The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)
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- Passed
- 1h 56min
- Drama, Romance
- 29 Dec 1939 (USA)
- Movie
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:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Charles Laughton | ... |
The Hunchback Quasimodo
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| Cedric Hardwicke | ... |
Frollo
(as Sir Cedric Hardwicke)
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| Thomas Mitchell | ... |
Clopin
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| Maureen O'Hara | ... |
Esmeralda
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| Edmond O'Brien | ... |
Gringoire
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| Alan Marshal | ... |
Phoebus
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| Walter Hampden | ... |
Archdeacon
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| Harry Davenport | ... |
King Louis XI
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| Katharine Alexander | ... |
Madame de Lys
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| George Zucco | ... |
Procurator
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| Fritz Leiber | ... |
Old Nobleman
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| Etienne Girardot | ... |
Doctor
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| Helene Reynolds | ... |
Fleur de Lys
(as Helene Whitney)
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| Minna Gombell | ... |
Queen of Beggars
(as Mina Gombell)
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| Arthur Hohl | ... |
Olivier
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| Curt Bois | ... |
Student
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| George Tobias | ... |
Beggar
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| Rod La Rocque | ... |
Phillippe
(as Rod LaRocque)
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| Spencer Charters | ... |
Court Clerk
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| Kathryn Adams | ... |
Fleur's Companion
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Diane Hunter | ... |
Fleur's Companion
(as Dianne Hunter)
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| Sig Arno | ... |
Tailor
(as Siegfried Arno)
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Eddie Abdo | ... |
Singer (uncredited)
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| Louis Adlon | ... |
Venus (uncredited)
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| George Barrows | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Vangie Beilby | ... |
Contestant (uncredited)
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| Lionel Belmore | ... |
Judge at Esmeralda's Trial (uncredited)
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Ted Billings | ... |
Short peasant at Quasimodo's arraignment (uncredited)
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| Barlowe Borland | ... |
Dubois (uncredited)
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| Eddie Bracken | ... |
Soldier at Festival of Fools (uncredited)
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Gene Clark | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Richard Clayton | ... |
Young Priest (novitiate) at Cathedral (uncredited)
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| Edmund Cobb | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
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Alan Copeland | ... |
Choirboy (uncredited)
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| Harry Cording | ... |
Guard (uncredited)
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| Laura Hope Crews | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Patty Lee Dear | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Harold DeGarro | ... |
Stilt Walker (uncredited)
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| Eddie Dew | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Dick Dickinson | ... |
Wooden-Leg Man (uncredited)
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| Charles Drake | ... |
Young Priest (uncredited)
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Arthur Dulac | ... |
Mars (uncredited)
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| Ralph Dunn | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
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Gretl Dupont | ... |
Lissy (uncredited)
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William Edmunds | ... |
Construction Worker (uncredited)
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James Fawcett | ... |
Festival Ball-Walker (uncredited)
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Budd Fine | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Harry Fleischmann | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| J.C. Fowler | ... |
Nobleman (uncredited)
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Thom Fox | ... |
Jupiter (uncredited)
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Vallejo Gantner | ... |
Merchant (uncredited)
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| John George | ... |
Townsman (uncredited)
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| Peter Godfrey | ... |
Monk (uncredited)
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| Alexander Granach | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
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Edward Groag | ... |
Moon (uncredited)
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Laurie Hale | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Charlie Hall | ... |
Mercury (uncredited)
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| Charles Halton | ... |
Printer (uncredited)
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| Rondo Hatton | ... |
Ugly Man (uncredited)
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Al Herman | ... |
Short Fat Soldier (uncredited)
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| Louis Jean Heydt | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Otto Hoffman | ... |
Deaf Judge (uncredited)
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Billy Jones | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Kenner G. Kemp | ... |
Townsman (uncredited)
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| Cy Kendall | ... |
Nobleman Signing Petition (uncredited)
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| Victor Kilian | ... |
Esmeralda's Hangman (uncredited)
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Louis King | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Anne Kunde | ... |
Townswoman (uncredited)
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John Laing | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Mike Lally | ... |
