. In fact, I'm not sure that choreography and dancing are even the appropriate terms -- it really is more like expressionistic movement.

The staging is modernistic, austere and industrial in theme; allusions are made, although never pounded in, to the plight of illegal immigrants in France and around the world. The costumes are very expressionistic as well, not exactly all-modern, more a mixture of what you'd expect to see (say, a priest's cassock) interpreted for the stage (Frollo's costume has strips of fabric on his sleeves that make him look like a bird of prey or an omninous death-without-his-scythe figure in silhoette; an image used very effectively).

The actors are remarkable, especially Daniel Lavoie as Frollo and Garou as Quasimodo. They use poses, gestures and hand movements to create character, sometimes very obviously and sometimes very subtly and it's extremely effective. The costuming is really not what transforms them, not even Quasimodo -- he somehow _becomes_ a deformed guy, you can completely believe it. Bruno Pelletier does not get to do quite as much acting as the poet-narrator Gringoire, but his vocal part is earth-shattering. (Listen out for his phenomenal encore after the titles, where he gets to show off a little bit without the backing music.) Julie Zenatti likewise shines in the small, but wonderfully rendered part of Fleur-de-Lys.

The final sequence, the execution, was just heart-rending. The stage is dark, and only a red light shines on Esmeralda as she dies. Then a light leaps across the facade of "Notre Dame" (actually a multi-purpose set built like a honeycomb of boxes) and the distraught Quasimodo sends Frollo tumbling from cell to cell through this honeycomb, in flashes of light. When Quasimodo puts Esmeralda on the ground and sings to her, shadowy dancers behind him carry their own broken girls, who float away and back, as if their souls were dancing in mid-air. It is beautiful and deeply moving.

Perhaps my only real compaint is the quality of the cinematorgraphy. The camera angles are choppy and intercut continuously, so that at times it is very difficult to get an overall impression of the stage as seen by the audience. Occasional moments of brilliance, such as the unexpected view of Esmeralda in her cell from the back of the stage, are offset by the jarring and too-frequent "special effects", along the lines of unnecessary freeze-frames at the end of every musical number and the occasional slo-mo sequence that is clearly out of place. However, I found I could get past that and just appreciate the production itself, and it was a wonderful experience. I only wish I could see this live!

Average customer rating:

Anthony Quinn, in full monster regalia, remains in the memory...
sadly, this just doesn't hold up
The Grimace Of The Gods
Surprisingly faithful, surprisingly good
Faithfull

The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Starring: Gina Lollobrigida , Anthony Quinn , Jean Danet , Alain Cuny , and Robert Hirsch
Director: Jean Delannoy
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005U152
Release Date: 2003-09-02

Customer Reviews:

Anthony Quinn, in full monster regalia, remains in the memory..........2007-01-11

'Notre Dame De Paris,' set in medieval Paris in the year 1482, tells the moving story of a beautiful gypsy dancer and a grateful hunchback who adores her...

Quinn's distinctive interpretation of the ward of the cathedral in the sumptuous, wide-screen, full-color version of the Victor Hugo successful historical novel, is full of vitality as well as pity...

Despite the spectacular appearance of Gina Lollobrigida, top-billed as Esmeralda, it is Quinn in full monster regalia who remains in the memory, not many lengths behind Lon Chaney and Charles Laughton...

The motion picture is focused on the events leading to Esmeralda's trial for witchcraft and the stabbing of her noble lover, the cavalier of King Louis XI... Esmeralda is accused of the crime, tortured and sentenced to death... When she is about to be hanged, Quasimodo pushes the hangman aside, sweeps her into his arms, and carries her into the sanctuary of Notre Dame...

Much of the rich atmosphere so vividly described in the Hugo irresistible tale - the happy Festival of the Fools, the Court of Miracles, the cathedral and its role as the center of medieval Paris, the storming of Notre Dame - provide the spectacle a timeless message of lust, jealousy, prejudice, hate, compassion and love...

