Featured Audience Ratings

• Mark H

  
  Medieval drama about a gypsy girl who comes to Paris and the physically disfigured bell ringer she befriends. The narrative's success derives from how it captures the tragic plight of our bell ringer in Paris' legendary church so perfectly. Society's tendency to build… More
  Medieval drama about a gypsy girl who comes to Paris and the physically disfigured bell ringer she befriends. The narrative's success derives from how it captures the tragic plight of our bell ringer in Paris' legendary church so perfectly. Society's tendency to build someone up one minute only to tear them down the next is brilliant paralleled in Quasimodo's story arc. First being crowed "King of Fools" at the festival one moment then they're publicly whipping him in the town square the next. The quality of the performances is what elevates this to a work of art. Charles Laughton gives the definitive performance of Quasimodo, the deformed hunchback of Notre Dame. A delightfully atypical choice to play a sympathetic role, for an actor often type-cast as people with arrogant or unscrupulous qualities. His expressive face speaks volumes. Indeed for the first third, he doesn't utter a word. He's supported by a stellar cast. Maureen O'Hara is radiant as Esmeralda, a lovely gypsy who inspires passion in several men. Her touching act of kindness toward Quasimodo at one of his darkest hours is a beautifully acted gesture filled with poignancy. At the other end of integrity is Frollo played by Sir Cedric Hardwicke. A villainous tour de force, he is a stern, deeply flawed individual consumed by earthly desire and a lack of accountability. Also worth mentioning is Edmond O'Brien in his film debut . Esmeralda's chemistry with him as the slightly goofy poet-playwright Gringoire is sweet. Performances and set design combine perfectly to create a sweeping historical epic for the ages with a surprising amount of human intimacy. Whether it's 15th century France or elsewhere modern world, the film's themes transcend time and place.

• jay n

  
  Laughton is great and the picture is a high quality production the only negative is the complete absence of anything but American accents which can be distracting. Screen debuts for both O'Hara and O'Brien who is so young and slender at first he's not recognizable both… More
  Laughton is great and the picture is a high quality production the only negative is the complete absence of anything but American accents which can be distracting. Screen debuts for both O'Hara and O'Brien who is so young and slender at first he's not recognizable both acquit themselves well though.

• Randy T

  
  To my knowledge, there have been at least six film incarnations of Victor Hugo's <i>THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME</i>, including Lon Chaney's eerie portrayal in 1923. In my opinion, this 1939 telling, featuring Charles Laughton and Maureen O'Hara, stands… More
  To my knowledge, there have been at least six film incarnations of Victor Hugo's <i>THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME</i>, including Lon Chaney's eerie portrayal in 1923. In my opinion, this 1939 telling, featuring Charles Laughton and Maureen O'Hara, stands "head and hump" above the rest. Laughton is in rare form in what may have been his best performance and, for Charles Laughton, that's saying a lot. Where Chaney's Quasimodo is often menacing and macabre, Laughton manages to exude an almost impish sense of humor in the face of unbelievable cruelty and tragic circumstance. Never have I felt so much empathy for a character. One of my all-time favorite films.

• Devon B

  
  Where Lon Chaney's Quasimodo was dark and often bitter or vicious, Laughton's version is almost wholly good. Maybe it's the difference in make-up: Chaney looks more beast-like and hideous while Laughton, though deformed, retains his humanity (in fact, its Charles… More
  Where Lon Chaney's Quasimodo was dark and often bitter or vicious, Laughton's version is almost wholly good. Maybe it's the difference in make-up: Chaney looks more beast-like and hideous while Laughton, though deformed, retains his humanity (in fact, its Charles Laughton's Quasimodo that is the basis of the animated Hunchback, and even Sloth from "The Goonies"). The main difference though, is that in the latter version, the character is intended to be more sympathetic. The Chaney version is of the monster movie variety, and even though we might feel sympathy for the Hunchback or King Kong or the Phantom of the Opera, they were never the heroes of their movies. The 1939 Hunchback is definitely the hero, and an angst-ridden one at that. He's an outcast, and we feel his pain, but Laughton manages to keep it from being overly emotional. He's a freak who laughs in spite of himself. The story is the familiar Victo Hugo one, albiet with perhaps a happier ending. Maureen O'Hara, in her first screen appearance, plays the beautiful Gypsy Esmeralda, who only wants justice for her people. I think in 1939, the story took a decidedly anti-nazi stance, the soldiers with their blind racism and book burning can only be a reference to nazi regime. Those who favor faithful reproductions of original sources in their film might be disappointed, but the general consensus is this film is one of the all time classics, and I tend to agree. A beautiful film with an amazing and touching performance by Charles Laughton, the best Hunchback.

• Dr Blood  

  
  Charles Laughton gives a memorable performance as the lovelorn Parisian hunchback Quasimodo.

• Matthew Y

  
  Charles Laughton might be better known for his Oscar winning take as King Henry VIII or as the charismatic defense attorney in Billy Wilder's Witness for the Defense but his long career span gave birth to many history performances, few as spot on as his rendition of Quasimodo.… More
  Charles Laughton might be better known for his Oscar winning take as King Henry VIII or as the charismatic defense attorney in Billy Wilder's Witness for the Defense but his long career span gave birth to many history performances, few as spot on as his rendition of Quasimodo. Unlike several incarnations of Hugo's famous tale Laughton stays true to the mental and physical capacities of the hunckback while simultaneously staying true to the humanity and charm that made Quasimodo a fictional icon. I absolutely loved DIsney's rendition but this is the true quintessential film of the legendary story of the Hunckback of Notre Dame.

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