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The Hunchback of Notre Dame

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The Hunchback of Notre Dame

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• Horror
• Romance

• 1939
• William Dieterle
• 111 mins
• PG

Summary

Classic Gothic drama starring Charles Laughton and Maureen O'Hara. In Paris during the Middle Ages, Quasimodo, the lonely hunchbacked bell-ringer of Notre Dame cathedral, falls in love with Esmeralda, a beautiful gypsy girl. However, Esmeralda also arouses intense feelings among the ruling authorities, and is soon on trial for her life.

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Review

A star rating of 5 out of 5.

Tony Sloman

For many, Charles Laughton is the cinema's definitive Quasimodo, and his poignant performance here reveals more subtleties with every viewing. Laughton captures the tragic soul of Notre Dame's famous bell-ringer, and both his make-up and speech patterns are truly convincing. This is a splendidly full-blooded RKO enterprise, with spectacular crowd scenes (although the detail will inevitably be dwarfed on television) and superb supporting performances, notably from a sensual Maureen O'Hara as Esmeralda the gypsy and a callow Edmond O'Brien as the youthful romantic lead. Thomas Mitchell - best known as Scarlett O'Hara's father in Gone with the Wind - is marvellous, too, as the king of the beggars. Two major future directors had a big hand in this epic - Jacques Tourneur handled the crowds and Robert Wise was the film editor.

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7.8/10

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Credits

Cast

rolenameQuasimodoCharles LaughtonEsmeraldaMaureen O'HaraFrolloCedric HardwickeClopinThomas MitchellGringoireEdmond O'BrienPhoebusAlan MarshalClaudeWalter HampdenLouis XIHarry Davenport

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Crew

rolenameDirectorWilliam Dieterle

Details

Languages

English

Available on

video and DVD

Formats

Black and white

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