Project Re-Read Book 10, Chapters 5- 7

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Book 10, Chapter 5, The Retreat where Louis of France says his Prayers

Louis XI (Tully Marshall) Hunchback of Notre Dame 1923 picture image

Louis XI (Tully Marshall)
Hunchback of Notre Dame 1923

I hate this chapter, it’s so boring and long. We learn that King Louis is an old prick. News reaches him about the attack which he don’t know is on Notre Dame but he thinks on Provost. Gringoire is taken prisoner but Louis grants him mercy. When he learns that the attack is on Notre Dame, which is a like an attack on him, he gets mad. He, like Quasimodo, think the attack is about wanting a mere girl’s death so he orders it. See how this lie just exploded.

Fortunately, no movie has really done this scene because it’s boring. I GUESS the 1939 verison sort of did it but not really.

Book 10, Chapter 6, “The Chive in the City”

Robert Marien as Frollo & Dennis Ten Vergert as Gringoire 2012 Asian Tour Cast Notre Dame de Paris picture image

Robert Marien as Frollo & Dennis Ten Vergert as Gringoire 2012 Asian Tour Cast Notre Dame de Paris

Yay, a short chapter! Gringoire meets up with Frollo who is decked out in his creepy robe. The name of this chapter refers a password. Basically the two are about to sneak into Notre Dame. Well not so much sneak as Frollo has a key.

Again not too many movie versions have this chapter, in fact I don’t think any do.

 

 

Book 10, Chapter 7, Chateaupers to the Rescue

Anthony Quinn as Quasimodo finding Esmeralda gone 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Anthony Quinn as Quasimodo finding Esmeralda gone

Yay, another short chapter! Quasimodo has all but given up hope of saving Esmeralda from the Court of Miracles but then he see Phoebus fighting them off and the vagrants are defeated. Hooray, or is it? Because when Quasimodo rushes to knell at Esmeralda’s feet she is gone, Dun-Dun-Dun.

The soldiers do come at the end of the attack but since Esmeralda is typically still in the church we don’t see Quasimodo’s reaction. Aside from the 1956, 1977 and Notre Dame de Paris where she does leave the cathedral, Quasimodo usually has to fight off Frollo who is trying to drag Esmeralda off.

The acting in the 1956 version of Hunchback

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Quasimodo (Anthony Quinn) & Frollo (Alain Cuny), 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo (Anthony Quinn) & Frollo (Alain Cuny), 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame

The acting in the 1956 version of The Hunhcback of Notre Dame much like the characters lacks depth.

However like I said when I first started this version, I’m basing this review on the english dubbed version.

Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida) and Quasimodo (Anthony Quinn), 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame picture

Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida) and Quasimodo (Anthony Quinn), 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame

The only two actors who spoke their lines in English were Anthony Quinn and Gina Lollobrigida, so the bulk of the characters were dubbed. Which doesn’t help the acting style as there is a disconnect between the action and the vocals.

However the acting isn’t much better in the French version but it’s more natural so it is  slightly better than the dubbed.

 

Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida) with Phoebus (Jean Danet), 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida) with Phoebus (Jean Danet), 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame

However, I don’t think the fault of the acting is entirely the actors/voice actors’ fault. I think the script and the director are to blame. I sense little or no joy in the direction of the movie and the script is pretty utilitarian.

Any energy or vibrancy in the performance is the actors trying to eject something into the lines. But overall the acting is underwhelming.

 

Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida), 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida), 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Next 1956 Article – Costumes

Gina Lollobrigida as Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame 1956 image picture

Gina Lollobrigida as Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame 1956

Not a total Jerk; The 1956 Version of Phoebus

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Jean Danet as Phoebus,1956 Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

Jean Danet as Phoebus,1956 Hunchback of Notre dame

Phoebus is a character that can fulfill many different niches. He can be a jerk or the love interest pending on the direction the version is taking.

The 1956 version of Phoebus is different, he is a sort of jerk but he does in fact care.

Jean Danet as Phoebus & Gina Lollobrigida as Esmeralda,1956 Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

Jean Danet as Phoebus & Gina Lollobrigida as Esmeralda,1956 Hunchback of Notre dame

We first see Phoebus when he rescues Esmeralda from Quasimodo. He is, naturally, instantly attractive to her and proceeds to take her to an inn.  After he pays for the room Esmeralda runs off. This really doesn’t bother him all that much. The owner of the inn says that Esmeralda is too beautiful and wild  which is the kind of woman Phoebus always dreamed of.

Jean Danet as Phoebus & Anthony Quinn as Quasimodo, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

Jean Danet as Phoebus & Anthony Quinn as Quasimodo, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame

So it would seem that maybe Phoebus and Esmeralda could have worked out in this version if things had gone differently. I mean, yeah, he is engaged to Fleur de Lys and he seems to  like her enough. But Phoebus does tell Quasimodo that he wished he could have saved Esmeralda. So he does care for Esmeralda even if he is going to be with Fleur de Lys.

Jean Danet as Phoebus & Danielle Dumont as Fleur de Lys, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

Jean Danet as Phoebus & Danielle Dumont as Fleur de Lys, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame

I could be reading into this a little too much or maybe I’m giving this Phoebus too much credit but it seems to me that Phoebus might have chosen Esmeralda and merely just settled for Fleur de Lys. I think if that was made more apparent in the film it would have given Phoebus a bit more pathos which makes sense as this movie has Anankh has its basis.

