The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Original title: Notre-Dame de Paris

1956
PG
1h 44m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

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

6/10

Read the book.

This is a movie that has all the trappings of an epic, but isn't. But it is still a credible rendition of the Victor Hugo classic, with Gina Lollobrigida giving a strong performance as Esmeralda. The weak part of the movie is Anthony Quinn's performance as Quasimodo. Mr. Quinn's portrayal is not believable. Quasimodo is supposed to generate feelings of pathos; that does not happen in this movie. As a result, the plot becomes flat. The intensity of the relationship between Quasimodo and Esmeralda is lacking. Between Mr. Quinn's mumbling of his lines, and the treatment of the poet Gringoire as a buffoon, the movie teeters on the brink of cinematic collapse. Yet, it is saved by staying faithful to the original story and by good performances by some of the supporting cast, as well as by the essential power of the original story. The story of the hunchback and the gypsy girl is classic; read the book.