Today’s Fan-art is by BW-Babe. It’s Frollo writing a love letter to Esmeralda and all the emotions he goes though to convey his inner most feelings. I love this.
Love Notes by BW Babe
For a while I have been thinking about films that has similar character types to The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Like movies that feature Hunchbacks, Gypsies, Obsessed creepy guys, etc.
One famous movie to feature a Hunchback in it is called Jean De Florette
Gérard Depardieu and Yves Montand inJean De Florette
It stars Gérard Depardieu as Jean de Florette who is a hunchback. Unlike Quasimodo he is not ugly, Daniel Auteuil’s character, Ugolin covers that as well as creepy romantic obsession in the second part Manon of the Spring (more on this in another post). The two films make up one story.
Gérard Depardieu as Jean with his wife Aimee (Elisabeth Depardieu) and Daughter Manon (Ernestine Mazurowna), Jean de Florette
So what is the movie about? Basically, a greedy landowner, Cesar Soubeyran (Yves Montand) and his nephew Ugolin want the property next to them. When the owner is killed in a fight his nephew Jean Cadoret, a tax collector and a hunchback, inherits the property. He moves in with his wife Aimee and young daughter Manon and tries to live off the land. But Cesar and Ugolin’s designs on getting Jean’s property push them to ruin Jean.
Gérard Depardieu as Jean De Florette
The sequel Manon of the Spring picks off where Jean de Florette left off and it gives a reason for why Jean was a Hunchback that could be applied to Quasimodo. I won’t say what it is but it’s fun to think about what caused Quasimodo’s deformity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfIyr03BM94
So these concerts have been in happening in Kiev, Moscow, and St Petersburg for the past 3 years. They have only happen outside these cities twice, in Paris and Beirut. And while is this great, I think it’s unfair they keep occurring in mostly the same three cities. I know it comes down to the person organizing and to get it other locationa mean someone has to make it happen. But still Notre Dame de Paris seem to be popular world-wide and it’s unfair to the fan who can’t make it to those locations. I hope there more concerts in other places, hopefully in either Montreal or New York City (both are “close” to me ^_~).
But where would like you to see the Notre Dame de Paris Concert Tour?
Danielle Dumont as Fleur de Lys, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame
Fleur de Lys in the 1956 version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame doesn’t have a big part, in fact she has a very small part as she in only in one scene and is only discussed in another. So she appears less in this movie than she does in the 1923 version. So why is she getting her own post?
Because I think she might be the most interesting and complex character in this movie. Which is a little sad.
Jean Danet as Phoebus & Danielle Dumont as Fleur de Lys, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame
At first glance, Fleur de Lys might be consider a bitch. She baits Phoebus into recognizing Esmeralda and then orders him to make her leave the public square to prove that he loves her. Of course he uses that chance to arrange a meeting with Esmeralda so the joke is on Fleur de Lys.
Jean Danet as Phoebus & Danielle Dumont as Fleur de Lys, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame
In her brief scene we know a few things about her, she loves Phoebus but is insecure and masks it but acting haughty, which I think is relatable. This also makes it believable when her mother says that she was deeply hurt by Phoebus‘ wanton behavior but that she also longs to see him. She is self-realized enough to know she is jealous but instead of letting it consume her, she confronts Phoebus. This make her not passive . Though her affections for Phoebus are a bit naive as she does believe that he chased Esmeralda as proof of his love and not used it as arranging a meeting.
Danielle Dumont as Fleur de Lys, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame
Perhaps being surrounded by characters that are less than 3-dimensional makes her seems more relatable and interesting than she is meant to be. Though maybe the beauty of her characterization is that she is only one scene so the film couldn’t muddle it. However for me she is most likable and the most real character in the movie.
Danielle Dumont as Fleur de Lys, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame
Next 1956 Article – The other characters that are there
Maurice Sarfati as Jehan, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qG_8axLqFEU
A Tear for a Drop of Brand Named Soda
Shameless Product Placement by Professor Donohue
Made by by Professor Donohue
Apparently it is customary for Richard Charest to thank the crowd in country’s official language and start singing in French but the crowd was happier to heard Richard Cocciante singing in Italian.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QT8s0cUejM
These video are from a promotional visit the cast did in January.
David Tennant
I was reading a blog that thinks that David Tennant should be cast as Clopin. And while the blog tells the reader not to take it seriously I agree David Tennant would make a great Clopin.
David Tennant as The Doctor
Devaid Tennant is most known for his playing of the tenth incarnation of The Doctor in the BBC version of Doctor Who 
David Tennant as Barty Crouch, Jr
Tennant is cheerful, charismatic and he has a quick witty way of talking that would be perfect for Clopin. However he can also be threatening. Both of these facets are integral to Clopin’s character.
David Tennant as The Doctor
There just something about his mannerism and looks that I think make him an ideal choice for Clopin.
David Tennant
This performance of Belle confuses me. We have no Phoebus but whatever this isn’t the first performance to cast aside Phoebus. We have three languages being sung; French, Turkish and English. And what is Esmeralda wearing? It looks like a Grecian style maxi dress. I could expect this is Quasimodo and Frollo were not in period-ish style costumes. Maybe I’m missing something. Oh well, at least it’s not red. But also why does she seem angry? Also is just me or is Quasimodo’s prosthetic falling off?