The Hunchback of Notre Dame

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The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Available on 4K Blu-ray for the first time ever in the UK, this truly gargantuan and lavish 1923 adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic novel sees Lon Chaney – the man of a thousand faces – in a tour de force performance as the titular bell-ringer whose secret love for a young gypsy woman, who is sentenced to be hanged, leads to one of silent cinema’s most spectacular climaxes.
Even those who have never read Hugo’s 1831 novel will, in all likelihood, be familiar with the story of ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ although in the novel, unlike in the numerous screen adaptations, the grotesquely disfigured/deformed bell-ringer Quasimodo does not take centre stage and is merely one of the numerous characters in the book. All the more kudos then to Lon Chaney (who was very much involved in the film’s production process) for not taking over completely here but allowing his various co-stars also to display their prospective talents.
Set in Paris in 1482, the film begins with the annual ‘Festival of Fools’ – one day of the year in which the city’s less fortunate citizens (of whom there seem to be many) leave their miserable existences and oppressions brought upon them by King Louis XI (Tully Marshall) by the wayside to engage in general debauchery. The highlight of the day is the crowning of ‘The King of Fools’ – a dubious honour which usually goes to the unfortunate Quasimodo. The following day life is back again to normal and we make the acquaintance of Jehan (Brandon Hurst), the evil brother of archdeacon Dom Claude (Nigel De Brulier) who has set his eyes upon Esmeralda (Patsy Ruth Miller) – a pretty gypsy girl who, as a child, was adopted by Clopin (Ernest Torrence), ‘King’ of beggars and the city’s underworld. In a subplot we learn how ‘Esmeralda’ was in fact kidnapped by thieving gypsies after her doting mother Marie (Eulalie Jensen) briefly left the room in which the little girl slept. Never found again since that terrible day, Marie went mad and has been living in a secluded basement room ever since, occasionally peeping through the window and cursing every single gypsy who happens to pass by – including Esmeralda…
In order to get his grubby hands on Esmeralda, the scheming Jehan coaxes Quasimodo, who is in the archdeacons employ as a bell-ringer in Notre Dame cathedral, to lure the innocent girl to a dark alley and kidnap her although Quasimodo has no idea why Jehan asks him to fetch the girl. The plans are scuppered by Phoebus de Chateaupers (Norman Kerry), the Captain of the King’s archers who, just a few days beforer, had also set is admiring eyes on the pretty gypsy dancer despite the fact that he is betrothed to the aristocratic Fleur de Lys (Winifred Bryson). After Captain Phoebus ‘rescues’ Esmeralda from the clutches of Quasimodo whilst riding along the streets the unfortunate Quasimodo is arrested and sentenced to twenty lashes in a public square, with him chained to a huge circular stone plate. Exposed to ridicule and laughter, it is Esmeralda who takes pity and fetches water for him – in turn, he is smitten with her whilst secretly harbouring pure hatred for Jehan who abandoned him after the botched kidnap attempt. Although Phoebus initially looks upon Esmeralda as little more than one of his many conquests he is soon enchanted by her good heart and innocence and falls for her – even going as far as taking her along to a grand ball held by Fleur de Lys’ mother and introducing her as the ‘Queen of Egypt’ to assembled guests – much to the chagrin of his betrothed Fleur. The ball is rudely interrupted with the arrival of Clopin and his posse who demand that Esmeralda returns with them, as she is not of the nobility. Fearing bloodshed, she pretends not to love Phoebus and walks away with Clopin.
Unhappy and confused, Esmeralda tasks the impoverished street poet Pierre Gringoire (Raymond Hatton), whom she saved from the gallows some weeks before, with delivering a note to Phoebus in which she asks him for a late night rendezvous although her true intentions are somewhat different for she has made her mind up to bid him farewell. Jehan, jealous and following the gypsy girl’s every step, sneaks up from behind and stabs Phoebus in the back – a crime for which the innocent Esmeralda is arrested and condemned to be hanged. When the day of the execution arrives, Quasimodo is asked to ring the bells, as is the custom during an execution although he has no idea as to who the condemned is… While being wheeled to the place of execution, the mad Marie leaves her room and begs to kill the gypsy with her own hands – only to recognise her long lost daughter in Esmeralda after she rips a pendant from her neck which she gave her on the very day the girl was kidnapped. Overcome with grief and emotion, Marie collapses and dies of a heart attack. Looking from the cathedral, Quasimodo recognises Esmeralda and literally jumps to her rescue – dragging her to his abode high in the clock tower where, according to law, she is granted temporary sanctuary. Meanwhile, Clopin and his posse plan on storming Notre Dame to rescue Esmeralda, mistakenly believing her to be in danger. This prompts the bell-ringer to go on the rampage and holding off the invaders by pouring molten lead on them and this is just one of the methods he applies. When Phoebus and his army arrive to restore order, the square below the cathedral turns into a merciless battlefield in a tense climax that sees more than 2500 Extras employed! Although there is a happy ending for the Captain and his Esmeralda, sadly there won’t be one for Quasimodo in a finale which – just like the 1939 Charles Laughton version – differs considerably from Victor Hugo’s literary source.
Hailed as one of Universal Studios’ ‘Super Jewels’ no expense was spared and the budget of $1,250,000 more than paid off: not only did ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ rake in millions of dollars at the box office but it was hailed as one of the most successful silent films up to that point. Six months of filming and with a set the size of a village and beyond – nothing was left to chance! A truly electrifying Lon Chaney, who once again displayed his enormous talent for dexterity and unparalleled physical transformation, is amply supported by a then merely nineteen-year old Patsy Ruth Miller as ‘Esmeralda’ and a host of character actors, including Englishmen Nigel De Brulier and Brandon Hurst as well as Scotsman Ernest Torrence.
The first print-run (2000 copies) will feature a Limited O-card slipcase. Additional Bonus Material includes interviews with authors/film critics and film historian Kim Newman and Jonathan Rigby plus Collector’s booklet.