The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- Original title
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- Year
- 1939
- Running time
- 116 min.
- Country
- United States
- Director
- Screenwriter
- Sonya Levien. Novel: Victor Hugo
- Cast
-
- Charles Laughton
- Maureen O'Hara
- Cedric Hardwicke
- Thomas Mitchell
- Edmond O'Brien
- Alan Marshal
- Walter Hampden
- Katharine Alexander
- Harry Davenport
- George Zucco
- Arthur Hohl
- See all credits
- Music
- Cinematography
Joseph H. August (B&W)- Producer
- Genre
- Drama | Middle Ages. 15th Century
- Movie Groups
- Victor Hugo Adaptations | The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- Synopsis
- Of the many film versions of Victor Hugo's novel, this classic from Hollywood's golden year of 1939 remains the best, rivaled only by the 1923 silent version starring Lon Chaney. In his triumphant attempt to create a performance as memorable as Chaney's, Charles Laughton played the lovelorn Parisian hunchback Quasimodo under a disfiguring costume and gruesome makeup that rendered the actor almost unrecognizable. The result is a gripping and heartfelt portrayal of the misshapen bell ringer who falls desperately in love with the beautiful gypsy Esmeralda (played by Maureen O'Hara). The lavish production also greatly benefits from exquisitely moody black-and-white cinematography, brilliant medieval set design, and the atmospheric direction by German expatriate William Dieterle, whose style was heavily influenced by German films of the era. The DVD release includes the original theatrical trailer plus an additional audio track with authoritative commentary by film historian Paul Mandell.
- Rankings Position
- Awards
-
1939: Academy Awards: 2 Nominations for Best OST (adapted) and Sound
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