From the upper shelf wherein reside all classic novels, comes this tortured tale of the famed disfigured man from Notre Dame. Although this story has been a staple of many generations, it returns to the silver screen ever so often to test the talents of up and coming Hollywood stars. Despite the fact that many notable actors have attempted the role, few do so adequately. Among the actors who have made the part memorable, the original challenge was Lon Chaney's. Another was Anthony Quinn, followed by Anthony Hopkins, and even Mandy Patinkin tried the twisted body. But in my opinion, the greatest performance of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, was this one, personified by Charles Laughton. From the moment the audience and our hero meet, it's a test of endurance. Can we bare to look upon the ugly, misshapen-ed man, who's only crime was being born half made, hence the term "Quasi", or will we draw back in fear as people did in his century? The story bears repeating as the tale of a horribly disfigured child, born so repulsive, that Parisians left him to die on the steps of Notre Dame. Saved, adopted and trained as a bell-ringer, by the deeply troubled, but powerful Father Frollo (Sir Cedric Hardwicke), he becomes a on-going joke around Paris, to all concerned except Frollo. The bells made him deaf, but that does not stop him from falling in love with a beautiful Gypsy girl named Esmerald. (Maureen O'Hara) She unfortunately is in love with Phobeus, a handsome soldier of the king. However it is Gringoire (Edmond O'Brien) a poet and playwright who leads the group of admirers which includes Father Frollo, to see which one will end up possessing the girl, in a time when superstition possessed most of Europe. Unlikely as it sounds it's the bell-ringer who draws close first. An excellent adaptation of his story, Victor Hugo would have enjoyed this version best. *****
Review of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
