It isn't until nearly the end of the film where the wonderful Anthony Hopkins really gets to show his acting talents as Quasimodo in this nearly excellent version of the Victor Hugo novel that had several versions filmed already. Throughout most of the film, he is either paraded around to look like a fool, tortured and whipped, or left alone in his bell tower making weird sounds as the bells toll. It's only after he has kidnapped the character of Esmeralda, rescuing her from execution, that he really gets to communicate, earlier only having groaned in agony or repeating his name over and over. The last 20 minutes of the film for him are excellent and that's when you really feel that Hopkins has gotten something juicy to do.
The always commanding Derek Jacobi is brilliant as tortured monk Dom Claude Frollo, in the prologue doing something kind by saving Quasimodo from certain death for being born disfigured. But as the years go by, his hidden character is revealed, particularly his lust for gypsy girl Esmeralda (Lesley Anne Downe), and that leads him to a series of evil actions that torture his soul is in as he finds he can't stop doing them. His jealousy over everybody who fall in loves with her even leads him to attempted murder.
Of course Esmeralda, being a common gypsy girl, ends up on trial for his crimes, and it's only Quasimodo appearing at the last minute to rescue her that saves her life. Frollo gives her the option of saving herself, blaming her for his lust and not taking responsibility for his actions. Cameos by Nigel Hawthorne as the judge in Esmeralda's trial and John Gielgud as the monk in charge of her torture are a mixed bag. Gielgud just sits there repeating "Again!" over and over, a complete waste has his presence on screen. Other than that, this is a brilliant rendition of the often done tail, colorful and haunting, and another expose on the obsession of power and lust of people in power throughout history.
The always commanding Derek Jacobi is brilliant as tortured monk Dom Claude Frollo, in the prologue doing something kind by saving Quasimodo from certain death for being born disfigured. But as the years go by, his hidden character is revealed, particularly his lust for gypsy girl Esmeralda (Lesley Anne Downe), and that leads him to a series of evil actions that torture his soul is in as he finds he can't stop doing them. His jealousy over everybody who fall in loves with her even leads him to attempted murder.
Of course Esmeralda, being a common gypsy girl, ends up on trial for his crimes, and it's only Quasimodo appearing at the last minute to rescue her that saves her life. Frollo gives her the option of saving herself, blaming her for his lust and not taking responsibility for his actions. Cameos by Nigel Hawthorne as the judge in Esmeralda's trial and John Gielgud as the monk in charge of her torture are a mixed bag. Gielgud just sits there repeating "Again!" over and over, a complete waste has his presence on screen. Other than that, this is a brilliant rendition of the often done tail, colorful and haunting, and another expose on the obsession of power and lust of people in power throughout history.