The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)

Director:

William Dieterle

Writers:

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

Release Date:

29 December 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Impact ! Power ! Pathos ! Drama !

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

King | Bellringer | Court | Murder | Chief Justice

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

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
Curt Bois	...	Student
George Tobias	...	Beggar
Rod La Rocque	...	Phillippe (as Rod LaRocque)
Spencer Charters	...	Court Clerk
Kathryn Adams	...	Fleur's Companion
Diane Hunter	...	Fleur's Companion (as Dianne Hunter)
Sig Arno	...	Tailor (as Siegfried Arno)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eddie Abdo	...	Singer (uncredited)
Louis Adlon	...	Venus (uncredited)
George Barrows	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Vangie Beilby	...	Contestant (uncredited)
Lionel Belmore	...	Judge at Esmeralda's Trial (uncredited)
Barlowe Borland	...	Dubois (uncredited)
Gene Clark	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Richard Clayton	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Earl Clyde	...	Juggler (uncredited)
Edmund Cobb	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Alan Copeland	...	Choirboy (uncredited)
Harry Cording	...	Guard (uncredited)
Laura Hope Crews	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Jack Curtis	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Harold DeGarro	...	Stilt Walker (uncredited)
Eddie Dew	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Dick Dickinson	...	Wooden-Leg Man (uncredited)
Charles Drake	...	Young Priest (uncredited)
Arthur Dulac	...	Mars (uncredited)
Ralph Dunn	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Gretl Dupont	...	Lissy (uncredited)
James Fawcett	...	Festival Ball-Walker (uncredited)
Budd Fine	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Harry Fleischmann	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
J.C. Fowler	...	Nobleman (uncredited)
Thom Fox	...	Jupiter (uncredited)
Vallejo Gantner	...	Merchant (uncredited)
Peter Godfrey	...	Monk (uncredited)
Alexander Granach	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Edward Groag	...	Moon (uncredited)
Laurie Hale	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Charlie Hall	...	Mercury (uncredited)
Charles Halton	...	Printer (uncredited)
Rondo Hatton	...	Ugly Man (uncredited)
Al Herman	...	Short Fat Soldier (uncredited)
Louis Jean Heydt	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Otto Hoffman	...	Deaf Judge (uncredited)
Billy Jones	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Cy Kendall	...	Nobleman Signing Petition (uncredited)
Victor Kilian	...	Esmeralda's Hangman (uncredited)
Louis King	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
John Laird	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Mike Lally	...	Beggar (uncredited)
Jack Lawrence	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Elmo Lincoln	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Ray Long	...	Festival Skeleton Dancer (uncredited)
Theodore Lorch	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Joseph P. Mack	...	Workman in Play (uncredited)
Margaret McWade	...	Younger Sister (uncredited)
Consuelo Melendez	...	Singer (uncredited)
Frederic Mellinger	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Victor Metzetti	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Arthur Millett	...	Count Graville (uncredited)
Frank Mills	...	Beggar (uncredited)
Angela Mulinos	...	Helene (uncredited)
Ferdinand Munier	...	Defense Attorney (uncredited)
Paul Newlan	...	Whipper (uncredited)
Lillian Nicholson	...	DeLys' Servant (uncredited)
Nestor Paiva	...	Man in Street When Gypsies Arrive (uncredited)
Gail Patrick	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Eleanor Pellapreau	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Jack Perrin	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Tempe Pigott	...	Madeleine (uncredited)
Antonio Pina	...	Ladder Man (uncredited)
Russ Powell	...	Second 'Ugly Man' Contestant (uncredited)
Elsie Prescott	...	Contestant (uncredited)
Dewey Robinson	...	Butcher (uncredited)
Hector Sarno	...	Knight (uncredited)
Charles Schaeffer	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Norbert Schiller	...	Saturn (uncredited)
Margaret Seddon	...	Older Sister (uncredited)
Ward Shattuck	...	Festival Juggler (uncredited)
Alan Spear	...	Festival Contortionist (uncredited)
Walter O. Stahl	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Rudolf Steinboeck	...	Peasant in Play (uncredited)
George Suzanne	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Louis Valaris	...	Tightrope Man (uncredited)
Harry J. Vejar	...	Noble (uncredited)
Harry Weil	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Mary Lou Wentz	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Gisela Werbisek	...	Grandmother (uncredited)
Cecil Weston	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Louis Williams	...	Minor Role (uncredited)

Directed by
William Dieterle

Writing credits
Sonya Levien		(screen play)
Bruno Frank		(adaptation)
Victor Hugo		(novel "Notre-Dame de Paris") uncredited

Produced by
Pandro S. Berman	....	producer

Original Music by
Alfred Newman

Cinematography by
Joseph H. August		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
William Hamilton
Robert Wise

Art Direction by
Van Nest Polglase

Set Decoration by
Darrell Silvera		(set decorations)

Costume Design by
Walter Plunkett		(costumes)

Makeup Department
George Bau	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Gordon Bau	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Mel Berns	....	makeup department head (uncredited)
Robert J. Schiffer	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Perc Westmore	....	special makeup effects artist: Charles Laughton's Quasimodo makeup (uncredited)

