The Hunchback of Notre Dame

US (1939): Horror/Adventure/Romance

The second (after Lon Chaney's 1923 silent) and best version of Hugo's tale of the benevolent but hideous bell-ringer of Notre Dame, Quasimodo, who rescues a beautiful Gypsy girl (Maureen O'Hara) from the clutches of a sadistic bishop (Cedric Hardwicke). Charles Laughton evokes both pity and fear in one of his greatest performances. Film historians believe German-born filmmaker William Dieterle adapted Victor Hugo's classic story to the screen to comment on the authoritarianism and brutality of the Nazis. The Hollywood debut for O'Hara and Edmund O'Brien. Dieterle's RKO cast also includes Thomas Mitchell, Alan Marshall, Harry Davenport, Fritz Lieber and Minna Gombell. Remade for TV in 1982, and as an odd Disney animated feature in 1996. (amctv.com)

 Use this link to view the trailer for the theatrical re-issue of The Hunchback of Notre Dame on TCM.com.

2 nominations