The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)

In 15th century France, a gypsy girl is framed for murder by the infatuated Chief Justice, and only the deformed bellringer of Notre Dame Cathedral can save her.

Director:

William Dieterle

Writers:

Sonya Levien (screen play), Bruno Frank (adaptation),

Stars:

Charles Laughton, Cedric Hardwicke, Thomas Mitchell

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charles Laughton	...	The Hunchback / Quasimodo
Cedric Hardwicke	...	Frollo (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke)
Thomas Mitchell	...	Clopin
Maureen O'Hara	...	Esmeralda
Edmond O'Brien	...	Gringoire
Alan Marshal	...	Phoebus
Walter Hampden	...	Archdeacon
Harry Davenport	...	King Louis XI
Katharine Alexander	...	Madame de Lys
George Zucco	...	Procurator
Fritz Leiber	...	Old Nobleman
Etienne Girardot	...	Doctor
Helene Whitney	...	Fleur de Lys
Minna Gombell	...	Queen of Beggars (as Mina Gombell)
Arthur Hohl	...	Olivier

Storyline

King Louis XI is a wise and old king and Frollo is the Chief Justice. Frollo gazes on the gypsy girl, Esmeralda, in the church during Fool's Day and sends Quasimoto to catch her. Quasimoto, with the girl, is captured by Phoebus, Captain of the Guards, who frees the girl. The courts sentence Quasimoto to be flogged, and the only one who will give him water while he is tied in the square is Esmeralda. Later, at a party of nobles, Esmeralda again meets both Frollo, who is bewitched by her, and Phoebus. When Phoebus is stabbed to death, Esmeralda is accused of the murder, convicted by the court and sentenced to hang. Clopin, King of the Beggars, Gringoire the Husband of Esmeralda, and Quasimoto, the bellringer, all try different ways to save her from the gallows.

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Plot Keywords:

king | bellringer | court | murder | chief justice | 

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Taglines:

Drama Unparalleled ! Spectacle Beyond Belief ! !

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 December 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

Victor Hugo's Immortal Classic The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,800,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min 117 min (Turner library print) (copyright length)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Charles Laughton's makeup took two-and-a-half hours to apply each day.

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Goofs

Quasimodo's misplaced eye never moves or blinks, belying the fact that it is a prosthetic.

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Quotes

[Watching Esmeralda dance]
Louis XI, King of France: Doesn't she make your pulse beat faster?
The King's Physician: I'm a widower four times, sire, but I could begin all over again.

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Connections

Referenced in Cinemassacre's Monster Madness: The Old Dark House (2009)

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Soundtracks

"Ave Maria"
(1572) (uncredited)
Music by Tomás Luis de Victoria
Sung by mixed chorus during opening credits

User Reviews

Amazing

I just have to say, the scene where Quasimodo rescues Esmerelda from the noose is probably the greatest cinematic moment I have ever been witness to. An absolutely amazing piece of work in an absolutely amazing movie. Charles Laughton could not possibly have played the Hunchback any better, and Maureen O'Hara is so lovely that you can not help but sympathize with every male character in the movie who can not possibly have her. An amazing piece of work.