Book 9, Chapter 1, Delirium
Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida) and Frollo (Alain Cuny),
This chapter is Frollo freaking out about Esmeralda’s death. He doesn’t know that Quasimodo saved her. At the end of the chapter when he sees Esmeralda walking in Notre Dame he thinks its her ghost. All and all this chapter is pretty cool and fun to read as it really just Frollo’s insanity.
Movies haven’t really tackled this one chapter. You see touches of it in the 1982 version and the 1956 version. I understand that movie would rather focus on Quasimodo and not Frollo but this chapter would be so much fun for a movie version. I t really has everything a dramatic movie could want for a director, actor, cinematographer, lighting, etc.
Someone do it!
Book 9, Chapter 2, Deformed, Blind, Lame
Maureen O’Hara as Esmeralda & Charles laughton as Quasimodo
In this chapter we learn a little about the history and concept of sanctuary and that it can be suspend but that rare. It also is
Esmeralda recovering her sensed that her time in jail rob her of. Quasimodo also gives her clothes food and his bed. We also learn that Djali is a-ok.
This chapter and the next one are often merged in films versions. Though movie favors the last bit of this chapter with Quasimodo’s interactions with Esmeralda and just have it go into the next chapter with one scene.
Book 9, Chapter 3, Deaf
Salma Hayek as Esmeralda & Mandy Patinkin as Quasimodo,
Yeah, this chapter is in like every Hunchback movie version, pretty much. It’s the first conversation between Esmeralda and Quasimodo, about why he saved her and how to talk to him, you know the drill.
But you know it’s a lovely meaningful chapter. I have no complaints. Movies tend to do this chapter well enough even if it’s at the expense other chapters/scenes.