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The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Director: Wallace Worsley (Dir)
Release Date:   6 Sep 1923
Premiere Information:   New York premiere: 2 Sep 1923
Duration (in mins):   117
Duration (in feet):   12,000
Duration (in reels):   12

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Cast:	Lon Chaney	(Quasimodo)
	Patsy Ruth Miller	(Esmeralda)
	Norman Kerry	(Phoebus de Chateaupers)
	Kate Lester	(Madame de Gondelaurier)
	Winifred Bryson	(Fleur de Lys)
	Nigel De Brulier	(Don Claudio)
	Brandon Hurst	(Jehan)
	Ernest Torrance	(Clopin)
	Tully Marshall	(El Rey Luis XI)
	Harry Van Meter	(Mons. Neufchatel)
	Raymond Hatton	(Gringoire)
	Nick De Ruiz	(Mons. Le Torteru)
	Eulalie Jensen	(Marie)
	Roy Laidlaw	(Charmolu)
	W. Ray Meyers	(Charmolou's assistant)
	William Parke Sr.	(Josephus)
	Gladys Brockwell	(Sister Gudule)
	John Cossar	(Judge of the court)
	Edwin Wallock	(King's Chamberlain)
	George MacQuarie
	Jay Hunt
	Harry De Vere
	Pearl Tupper
	Eva Lewis
	Jane Sherman
	Helen Bruneau
	Gladys Johnston
	Cesare Gravina

Summary:

In late 15th century Paris, tensions between the harsh rule of King Louis XI and the impoverished and oppressed masses led by the self-proclaimed King of the Beggars, Clopin, converge under the shadow of Notre Dame cathedral. To cheer themselves, the impoverished gather in the cathedral square to celebrate the annual Festival of Fools, which culminates in the crowning of the city’s ugliest man, church bell ringer and hunchback, Quasimodo, who is provided shelter in the cathedral by the generous arch-deacon Don Claudio. The arch-deacon’s brother, Jehan, a failed seminarian, also finds refuge in the cathedral, but treats the simple Quasimodo as his personal slave. Just beyond the cathedral square, Clopin lives with his adopted gypsy daughter, Esmeralda, a great favorite with the people for her beauty and spirit. At the festival, newly appointed captain of the guard Phoebus de Chateaupers finds Esmeralda’s joyous dancing mesmerizing, as does the lustful Jehan and the delighted Quasimodo. The evening of the festival’s end, as Esmeralda sets off for home, Jehan sends Quasimodo to kidnap her, but she is rescued by Phoebus and the guard, who arrest the hunchback. Although he is engaged to the niece of the wealthy Madame de Gondelaurier, Fleur de Lys, Phoebus invites Esmeralda to dine with him and is touched by her sincere, unspoiled nature. The next day in the cathedral square, the bored Clopin grows suspicious that playful poet Gringoire is really a spy for the king, and with his supporters, attempts to hang him until Esmeralda angrily intervenes, scolding Clopin for promoting trouble where there is none. The next morning, the hapless Quasimodo is sentenced to public punishment for his kidnapping attempt and is flogged and left chained to a massive stone in front of the cathedral. When the hunchback piteously calls for help, Esmeralda overcomes her revulsion of his deformity and brings him water and covers his bleeding back. Don Claudio then orders Quasimodo freed. Later, to celebrate Phoebus’s promotion, Madame Gondelaurier throws a ball. Now captivated by Esmeralda, Phoebus requests that she accompany him and provides her with a beautiful gown. Learning from a spy that Phoebus has spirited Esmeralda away, Clopin believes she has been kidnapped and with a group of supporters, breaks into the ball. Hoping to avert a brawl, Phoebus meets Clopin unarmed, but only when Esmeralda denies that she loves Phoebus and agrees to depart does Clopin withdraw. Depressed over her rejection, Phoebus is cheered a few days later when Gringoire delivers a message from Esmeralda asking to meet him at Notre Dame. In the cathedral courtyard, when Esmeralda reveals that she has decided to enter a nunnery, Phoebus reaffirms his devotion and vows they will marry. Unknown to the couple, Jehan has followed Esmeralda and in a fit of jealousy stabs the captain in the back. Despite her insistence that Jehan has committed the assault, the guard arrest Esmeralda. After being tortured, Esmeralda confesses to the crime and is sentenced to be hanged. Jehan, who has testified that Esmeralda is bewitched, then goes to the recovering but delirious Phoebus to convince him that Esmeralda was his attacker. Meanwhile, Clopin goes to Don Claudio, who informs him that Esmeralda has been taken to the prison tower. Overhearing, Jehan slips away to the tower where, disguised as a priest, he is allowed entry to Esmeralda’s cell. Declaring that Phoebus has died of his wounds, Jehan insists he has acted out of love for her, but Esmeralda spurns him. Meanwhile, disturbed by rumors that there may be an uprising over Esmeralda’s guilty verdict, the king orders her sentence to be carried out immediately. Informed of the event when Quasimodo rings the cathedral bell, the people gather in the square as Esmeralda is brought forth. Unaware for whom he has tolled the bell, Quasimodo watches the spectacle from the church parapet when he recognizes Esmeralda as the intended victim. Swinging down a rope to the church steps to rescue the only person who has shown him kindness, Quasimodo gathers up the prostrate Esmeralda and carries her into the cathedral as Don Claudio declares sanctuary. While the arch-deacon comforts Esmeralda, Clopin plans a rescue that will coincide with his long cherished dream of leading a rebellion against the aristocratic powers. Spurred on by Jehan, Clopin summons people from around the countryside to join the rebellion in the cathedral square. Recovered from his wounds, Phoebus is overjoyed to discover that Esmeralda is still alive but as he goes to see her, learns that Clopin has begun his assault. Meanwhile, a frightened Quasimodo takes Esmeralda to the cathedral roof where, agitated by the attack, he flings a heavy wooden beam, then molten lead onto the crowds below. The guard’s arrival scatters the crowd, and while Quasimodo is distracted by the fighting, Jehan drags Esmeralda into a room and attempts to force himself upon her. Down in the streets, the fatally wounded Clopin calls on the masses to continue their struggle. Noticing Esmeralda’s disappearance, Quasimodo searches for her and, finding her under attack, furiously strangles Jehan, then drags him to the parapet. Just before Quasimodo hurls him over the ledge, Jehan stabs the hunchback in the back. A stunned Esmeralda is then rescued by Phoebus under the contented gaze of the wounded hunchback, who rings the church bell one last time. As the couple set off together, Don Claudio reaches the dying Quasimodo to offer his blessing.

