The Hunchback of Notre Dame Rating: Release Date: 01 January, 2002 Retail Price: $19.98 OUR Price: $17.99 You SAVE: $1.99! Cast: Charles Laughton Maureen O'Hara Thomas Mitchell Curt Bois Complete Cast (12 total)

The Hunchback of Notre Dame Reviews

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The Best of Many
Victor Hugo's novel has been filmed so many times, with excellent actors donning the hump: Lon Chaney, Anthony Quinn, and Anthony Hopkins are a few examples that spring to mind. However, the crude 'animalistic' behaviour and the pathos that Charles Laughton brings to his performance is wonderful, for at no time can the audience feel any sentiment for this Quasimodo. He is a horror with a human soul. While Cedric Hardwicke is a horror that pretends to have a soul.

It is very easy to enthuse and celebrate the film, simply because it is wonderful to watch for its sets and, therefore, its art direction, photography, and design. The reason it was not heaped with Oscars is simple: it is one of the 'Great Films' of 1939.

Let us go back to the actors. Cedric Hardwicke has never been as smooth a villain, he is as Frollo is evil. Maureen O'Hara in her first film may not be the ideal for a gypsy maid, but she does show what would become her strengths: independence from, and yet a dependence for men... Edmond O'Brien as Pierre shows his great talent (probably one of the best screen actors ever, he played a different person in each role, you could not type cast him). Thomas Mitchell as The King of Thieves is smart and in this film extremely dangerous.

Another thing that the production did with understated talent was show a Europe moving from Medieval to Renassiance existence.

If there is a fault with this film: it is simple. It has a happy ending.

Fantastic
Must be the best or at least one of the best acting performances of Charles Laughton. Supporting cast also excellent. Very good movie and well restored.
Recommend to all lovers of classical movies.

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