The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939 film)

Infobox_Film
name = The Hunchback of Notre Dame

| imdb_id = 0031455
producer = Pandro S. Berman
director = William Dieterle
writer = Victor Hugo (novel)
Bruno Frank (screenplay)
starring = Charles Laughton
Maureen O'Hara
Sir Cedric Hardwicke
music = Alfred Newman
cinematography = Joseph H. August
editing = William Hamilton & Robert Wise
distributor = RKO Radio Pictures
released = December 31, 1939
runtime = 116 min.
amg_id = 1:23861
language = English

"The Hunchback of Notre Dame" is a 1939 American monochrome motion picture. It is considered by some reviewers to be the best of the many film versions of Victor Hugo's classic novel, and perhaps the one that sticks closest to Hugo's plot and intention, although the ending differs. As in most adaptions, most of the main characters, including Esmeralda and Quasimodo, are alive at the end, unlike in the book, where they die.

The film is set in medieval Paris, France, and tells the tragic tale of a disfigured cathedral bell ringer who falls for the beautiful gypsy, Esmeralda. The film provides the stage for one of Charles Laughton's greatest portrayals, as the tragic title figure. Backed up by Maureen O'Hara's sweet but fiery Esmeralda, and Cedric Hardwicke's chilling judge, Frollo. Atmospheric direction, and stark yet lavish sets, combine with the fine performances to create a very notable film.

The film later strongly influenced the 1996 animated version of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation.

Primary cast

*Charles Laughton as Quasimodo
*Sir Cedric Hardwicke as Frollo
*Maureen O'Hara as Esmeralda
*Thomas Mitchell as Clopin
*Edmond O'Brien as Gringoire
*Alan Marshal as Phoebus
*Walter Hampden as Archdeacon
*Harry Davenport as King Louis XI
*Katharine Alexander as Madame de Lys
*Helene Whitney as Fleur de Lys

Award nominations

*Academy Award for Best Music, Scoring (Alfred Newman)
*Best Sound, Recording (John Aalberg)

External links

*imdb title|id=0031455|title=The Hunchback of Notre Dame