The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923 film)
| The Hunchback of Notre Dame | |
|---|---|
| File:Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923 film).jpg Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Wallace Worsley |
| Written by | Novel: Victor Hugo Screenplay: Edward T. Lowe, Jr. Perley Poore Sheehan |
| Produced by | Carl Laemmle Irving Thalberg |
| Starring | Lon Chaney, Sr. Patsy Ruth Miller Norman Kerry Nigel de Brulier Brandon Hurst |
| Cinematography | Robert Newhard Tony Kornman Virgil Miller Stephen S. Norton Charles J. Stumar |
| Edited by | Edward Curtiss Maurice Pivar Sydney Singerman |
| Music by | Cecil Copping Carl Edouarde Hugo Riesenfeld Heinz Eric Roemheld |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date | September 2, 1923 |
Running time | 100 min |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | Silent film English intertitles |
| Budget | $1,250,000 (estimated) |
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The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a 1923 American film starring Lon Chaney as Quasimodo and Patsy Ruth Miller as Esmeralda, and is directed by Wallace Worsley. The film is the most famous adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel, aside from the 1996 Disney adaptation. The film was Universal's "Super Jewel" of 1923 and was their most successful silent film, grossing over $3 million.
The film is most notable for the grand sets that recall 15th century Paris as well as Lon Chaney's performance and spectacular make-up as the tortured bell-ringer of Notre Dame. The film elevated Chaney, already a well-known character actor, to full star status in Hollywood. It also helped set a standard for many later horror films, including Chaney's The Phantom of the Opera in 1925. Today, the film is in the public domain.
Synopsis
The story is set in Paris ten years before Columbus discovered America.
Quasimodo is a deformed (deaf and half-blind) bell-ringer of the famous Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. Jehan Frollo, the evil brother of the saintly archdeacon Claude Frollo, prevails upon him to kidnap the fair Esmeralda, the adopted daughter of Clopin, who is the king of the oppressed beggars of Paris' underworld. The dashing Captain Phoebus rescues her from Quasimodo, while Jehan escapes and leaves him. Phoebus is entranced by Esmeralda, and takes her under his wing. Quasimodo is sentenced to be lashed in the public square. As he suffers under the sting of the whip, Esmeralda pities him, and brings him water. Quasimodo later hates Jehan for betraying him. Jehan and Clopin both learn that Phoebus plans to wed Esmeralda. Clopin leads the beggars into the house of Phoebus' fiance, where Phoebus has brought Esmeralda and disguised her as royalty. Clopin demands Esmeralda be returned, and Phoebus only does so after Esmeralda says that she does not belong with the aristocracy. However, Esmeralda sends him a note, to say goodbye to him a last time. During their meeting in Notre Dame, Jehan stabs and wounds Phoebus and lays the blame on Esmeralda. She is sentenced to death, but is rescued from the gallows by Quasimodo and takes refuge in the cathedral, where Archdeacon Claude invokes the sacred right of sanctuary, protecting her from arrest. Clopin leads the whole of the underworld to storm the cathedral that night, while crafty Jehan attempts to loot the treasure vaults. Quasimodo routs the invaders with rocks and torrents of molten lead, and kills Jehan by throwing him off the ramparts of Notre Dame. Just before he does, however, Jehan fatally stabs Quasimodo in the back with his knife. Phoebus comes to the rescue and encounters Esmeralda. As she and Phoebus clasp each other to their hearts, Quasimodo rings his own death toll. Esmeralda and Phoebus leave without even noticing that Quasimodo is mortally wounded, but Claude enters just in time to see him die. After ringing the bell, Quasimodo dies. The last image of the film is the great bell, swinging silently, holding the corpse of Quasimodo.
Cast
- Lon Chaney as Quasimodo
- Patsy Ruth Miller as Esmeralda
- Norman Kerry as Captain Phoebus
- Kate Lester as Madame de Gondelaurier
- Winifred Bryson as Fleur de Lys de Gondelaurier
- Nigel De Brulier as Claude Frollo
- Brandon Hurst as Jehan Frollo
- Ernest Torrence as Clopin Trouillefou
- Tully Marshall as King Louis XI
- Harry von Meter as Mons. Neufchatel
- Raymond Hatton as Pierre Gringoire
- Nick De Ruiz as Mons. le Torteru
- Eulalie Jensen as Marie
- Roy Laidlaw as Jacques Charmolue
- Ray Myers as Charmolue's assistant
- William Parke as Josephus
- Gladys Brockwell as Gudule
- John Cossar as Judge of the Court
- Edwin Wallock as King's Chamberlain
Preservation
Original prints of the film were on cellulose nitrate film stock and were either worn out, decomposed or were destroyed by the studio (mostly the latter). Original prints were on tinted film stock in various colors, including sunshine, amber, rose, lavender and blue.
The only surviving prints of the film are 16 mm "show-at-home" prints distributed by Universal in the 1920s and 1930s for home-movie purposes, and no original 35mm negatives or prints survive. Most video editions (including public domain releases) of the film are derived from 16 mm duplicate prints that were distributed by Blackhawk Films in the 1960s and 1970s. A DVD release of a newly restored print of the film was released by Image Entertainment on October 9, 2007.
See also
External links
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame at IMDb
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame at AllMovie
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the TCM Movie Database
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