Quasimodo is just 'one long, ugly face from his head to his toes,' but in his distorted body, there is lot of humanity, kindness, and gratitude... Quasimodo lives high in the church towers... We see him exceptionally agile, showing no fear for its height, climbing down its facade, embracing its huge bell, telling Esmeralda in halting words that she is safe within the walls of the cathedral... That day, Quasimodo leaps onto 'Big Louise' and rides his beloved huge bell back and forth sending its mighty sound throughout Paris for his beloved Esmeralda...

Esmeralda is the sensuous gypsy girl, who ascends the pillory to quench Quasimodo's thirst... She is fond of dancing, noise and open air... She is in love with one man whom she calls the 'bright sun.'

Master Frollo (Alain Cuny) is the man in black who inspires respect and fear... He is the haunted Archdeacon of Notre Dame, an expert on witchcraft... It is said that he is the greatest magician of all France, but magic is merely illusion... Frollo is completely taken with Esmeralda's beauty... He is the king's judge who lies about the ravishing temptress who follows him in his dreams... His thoughts are like Quasimodo's face, ugly! ('We are brothers.. your face and my soul..')

Phoebus (Jean Danet) is vain, arrogant, and opportunistic... To him, the Gypsy girl is a sexual object to be cynically manipulated, used and rejected... The only love which the Captain of the King's Archers recognizes is narcissism... His tendency to erotic self-love and his excessive self-admiration...

Robert Hirsch is the harmless poet - educated under the patronage of Master Frollo - who breaks the laws of the kingdom of thieves and beggars, and has one chance to live...

'Notre Dame De Paris' shows us that human nature always struggles between two opposing forces: The light and the darkness, the grotesque and the beautiful, love and hate, hope and despair...

sadly, this just doesn't hold up.......2006-03-02

I recall seeing this movie as a kid and loving it. However, it looks very old-fashioned, is very stiff, very staged looking. It's just kind of hokey.

A new "Hunchback" movie is needed. I'm waiting for that one, maybe with Brad Pitt as the hunchback.

Best,

Film Guy

The Grimace Of The Gods.......2005-10-19

The other versions are excellent as well, including Lon Chaney's silent epic; Charles Laughton saving Maureen O'Hara from burning Hollywood; and Demi Moore in her greatest performance in the Disney musical. But for my money, this is the version to buy and cherish. Filmed in France for Frenchmen, and secondarily for the international market, HUNCHBACK was criticized at home for failure to cast French actors in either of the leading roles. It's not as if France in 1956-7 didn't have dozens of great stars, and wouldn't you have enjoyed seeing a version of this Victor Hugo tale with, say, Jean Gabin as Quasimodo, and Brigitte Bardot as Esmeralda? Instead the producers went elsewhere, arguing that in the novel, of course, Esmeralda's "foreignness" was an essential part of the tale, and the same for Quasimodo. Gabin was, indeed, a very real possibility, for he was director Jean Delannoy's Inspector Maigret in several films and the two clicked together on a personal level as well.

Thus we have Anthony Quinn as the tortured church servant, and Gina Lollobrigida as Esmeralda. She plays up the Gypsy aspect quite a bit, and in general cavorts like she's Demi Moore trying to have a good time, but something of her fate seems to be hanging over her handsome, tousled head, and the shadow of the gargoyles is like the guillotine--a factor of doom. Lollobrigida had just finished filming TRAPEZE and was given only four days' holiday before reporting to Paris for the arduous, twelve-week NOTRE DAME DE PARIS shoot. (Notice how buff her arms are in those sleeveless peasant blouses, that's a holdover from her training for TRAPEZE.)

Lovers of French film will rejoice to see Roger Blin in s smallish part: Blin starred in everything from Cocteau's ORPHEUS to Clouzot's LE CORBEAU, and in NOTRE DAME DE PARIS he's very stylish, though badly dubbed into English.