Production Management
J.R. Crone	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Edward Killy	....	assistant director
Argyle Nelson	....	assistant director
John Pommer	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Alfred Herman	....	associate art director (as Al Herman)
Chesley Bonestell	....	background paintings (uncredited)

Sound Department
John E. Tribby	....	recordist

Special Effects by
Vernon L. Walker	....	special effects

Stunts
Marie Bodie	....	stunt double: Maureen O'Hara (uncredited)
Joe Bonomo	....	stunt double: Lon Chaney (uncredited)
Archie Butler	....	stunt double: Alan Marshal (uncredited)
Dick Crockett	....	stunt double: Quasimodo (uncredited)
George DeNormand	....	stunt double: Rod La Rocque (uncredited)
Jack Perrin	....	stunt double: Rod La Rocque (uncredited)
Ione Reed	....	stunt double: Maureen O'Hara (uncredited)
David Sharpe	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Suzanne	....	stunts (uncredited)
Sailor Vincent	....	stunt double: Quasimodo (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Alfred Newman	....	musical adaptation
Robert Russell Bennett	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Alfred Newman	....	conductor (uncredited)
Edward B. Powell	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Leonid Raab	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Conrad Salinger	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Ernst Toch	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Peter Berneis	....	assistant: Mr. Dieterle
Ernst Matray	....	dance director
Will Price	....	dialogue director
Louis Van der Ecker	....	technical advisor (as Louis Vandenecker)
Ray Atchley	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Michael Audley	....	assistant: Mr. Dieterle (uncredited)
George Bax	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Bill Brennan	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Dick Crockett	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Murray Darcy	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Ned Davenport	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Rudi Feld	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Edna Marisle	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Frank Mills	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Gale Mogul	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Grace Moody	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Jack Paul	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Carda Rae	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Rada Rae	....	stand-in (uncredited)
David Robel	....	dance director (uncredited)
Sue Shannon	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Hope Taylor	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Sailor Vincent	....	stand-in (uncredited)

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures (presents) (as RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.)

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1939) (USA) (theatrical) (as An RKO Radio Picture)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1946) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1957) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Nostalgia Merchant, The (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• Turner Home Video (1989) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Ciné Vog Films (19??) (Belgium) (theatrical) (reissue)
• RKO Radio Films (1949) (Germany) (theatrical)
• RKO Radio Pictures Argentina (1940) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1947) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1940) (France) (theatrical)
• Image Entertainment (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• RKO Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• VidAmerica (????) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Motion Picture Export Association (MPEA)  German dubbing (1949)

Also Known As:

"Victor Hugo's Immortal Classic The Hunchback of Notre Dame" - UK (complete title), USA (complete title)

Runtime:

117 min (Turner library print) (copyright length)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #5504) | Australia:PG | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1985) (1998) (2006) | Portugal:M/12 | Canada:G (Ontario) | Canada:PG (video rating) | West Germany:16 | Argentina:13 | USA:Not Rated | UK:PG (tv rating)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

American Film Institute Catalog of Feature Films 1931-1939 includes Gail Patrick and Laura Hope Crews among the uncredited players, without role designations. Neither actress appears in the film in any role of prominence, which their status in the industry at that time would have dictated. It's possible, however, they participated anonymously as extras, just for the experience, as many of their contemporaries often did.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In this story set in 15th century France, a character wears glasses kept in place with strings that loop around the ears. That type of eyeglasses was invented in Spain during the reign of Philip II in the 16th century.

Quotes:

Louis XI, King of France:Doctor, lend me half a livre.
The King's Physician:Half a livre?
Louis XI, King of France:Afraid I won't repay you?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Prelude to War (1942)

Soundtrack:

Ave Maria

The peak of art in Hollywood cinema

A sweeping claim? Perhaps. But despite the presence in Hollywood over sixty subsequent years of Ford, Wyler, Kubrick, Coppola, Scorsese et al, The Hunchback of Notre Dame remains as fresh, as emotionally resonant and yes as powerfully artistic as the day it was made. What constitutes 'art' is of course a personal matter, just as the Breughel-like compositions of Hunchback might be as mystifying to someone whose favourite film is A Clockwork Orange (Lichtenstein?). But what makes Hunchback so satisfying as art is precisely that its makers didn't set out with art in mind. Dieterle and his co-creators embarked on the project with the aim of telling a great yarn, making it look authentic, and above all ENTERTAINING the audience. It is to this end that the Grand Guignol excesses of the novel were trimmed or altered, and the Hollywood bittersweet ending imposed. Audiences filed out with their Kleenex in hand having witnessed a three-ring circus of a movie, then went home to read the war-soaked newspapers.

Virtually every frame of this movie could be taken in isolation, made into a poster and hung on a wall. Examples include Gringoire cradling the dying Clopin as a rivulet of lead trickles past in the background, the voyeuristic eye of Quasimodo peering through fence palings at the dancing Esmeralda - I could go on and on. And pervading it all is the magnificent score of Alfred Newman, surely his finest ever.

Rather than sing its obvious praises, the film can simply speak for itself. As narrative, as character, as cinema craft, it is totally successful throughout. The Hunchback of Notre Dame is my favourite film of all time, bar none. Ten out of ten