This French, full colour, Cinemascope version of the Victor Hugo classic novel stars Anthony Quinn as Quasimodo and Gina Lollobrigida as Esmeralda. Quinn is fine as the hunchback who rescues the gypsy girl after she is sentenced to hanging for witchcraft, but he cannot hold a candle to Charles Laughton in the 1939 version: Quinn's make-up isn't as memorable and he stands too upright for my liking. Lolobrigida is gorgeous and it's easy to see how she might drive Frollo crazy with desire, but her glamourous look, complete with perfect red lipstick throughout, doesn't feel very authentic.
It's a lavish production, with impressive sets and a cast of hundreds, and kudos must go to the makers for sticking to Hugo's original downbeat ending; but for sheer entertainment value, Laughton's film is the superior adaptation.
6.5/10, rounded up to 7 for having the guts to go dark at the end.
It's a lavish production, with impressive sets and a cast of hundreds, and kudos must go to the makers for sticking to Hugo's original downbeat ending; but for sheer entertainment value, Laughton's film is the superior adaptation.
6.5/10, rounded up to 7 for having the guts to go dark at the end.