Best of all is the lustrous color photography! Because this was a production partially financed by the French government, approved by Minister of Culture Andre Malraux, the production was allowed to film directly in the Cathedral itself, so every time you see an interior shot, or so it is said, you are peering into the mysterious Notre Dame itself. The long shots of Quasimodo pouring molten oil over the battlements were recreated largely in the studio. Watch for the famous bateaux-mouches parading lazily up the Seine, which has never looked more beuatiful. This film was nominated for a "Cesar," the Oscar of France, but somehow lost to a smaller product. The day of the "new wave" was at hand and it wouldn't be long before the names of the moment would be Louis Malle, Jean-Luc Godard, Agnes Varda, Chris Marker, and Francois Truffaut. When the bells ring in the ancient cathedral, they're ringing out the end of an era, and ringing in a new dawn for French film.

Surprisingly faithful, surprisingly good.......2003-10-24

Strangely, there has never been a bad film of Victor Hugo's classic tale, and while this is indeed less successful than Laughton, Chaney or Disney's versions, this French effort is still a surprisingly good and much under-rated film. To get the most out of it, you have to bear in mind that Hugo did not write a horror story but a tale of unrequited love and anguish. There is little of the Gothic on show here; rather, everyone is trapped by a desire for what they are denied. This is much more 'Notre Dame de Paris' (the novel's actual title) than 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame': Quasimodo probably gets less screen time here than in any of the other films, only dominating the drama in the last third. Instead, as with Hugo, it uses the cathedral of Notre Dame as the thread that binds all social stratas - Kings and beggars, thieves and soldiers, gypsies and alchemists, playwrights and aristocrats - giving a vivid portrait of a time and place half imagined, half real.

Quinn is more of a brute than we're used to seeing in our Quasimodos: unlike Laughton, he's no poetic soul trapped in a broken body but an animal who is given an inkling of what it means to be human. Lollabrigida fares better than usual as Esmerelda, and if their relationship is never moving, the ending, for once taken directly from the novel, is genuinely touching.

There are problems: the dubbing is at times irritating (and there is no French-language option on the disc), while Jean Danet is quite the most embarrassing Phoebus imaginable, stilted, impossibly smug and just plain odd-looking. Some key scenes are poorly staged, most notably Quasimodo's rescue of Esmerelda, while the hunchback is not given a strong entrance. But, if you're willing to take a chance and watch it with an open mind, the pleasant surprises outweigh them. While not the most lavish version, the scale and colour of the film, particularly in scenes such as the Court of Miracles, gives us a sense of a world around these characters, the addition of CinemaScope and some impressive sets helping to broaden the scale. Delannoy's direction is occasionally imaginative, with a good eye for the Scope frame. The script (co-written by 'Les Enfants du Paradis' Jacques Prevert) is often witty and doesn't shy from the darker tragic tone of the novel. Georges Auric's score, though ill-served by the original sound recording, is also a fine effort.

The transfer is good, with only a few edge enhancement problems, although it seems very slightly cropped in some shots, and the failings of the early CinemaScope lenses do result in an occasional loss of detail in some shots. The DVD even includes one brief torture sequence that has long been cut from many prints, as well as the original theatrical trailer.

Kept out of distribution for years (Disney bought the rights around the time they were working on their version and shelved it), the film has not been able to gain much of a reputation. Indeed, it continues to get short shrift from many critics - 'Time Out's film guide is particularly hostile. But, as they say in Britain, 'Time Out hated it, so it must be good.' And it is - not great, but certainly pretty good.

Faithfull.......2002-08-07

This is the first version of the movie and in my humble opinion, the best. I say this for one reason and one reason only, and that is that its the only version that ends the way the novel does. Without spoiling it I'll just say that its tragic yet the most romantic imaginable!!

Average customer rating:

Movie is 5 Stars, But DVD quality is only 3.
Hunchback of Notre Dame is an upright movie
Where's the Love?
Wonderful, tragic version, classic and the best
Some clarification needed!!!