Beggar (uncredited)
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Jack Lawrence | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Elmo Lincoln | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Ray Long | ... |
Festival Skeleton Dancer (uncredited)
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| Theodore Lorch | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Joseph P. Mack | ... |
Workman in Play (uncredited)
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| Frank Mazzola | ... |
Child Extra (uncredited)
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| Margaret McWade | ... |
Younger Sister (uncredited)
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Consuelo Melendez | ... |
Singer (uncredited)
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Frederic Mellinger | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Victor Metzetti | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Robert Milasch | ... |
Townsman (uncredited)
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| Arthur Millett | ... |
Count Graville (uncredited)
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| Frank Mills | ... |
Beggar (uncredited)
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Angela Mulinos | ... |
Helene (uncredited)
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| Ferdinand Munier | ... |
Defense Attorney (uncredited)
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| Paul Newlan | ... |
Whipper (uncredited)
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Lillian Nicholson | ... |
DeLys' Servant (uncredited)
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| Nestor Paiva | ... |
Man in Street When Gypsies Arrive (uncredited)
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| Gail Patrick | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Eleanor Pellapreau | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Jack Perrin | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Tempe Pigott | ... |
Madeleine (uncredited)
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Antonio Pina | ... |
Ladder Man (uncredited)
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| Russ Powell | ... |
Second 'Ugly Man' Contestant (uncredited)
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Elsie Prescott | ... |
Contestant (uncredited)
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| Dewey Robinson | ... |
Butcher (uncredited)
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| Hector V. Sarno | ... |
Knight (uncredited)
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Rube Schaffer | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Norbert Schiller | ... |
Saturn (uncredited)
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| Margaret Seddon | ... |
Older Sister (uncredited)
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Ward Shattuck | ... |
Festival Juggler (uncredited)
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Alan Spear | ... |
Festival Contortionist (uncredited)
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Walter O. Stahl | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Rudolf Steinboeck | ... |
Peasant in Play (uncredited)
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Anne G. Sterling | ... |
Gypsy Girl (uncredited)
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Fanny Sterling | ... |
Older Gypsy Woman (uncredited)
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Ruth Sterling | ... |
Gypsy Girl (uncredited)
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Sam Sterling | ... |
Gypsy (uncredited)
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| George Suzanne | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Louis Valaris | ... |
Tightrope Man (uncredited)
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Harry J. Vejar | ... |
Noble (uncredited)
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Harry Weil | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Mary Lou Wentz | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Gisela Werbisek | ... |
Grandmother (uncredited)
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Cecil Weston | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Louis Williams | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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YawaClaudio | ... |
Juggler (uncredited)
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| Louis Zamperini | ... |
Street Urchin (uncredited)
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Directed by
| William Dieterle | ||
Written by
| Sonya Levien | ... | (screen play) |
| Bruno Frank | ... | (adaptation) |
| Victor Hugo | ... | () (as Victor Hugo's) |
Produced by
| Pandro S. Berman | ... | producer |
Music by
| Alfred Newman | ... | (original composition by) |
Cinematography by
| Joseph H. August | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| William Hamilton | ... | (edited by) |
| Robert Wise | ... | (edited by) |
Editorial Department
| Matt McFarland | ... | colorist |
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 |
| W. Argyle Nelson | ... | assistant director (as Argyle Nelson) |
| John Pommer | ... | third assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Alfred Herman | ... | associate art director (as Al Herman) |
| Chesley Bonestell | ... | background paintings (uncredited) |
| Will Williams | ... | movie poster artist (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| John E. Tribby | ... | recordist |
Special Effects by
| Vernon L. Walker | ... | special effects |
Stunts
| Marie Bodie | ... | stunt double: Maureen O'Hara (uncredited) |
| Archie Butler | ... | stunt double: Alan Marshal (uncredited) |
| Dick Crockett | ... | stunt double: Charles Laughton (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: Charles Laughton (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Eugene Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Alfred Newman | ... | musical adaptation |
| Robert Russell Bennett | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Louis Kaufman | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Alfred Newman | ... | conductor (uncredited) |
| Edward B. Powell | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Leonid Raab | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Conrad Salinger | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Ernst Toch | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Additional 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)
Distributors
- RKO Radio Pictures (1939) (United States) (theatrical) (An RKO Radio Picture)
- RKO Distributing Corporation of Canada (1939) (Canada) (theatrical) (as RKO Radio Distributing Corporation of Canada, Ltd.)
