IMDb RATING
6.6/10
3.2K
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.
- Awards
- 1 win
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe 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.
- Alternate versionsThe French-language credits for this film say that it was shot in Eastmancolor; the English-language prints say that it was made in Technicolor.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Hollywood Collection: Anthony Quinn an Original (1990)
Featured review
A little disappointing but better than it's given credit for
The best version of Victor Hugo's classic The Hunchback of Notre Dame(or Notre Dame de Paris) will to me always be Charles Laughton's version, followed by Disney's(very underrated, adaptation-wise there are much more faithful ones but on its own- a much fairer way to judge- it is a wonderful film), Lon Chaney's and Anthony Hopkins'. But there are worse too, there are a few low budget animated versions that range from very poor to mediocre. This version has a lot of good things but also its foibles. The foibles are in particular some sloppy and not really necessary dubbing and the underwhelming rescue of Esmeralda/ Sanctuary scene of any of the adaptations of the book, a far cry from the goose-bump-inducing power that the Laughton and Disney versions had. Jean Danet's Phoebus manages to be incredibly irritating- especially how overly smug he is- and dull, yes even for a character that already is shallow. The film looks great though, there is some great attention to detail and photography, the colour is beautiful. Georges Auric's score is subtly haunting with some rousing parts though personally his score for La Belle Et La Bete is a much better film score from him. The scripting is literate and the direction is hardly an amateur job though a couple of scenes do show a lack of imagination(the Sanctuary scene faring the worst). The story is very faithful in spirit- without being bogged down by being too much so- to the book, the most faithful versions on the whole are between this and Hopkins', unfortunately there is the omission of Frollo and Esmeralda's prison scene which agreed is a pivotal scene that would added much to the two characters. It was really interesting to see Frollo's alchemy and the ending is incredibly moving(the most so perhaps of all the adaptations) and brilliantly executed. There could have been more of Esmeralda and Quasimodo's relationship, but there is still a sense of Esmeralda seeing through Quasimodo's deformity and seeing him for his good qualities, which was touching. The acting is not bad at all mostly, and they are helped by that their characters are not distorted and have flaws instead of being too perfect. Anthony Quinn makes for a deeply felt Quasimodo and Gina Lollobrigida(looking astonishingly gorgeous) is a sensual if not so innocent Esmeralda. In support the standouts are Alain Cuny's darkly brooding but tormented Frollo and Jean Tissler's menacing but subtle Louis XI, though Robert Hirsch Phillippe Clay are good and true to their characters respectively. Djali is very cute as well. Maurice Sarfati is an okay if undistinguished Jehan. In conclusion, a respectable film adaptation of a literary classic but not a great or definitive one. 7/10 Bethany Cox
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- TheLittleSongbird
- Dec 7, 2013
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Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official site
- Languages
- Also known as
- Hunchback of Paris
- Filming locations
- Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France(Exterior)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $1,000,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 44 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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By what name was The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1956) officially released in India in English?
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