The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Starring: Lon Chaney , Patsy Ruth Miller , Norman Kerry , Kate Lester , and Winifred Bryson
Director: Wallace Worsley
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005YUN9
Release Date: 2002-02-19

Amazon.com

Lon Chaney, the man of a thousand faces, was best known for playing Quasimodo and the Phantom of the Opera. But the former role was clearly the most ambitious of his illustrious career, full of such longing and anguish. It's as though his entire being was consumed by this ugly outcast with a heart as big and beautiful as Notre Dame itself. And the makeup is still astonishing. The rest of this unrequited love story is pretty effective as well, with the re-creation of medieval Paris a standout for its lavishness. Like all great silent films, it delivers a poetry of life that is abstract and tangible at the same time. --Bill Desowitz

Customer Reviews:

Movie is 5 Stars, But DVD quality is only 3........2007-03-06

Adapted from the famous novel by Victor Hugo, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME stars Lon Chaney as Quasimodo, the title character. In film begins with the people of Paris reveling and celebrating the Feast of Fools while Quasimodo watches from above in the towers of the famous cathedral. Quasimodo is jealous of their joy and makes faces at the people below. However, his curiosity becomes piqued and he eventually descends and joins the crowds and is crowned the King of Fools. Meanwhile, Quasimodo's master Jehan Frollo (Brandon Hurst) plots with the King of Thieves, Clopin (Ernest Torrence) about starting a revolt. Crucial to the film's story is the love affair that develops between the Captain of the Kings Guard, Phoebus (Norman Kerry) and the Gypsy dancer Esmeralda (Patsy Ruth Miller). Clopin loves Esmeralda, but she scorns his advances and seeks the love of Phoebus. The two meet and fall in love. Jehan sees their growing love for each other as the catalyst he has been looking for to send the people in revolt and overthrow the king.

This version of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME is notable for the fine performance of Lon Chaney. Chaney was known as "The Man of a Thousand Faces" and Quasimodo is one of the more famous faces that modern audiences might recognize him as. In a time in which makeup was not thought of positively and prosthetics were viewed as something unnecessary and burdensome, Chaney performed wonders with the makeup and prosthetics that he created almost entirely himself. Just as impressive is his physical performance. Partially assisted by a plaster hump that weighed about 15 pounds, Chaney portrays Quasimodo as a physically tortured creature weighed down by his deformities and forced to walk around like a strange hybrid between a monkey and a frog. Younger viewers might laugh at the physical mannerisms, but they are quite impressive.

I enjoyed watching THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, but I was somewhat disappointed by the overall storyline. Hugo's story is a fascinating masterpiece and would make a great film if a filmmaker would stick to the story. Unfortunately, filmmakers rarely do and change things around to make the story lighter and happier. The antagonist of the original story is Don Claudio Frollo, a priest torn between his devotion to God and the struggle within himself between the love and lust for Esmeralda. However, in this version of the story Frollo is rarely seen and is portrayed as a perfect saint. Instead it is Frollo's brother, a relatively minor character in Hugo's story, who is turned into the villain. Esmeralda and Phoebus also receive major character overhauls in this version of the story. After hearing so many positive things about this film so long, I was disappointed by how much it deviates from Hugo's tale.

However, the worst thing about this DVD is the transfer. There are times when the film is scratchy and there are other times when parts of the film aren't lined up properly and are cut off from the screen.

Nevertheless, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME is worth watching if you are a serious movie fan or have any interest in cinema history.

Hunchback of Notre Dame is an upright movie.......2006-11-05

A definate classic from the silent movie era Lon Chaney is superb. A must for any silent movie collector.

Where's the Love?.......2006-03-13

I adore Lon Chaney; I think he is one of the few true geniuses of the screen. The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one of his most famous and celebrated films. This version even prologues with a note about the studio only turning out two noteworthy films: this and Phantom of the Opera. However, I was quite disappointed with Hunchback.

The story is slightly different than I remember hearing it as a child. The Hunchback is still ostracized by society, but he has much less of a role than I thought and the love story between Esmeralda and Quasimodo is hardly existent. This is much more a story about social class than it is about an unexpected relationship between a beautiful girl and a deformed outcast. In fact, the girl is in love with a royal. The story is interesting and complex with murder, subplots about family, and class barriers, but it is not what I expected.