- RKO Radio Pictures (1940) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- RKO Pictures (Australasia) (1940) (Australia) (theatrical)
- RKO Radio Films (1940) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Filmituonti (1941) (Finland) (theatrical)
- RKO Radio Films A/S (1946) (Norway) (theatrical)
- RKO Radio Pictures (1946) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Eurofilm (1947) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Przedsiebiorstwo Panstwowe Film Polski (1948) (Poland) (theatrical)
- C&C Television Corporation (1955) (United States) (tv)
- RKO Radio Pictures (1957) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release)
- United Artists Television (1960) (United States) (tv) (for C&C Television)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1963) (Finland) (tv)
- Pallas Film (1964) (Sweden) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Fram Film (1968) (Norway) (theatrical) (re-release)
- United Artists Television (1971) (United States) (tv) (for MBI)
- Euro-Centra Film (1976) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Rosenbergs Filmbyrå (1980) (Sweden) (theatrical) (re-release)
- RCA (II) (1981) (United States) (video) (CED VideoDisc)
- Thorn EMI (1981) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- MGM/UA Entertainment Company (1982) (United States) (tv) (for MBI)
- Ciné Vog Films (Belgium) (theatrical) (reissue)
- Image Entertainment (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Taurus Video (1984) (West Germany) (VHS)
- Image Entertainment (1985) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- RKO Home Video (1985) (United States) (VHS)
- Channel 5 Video Distribution (1986) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- RKO General (1986) (United States)
- Astral Video (1988) (Canada) (VHS)
- Helena-Filmi Agency (1986) (Finland) (theatrical)
- TV3 (1988) (Finland) (tv)
- CEL Home Video (1989) (Australia) (VHS)
- 4 Front Video (1996) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- PolyGram Video (1996) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Turner Home Entertainment (1996) (United States) (video) (LaserDisc)
- PolyGram Video (1997) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1997) (United States) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (1998) (Canada) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (1998) (United States) (DVD)
- Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD) (and VHS)
- Future Film (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
- Odeon Entertainment (2014) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Film Detective (2015) (United States) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2015) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Filmjuwelen (2022) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Filmjuwelen (2022) (Germany) (DVD)
- Turner Home Entertainment (1989) (United States) (VHS)
- Turner Home Entertainment (1996) (United States) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of)
- RCA Victor (sound recording system)
- Motion Picture Export Association (MPEA) (German dubbing: 1949)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
King Louis XI is a wise old king and Frollo is the Chief Justice. Frollo gazes on gypsy girl Esmeralda, in the church during Fool's Day and sends Quasimodo to catch her. Quasimodo, with the girl, is captured by Phoebus, Captain of the Guards, who frees the girl. The courts sentence Quasimodo 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, Esmeralda's husband; and Quasimodo, the bellringer, all try different ways to save her from the gallows.
Written by Tony Fontana |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Impact ! Power ! Pathos ! Drama ! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $1,800,000 (estimated) |
| Cumulative Worldwide Gross | $6,877,900 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | For the scene in which Quasimodo is whipped, Charles Laughton instructed an assistant director to twist his ankle outside of camera range so he would really be in pain. Even through the heavy hump and rubber body suit, he felt every lash and often came home badly bruised. Before the 16th take, director William Dieterle whispered to him, "Now, Charles, listen to me. Let's do it one more time, but this time I want you . . . I want you to suffer." According to Laughton's wife, Elsa Lanchester, the actor never forgave him for that. See more » |
| Goofs | The cathedral is shown as having a full flight of steps up to the front doors. Notre Dame has always been more or less level with the square (le Parvis). See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into The Clock (2010). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Ave Maria See more » |
| Crazy Credits | PROLOGUE: "With the end of the 15th Century, the Middle Ages came to a close. Europe began to see great changes. France, ravaged by a hundred years of war, at last found peace. The people under Louis XI felt free to hope again --- to dream of progress. But superstition and prejudice often stood in the way, seeking to crush the adventurous spirit of man." See more » |
| Quotes |
[Last lines]
Quasimodo, the bell-ringer: [to one of the stone gargoyles] Why was I not made of stone - like thee? See more » |