Anthony Hopkins | The Hunchblog of Notre Dame

12Jul 2018

A Not Real casting List for a Disney Remake.

by jess

Not Real News Hunchback Notre Dame

So this made the rounds and ended up on my news alert. So why not do a quick fire round of casting thoughts on these performers in these roles. This very off impromtu. Read the article here

Andy Serkis as Quasimodo – Unless it was motion capture I don’t see this casting. Serkis is a great actor but I can’t see him being a innocent child-like Quasimodo.

Gal Gadot as Esmeralda – I get it. She could work as Esmerlada but it’s not a casting that I would have thought of. I think there are better opinions but if did happen probably wouldn’t be the worst.

Peter Capaldi as Frollo – I have never heard of this guy, I apologize. Apparently I have see him in The Devil’s Whore, which I don’t remember at all. He has played The Doctor though and he was in the Vicar of Dibley of which I have only watched the last two episode. Well I will say this for this casting HE LOOKS the part so shrugs of this casting. Probably wouldn’t be a bad choice.

Chris Hemsworth as Phoebus – Did an actual post on this one back in 2012 so read it here. I guess this a popular casting pick for Phoebus.

Eddie Redmayne as Clopin – No! While I could see him as Gringoire and Disney’s Clopin has elements of Gringoire in his characterization just no to this one.

Kesley Grammar as Victor – I don’t understand this one. I want to but I don’t.

Betty White as Laverne – Don’t put Betty White in a Disney movie. Don’t censor her.

Jack Black as Hugo – Maybe but no. Sure they are both crass but still.

Anthony Hopkins as The Archdeacon – Well he did play Quasimodo in the 1982 movie so having him in another version could be cool but no. Again not the worst casting but meh.

But what do you think of this fantasy casting? And will Disney actually remake Hunchback?

13Aug 2013

80 Stylin’ Quasimodo; The 1982 Version

by jess

Anthony Hopkins as Quasimodo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

The 1982 version is like the 1939 version of Quasimodo; Good Night everyone.

Anthony Hopkins as Quasimodo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Alright, is all serious Hopkins plays Quasimodo pretty much like Laughton 1939 version. He is very sympathetic and humanized. He doesn’t have any malice in his personality. There is few difference to this Quasimodo verses the 1939.

Anthony Hopkins as Quasimodo and Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

First the big one, Quasimodo dies in this version. Frollo stabs him while he is protecting Esmeralda. Now this is the second time Quaismodo has died as a result of Frollo stabbing but this is the first time where Quasimodo kills Frollo by impaling him on a large nail. It rob Frollo of his dramatic death. But seeing how Quasimodo doesn’t exactly go into a fit of rage it’s a mute point.

Anthony Hopkins as Quasimodo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

As Quasimodo doesn’t swing down from Notre Dame. Instead he climbs down and fights off the guard and carries her in. It’s less dramatic but it have good tension and action.

Anthony Hopkins as Quasimodo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Let’s talk about his looks. Quasimodo has a very 80’s style haircut. It’s like a mullet. His protrusion is more wart like. The teeth were very jagged. It a good look except for the hair it’s too silly 80s hair.

Anthony Hopkins as Quasimodo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Another difference between the 82 and the 39 version is in was they approach to the character’s lines. Laughton plays him with a lot of pathos and sympathy. Hopkins has a great combination of pathos and jovial-ness to his dialogue.

Anthony Hopkins as Quasimodo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

While this version is comparable to the 1939 version Hopkins does brings a new angle to the sympathetic Quasimodo and it’s a very good depiction of Quasimodo except for that mullet.

Next 1982 Article

Gerry Sundquist as Gringoire, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

06Aug 2013

A New and Not-Improved Esmeralda; The 1982 Version

by jess

Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

There has been bold Esmeraldas, sexy Esmeraldas, kind Esmeraldas, socially conscious Esmeraldas, mysterious Esmeraldas, vapid Esmeraldas but the 1982 version
of Esmeralda is different, she is the first timid Esmeralda.

Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

What makes her timid? Well, you know in the book how Esmeralda loves to dance? In this movie she doesn’t like to dance because she is scared of being arrested. An Esmeralda who hates to dance is like the biggest travesty I have seen in a Hunchback version because her love of dance and her free-spirited nature is paramount to her personality and appeal. Even when she does dance it’s half-hearted. Even if otherwise it was a great depiction of Esmeralda is a huge mark against her character and is unforgivable.

Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Let’s just talk about her looks for a minute. Lesley-Ann Down is very pretty but she is just not right for Esmeralda. Esmeralda is suppose to look exotic to an extent. Down has bright blue eyes and brown-ish hair, though in Hunchback it looked more dark blond. So we have a dark blond-ish blue-eyes Esmeralda. This made the jail scene silly when Frollo mentions her dark eyes which were actually bright blue. Down is more a classic English beauty, she just doesn’t read Gyspy which adds to not believing this depiction of Esmeralda. The film tries to excuse her looks, by Frollo asking if she is in fact a Gypsy and her saying she doesn’t know that is just was they told her.

Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda & Anthony Hopkins as Quasimodo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Down is also a little on the old side to play to Esmeralda as a young girl. To combat this Down speaks softly. This adds to her timidness. This also makes her seem a bit dim however this Esmeralda isn’t as stupid as she seems. While she is attractive to Phoebus and is willing to sleep with him she does back off and try to leave once she finds out that he’s married. Which makes Frollo stabbing him infinitely unnecessary. She also wants Quasimodo to bring Phoebus to her not because she wants to see him but to convince Phoebus to get the charges dropped against her. She also recognizes her love for Gringoire.

Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

She also develops a bit of a backbone when she rejects Frollo in the jail cell and in Notre Dame, though she pretty much has to rescued both times. She also takes a stand to Gringoire when on their wedding night but that’s in the book. In any case it’s good that she doesn’t always use that timid little voice.

Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda & Derek Jacobi as Frollo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Down’s Esmeralda is one of the weaker depictions of Esmeralda. There is not a lot right about her character. Down is not fully to blame, fault lies everywhere; in the writing, in the directing, in the casting and in her acting. Who makes a timid Esmeralda who isn’t free-spirited and dislikes dancing and excepts an audience to buy that character as an good interpretation of Hugo’s heroine? Very little of the original personality of Esmeralda is present in this version except maybe her kindness but that is it. It’s just a weak version of Esmeralda all around and not believable as the character.

Next 1982 Article; Quasimodo

Anthony Hopkins as Quasimodo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

23Jul 2013

Plotting at the Plot of the 1982 Hunchback

by jess

Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Pretty much the 1982 version follows the 1939 model of how to tell this story. However the 1982 version doesn’t dive into social commentary the same way. The blight of Gypsies is not an issue and Esmeralda doesn’t concern herself social inequality. Esmeralda’s main concerns are not getting arrested, marrying Phoebus and keeping Frollo off of her.

Derek Jacobi as Frollo & Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Frollo is also different than his 1939 incarnation. For one thing, in the 1982 version he is a priest and has no younger brother. Also he is a little more forward, instead of staring at her he basically tries to get with Esmeralda in the first 20 minutes. He went right to lust. But this version has a decent jail scene so point in its favor. Although I would point out that having Frollo bring Esmeralda into Notre Dame after she gets arrested for dancing and then trying to seduce her robs a bit from the jail scene when Esmeralda asks why he hates her. Esmeralda in the book was scared of Frollo and Frollo’s interaction with her was very limited to no existent. In this movie he is not really acting hateful toward Esmeralda. He acting confused and desperate but he was acting fairly nice toward till he tried touch her and she ran off. So Esmerald questioning him was tad on the unnecessary side.

Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda & Gerry Sundquist as Gringoire, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Since the social concerns are not presence in this movie Gringoire has little else to do but moon over Esmeralda, although like in 1939 version he and Esmeralda do fall in love and leave together at the end.

The Death of Frollo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Speaking of the end, Quasimodo kills Frollo in self- defense by impaling him on a nail. This…..this ……is not cool movie. While I get that the self-defense angle, impaling Frollo on a nail is A) stupid and anti-climactic and B) having Frollo fall from Notre Dame is a powerful metaphor. My guess the reason why Frollo dies in this manner is the budget but still shame.

Anthony Hopkins as Quasimodo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Quasimodo is pretty much the same from 1939 version, Hopkins plays him very sympathetic but it works.

David Suchet as Clopin, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Clopin is not fun in this version, He is very conniving. He is not to concern about anything other than survival.

Robert Powell as Phoebus & Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus is depicted as huge womanizing jerk who is married in this version. Another strange addition to this version is Frollo offering to buy Esmeralda from Gringoire.

Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda & Derek Jacobi as Frollo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

This version plays the story out pretty conventionally. It doesn’t make too many big annoying changes to the plot. The changes they make are small and mostly the impact the characters.

So let’s dive deeper into those characters, let’s start with the heart and soul of the movie; Frollo

Derek Jacobi as Frollo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

16Jul 2013

1982 Hunchback Review Series; Start!

by jess

Anthony Hopkins as Quasimodo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

The 1982 version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame was a US made for TV movie. It was made 4 years after the 1977 version was released the US in 1978. It’s part of the Hallmark Hall of Fame series. It starred Anthony Hopkins and Derek Jacobi as Quasimodo and Frollo. Most of the cast is made up of British actors.

Anthony Hopkins as Quasimodo & Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Pretty much this movie plays out like the 1939 version but without King Louis and the modernity angle and the blight the Gypsies in Paris. And it follows the book a bit more than the 1939 version but there a lot differences from.