Lon Chaney is good in the film as should be expected from veteran viewers; he created outstanding makeup for the part and developed a unique walk for his character. Sadly, the character was not fleshed out or focused on enough. Chaney shines in his few emotional sequences, but for the most part he seems to be a background character.

The worst part of this film is the atrocious release Kino, a respected silent film company, put out as a "collector's edition." The film score is awful. It is choppy and non-existent in areas and sometimes relies solely on sound effects instead of music to illustrate scenes. The only case where this is effective is when the bells are tolling, but even in this case, the sounds and the action on screen do not coincide. The print is unacceptable too; it is filled with scratches and artifacts. Although this is the most complete version of the film I could find, I expected more from Kino's release.

Wonderful, tragic version, classic and the best.......2005-10-16

To me, this is the best version out there. It showcases Lon Chaney's talent and demonstrates how he got his nickname "Man of a Thousand Faces"
Lon Chaney plays Quasimodo and Patsy Ruth Miller plays Esmerelda. Both do very excellent jobs in their roles. You feel compassion for Quasimodo throughout the movie and it's touching when Esmerelda finally treats him like a friend. Since this is silent, the cast needs to rely on emotion and body language to bring the point across which isn't easy but it was done wonderfully otherwise this wouldn't be considered Lon Chaney and Patsy Ruth Miller's greatest movies!
What is amazing about this movie is Lon Chaney's makeup and the talent he had for distorting his body. His expertise in mime as well as sign language show how hw lived up to his nickname. He is the best Quasimodo and Patsy Ruth Miller ia not only a classic beauty but the best Esmerelda!
This is a just have for any Lon Chaney fan and anybody who appreciates the artful silent movies.

Some clarification needed!!!.......2005-08-22

That Hunchback is a classic is undisputed; nobody with any knowledge of film can argue with that. And Chaney's make-up remains unequaled even today. And of course, his performance was just as unforgetable.
But at least one so-called Chaney "expert" really needs to know his facts before just blathering innacuracies. There are several good bios out there; he should've read one. To that end, just a few truth-adjustments:

First, The Penalty wasn't a horror film; it was a melodrama. Neither, for that matter, was Hunchback. It was also a melodrama. Chaney first got the attention of fans with Miracle Man, not Penalty. Hunchback made him a major star. Chaney only made two real horror films, actually, and one of those is lost.

Second: There is no absolute proof that Chaney co-directed Phantom. None. It's just rumored because he and the director didn't get along. He did, however, first make the inquiry about the story.

Third: Chaney wasn't considered the greatest character actor; he was considered a major actor, period. He was a true superstar, in fact.

Fourth: Chaney was NOT Universal's most bankabale star. Phantom & HUnchback were the only 2 major films he made for Universal. He was, however, one of MGM's biggest box-office draws for years.

Fifth: Chaney died in 1930, not 1933. He likely would have played Dracula (which was 1931, not 33) -- Browning wanted him for it. But he had already had the lead role in his ONLY talkie, Unholy Three, and was slated for another WAY before Dracula began filming.

The Phantom of the Opera/The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Average customer rating:

Two Of The Greatest Silent Films Starring The Man Of A Thousand Faces Available Together. Recommended For Film Students.

The Phantom of the Opera/The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Manufacturer: Miracle Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007PZLNO

Product Description

2 Movies for the price of 1. Brand new, shrink wrapped. The Phantom of the Opera-Regarded by many as the first great horror film, and certainly the best of the silent era, a disfigured phantom terrorizes a Paris opera house in order to be near his beloved Christine. A true monument to the Golden Age of Hollywood and to its time. B&W, silent, 92 minutes. The Hunchback of Notre Dame-The first version of Walter Hugo's novel about the tortured hunchback. Half blind and grotesquely deformed, Quasimodo dwells within the sanctuary of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Ridiculed and exploited by a cruel world, he passionately rings the cathedral's bells to express his feelings. Lon Chaney's great performance and his incredible use of makeup brilliantly evokes bothe terror and pity for the hunchback, as this classic tale is played out in medieval Paris. B&W, silent, 110 minutes.

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