The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

Original title: Notre-Dame de Paris

1956
PG
1h 55m

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

3.3K

YOUR RATING

Drama Fantasy Horror

The timeless tale of the seductive gypsy Esmeralda and the tortured hunchback Quasimodo.The timeless tale of the seductive gypsy Esmeralda and the tortured hunchback Quasimodo.The timeless tale of the seductive gypsy Esmeralda and the tortured hunchback Quasimodo.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

3.3K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win total

Trivia
The scene of Quasimodo's coronation was shot twice for each version of the film. For the original French-language version, he is crowned 'Pope of Fools', as in the novel, and wears a mock Papal tiara. For the English-language version, he is crowned 'King of Fools', and wears a royal crown. This was because the American Hays Code forbade mocking of the clergy.

Quotes
Esmeralda: [dying] Life is wonderful.

Alternate versions
The French-language credits for this film say that it was shot in Eastmancolor; the English-language prints say that it was made in Technicolor.

Connections
Featured in The Hollywood Collection: Anthony Quinn an Original (1990)

Soundtracks
La Chanson de Clopin
Music by Jean-Paul Mengeon
Lyrics by Jean Yanne
Performed by Philippe Clay

User reviews35

Review

Featured review

8/10

A sumptuous, faithful screen version of a masterpiece

No matter if critics seem to prefer the 1939 version of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, I thoroughly enjoy this one. Anthony Quinn avoids taking the Laughton path and doing Quasimodo as a monster; his is a painfully realistic performance. Gina Lollobrigida is ever so beautiful as Esmeralda. Her gypsy is a young woman who is "a queen", as her fellow Court of Miracle friends know very well. She is sensual and yet decent and pure in her actions, even as she gives herself to Phoebus. The great cast includes several legendary French actors (Valentine Tessier, Alain Cuny, Madeleine Barbulee, among others). The final scenes are indeed touching, especially in the Italian version, in which Lollobrigida speaks in her native language. A must see.