Production Company:	Universal Pictures Corp.
Production Text:
Brand Name:	Super-Jewel
Distribution Company:	Universal Pictures Corp.
Director:	Wallace Worsley	(Dir)
	Jack Sullivan	(Asst dir)
	William Wyler	(Asst dir)
Producer:	Carl Laemmle	(Pres)
Writer:	Edward T. Lowe Jr.	(Scen)
	Perley Poore Sheehan	(Adpt)
Photography:	Robert Newhard	(Photog)
	Tony Kornman	(Addl photog)
Art Direction:	E. E. Sheeley	(Art dir)
	Sydney Ullman	(Art dir)
Film Editor:	Sydney Singerman	(Film ed)
	Maurice Pivar	(Film ed)
	Edward Curtis	(Film ed)
Country:	United States
Language:	English

Music:
Songs:
Source Text:	Based on the novel Notre-Dame de Paris (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) by Victor Hugo (Paris, 1831).
Authors:	Victor Hugo

Copyright Claimant	Copyright Date	Copyright Number
Universal Pictures Corp.	6/9/1923 dd/mm/yyyy	LP19381

Physical Properties:	b&w:
	Si:


Genre:	Drama

Subjects (Major):	Hunchbacks
	Jealousy
	Notre Dame Cathedral (Paris, France)
	Priests
	Self-sacrifice

Subjects (Minor):	Aristocracy
	Balls (Parties)
	Class conflict
	Fathers and daughters
	Festivals
	Guards
	Gypsies
	Hanging
	Kidnapping
	Louis XI, King of France, 1423-1483
	Poets
	Prisons
	Rescues
	Romance
	Romantic obsession
	Stabbings
	Torture
	Trials

Note:	The opening title card states "Carl Laemmle presents Victor Hugo's Class The Hunchback of Notre Dame with Lon Chaney." The onscreen credits erroneously list writer Perley Poore Sheehan's middle name as "Poor." As noted in the Sep 1923 Var review, ` while the program and billing sheet listed Chaney as the film’s star, the onscreen credits for the print reviewed listed Chaney as a featured player. The reviewer noted that Chaney’s performance earned him the right for “starring honors.” The NYT film critic called Chaney’s performance “remarkable” and also praised his “Quasimodo” the “ape-like bell-ringer…as repugnant as anything human could very well be.” A modern biography on Chaney noted that although Irving Thalberg, then Universal head of production, is credited for selecting The Hunchback of Notre Dame and casting Chaney, the property had long been of interest to the actor. In 1921, Chaney investigated purchasing the rights to Hugo’s novel, which was not then copyrighted in the United States and received a sixty-day option on the rights for $500. Chaney discussed a production with Universal, but also other studios, including a German company. According to the biography, in Apr 1922, Chelsea Picture Corp. announced the production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame starring Chaney, to be directed by Alan Crosland. By Aug 1922, Universal had renegotiated a contract with Chaney and picked up the novel’s rights. Chaney anticipated that Frank Borzage would direct, but Universal assigned the production to Wallace Worsley. Although Chaney was a well-known star by the time that The Hunchback of Notre Dame was released, the film became one of the high points of his career and, along with Universal’s 1925 production, Phantom of the Opera (see below), is the film with which he is most associated. A modern biography of director William Wyler, who served as an assistant director on the film, lists production dates of mid-Dec 1922 to mid-Jun 1923 and add Jimmy Dugan as another assistant director. The scene in which Quasimodo is flogged and chained to a stone in front of the cathedral was recreated for the Chaney film biography The Man of a Thousand Faces , in which James Cagney starred as Chaney (1957, see below). For information on other film adaptations of Victor Hugo's novel, please consult the entry below for the 1939 William Dieterle-directed RKO release starring Charles Laughton and Maureen O'Hara.

Bibliographic Sources:	Date	Page
Film Daily	16 Sep 1923	p. 4.
Motion Picture News	14 Jul 1923	p. 178.
New York Times	3 Sep 1923	p. 9.
Variety	6 Sep 1923	p. 22.

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