Plus it would make the audience connect more to him. However as it stands, two lines makes Phoebus a deeper  and more interesting character than Esmeralda, Quasimodo and Frollo  which is sad but still two lines isn’t enough make him sympathetic.

Jean Danet as Phoebus & Gina Lollobrigida as Esmeralda,1956 Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

Jean Danet as Phoebus & Gina Lollobrigida as Esmeralda,1956 Hunchback of Notre dame

Next Article on the 1956 version: Gringoire

Robert Hirsch as Gringoire, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

Robert Hirsch as Gringoire, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame

 

Quasi Quasimodo; The 1956 version of Quasimodo

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Quasimodo (Anthony Quinn), 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo (Anthony Quinn), 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Gotta say the 1956 version of Quasimodo was quite a disappointment. For a version that works so hard to maintain the plot of the book it really failed with Quasimodo’s character.

Quasimodo (Anthony Quinn) & Frollo (Alain Cuny), 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo (Anthony Quinn) & Frollo (Alain Cuny), 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

First off this Quasimodo isn’t a Hunchback, he is a slouch-back. He stands up fairly straight. I’m not sure if was this was the director trying to make Quasimodo more human or Anthony Quinn being lazy. My guess this was the director’s decision and I don’t agree.

You can’t really have the Hunchback of Notre Dame without the Hunch. If the director wanted to humanize Quasimodo he could have done it with the make-up but I think he missed the point. The point of Quasimodo is he the most human character but he looks like a monster. Having him not have the hunch takes away a big part of his character instead of being deformed he is just ugly.  Although in the pillory scene you do see a hunch,  too bad it disappears when he puts his shirt back on.

 

Quasimodo (Anthony Quinn) giving flowers to Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida) 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo (Anthony Quinn) giving flowers to Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida) 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

That is not it though, Quasimodo’s personality is very watered down to point where I’m not quite sure if he has one. He makes comments about people being bad but he spends most of his time mumbling and giggling. He just comes off a childish but with zero charm or interest.

You don’t feel for him; his pain, his love, his despair, nothing. So when we get the the original ending to the book in a movie you can’t feel anything because you have sent two hours not feeling anything for the emotional core of the movie.

 

Quasimodo (Anthony Quinn) laying down next to Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida) 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo (Anthony Quinn) laying down next to Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida) 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame

The movie tries to make you feel for Quasimodo but due the performance you really can’t connect with this Quasimodo and that does weaken the second half of the movie. It’s like all the pieces are there to make an good Quasimodo but they don’t connect right and we’re left with a  half-form Quasimodo.

Quasimodo (Anthony Quinn) on the Pillory 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo (Anthony Quinn) on the Pillory 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

The only good thing to come from this Quasimodo is after Esmeralda gives him water he says ‘beautiful” or “Belle” and that inspired one of the greatest Hunchback songs ever.

Quasimodo (Anthony Quinn) with a cat, 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo (Anthony Quinn) with a cat, 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

Also why is Quasimodo holding a cat? What’s up with Hunchback versions instering cats into shots?

Next 1956 Article – Frollo

Frollo (Alain Cuny), 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo (Alain Cuny), 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Too Sexy for the Role; The 1956 Esmeralda

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Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida), 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida), 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

Without a doubt  this is Esmeralda’s movie. This is made very clear by her 3 minute long dance scene that only cuts away to Frollo staring at her but you can still see her in a reflection. Many consider the 1956 version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame Esmeralda to be one of the best Esmeraldas.  Many feel she has the right look, grace and free-spirited nature that Esmeralda should have. I personally have a few issues with this version of Esmeralda.

Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida) dances, 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida) dances, 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame

First off, I feel like I’m being lied to with this Esmeralda.What she says and how she acts feel in opposition to how she looks and her mannerisms.  I feel like this Esmeralda was written to be played by a young actress but then Gina Lollobridga was cast and the sensuality was turn up.

Lollobridga reads too mature and sultry but then she tries to act innocence and carefree. I don’t believe her when she says that she “has never known men before.” I don’t buy it.

Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida) with Phoebus (Jean Danet), 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida) with Phoebus (Jean Danet), 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Although I admit, my issue with Esmeralda’s duality could be because of her costume. Color aside, her two main costumes age her. I will get to costumes in a later post  so I won’t so into too much detail but I feel the veil, the very define corset waistline and the 1950’s cat eye age her.

She looks far more believable as a young women when she in the simple prisoner shift at the end of the movie.

Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida), 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida), 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Since Esmeralda is the main focus of this movie you would think that the dynamic between Esmeralda and Frollo would be really strong but Esmeralda and Frollo don’t really have many interactions with each other in this movie.

Esmeralda admits that she afraid of him but she seems to be more uncomfortable around him which robs the would-be drama from their interactions. It fact there scene are a pretty dull.

Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida) with Phoebus (Jean Danet), 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida) with Phoebus (Jean Danet), 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame

I think the dance scene sums up her character in this movie perfectly. She is  aloof, mysterious,  very sensual and slightly exuberant. I mean her personality is there I’m just not sure if it’s the costume, Lollobridga’s mannerism or her natural sex appeal that holds back this Esmeralda as being a great depiction of the character.

Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida), 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida), 1956 Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

Next 1956 Article – Quasimodo

Anthony Quinn as Quasimodo

Anthony Quinn as Quasimodo

 

Maureen O’Hara and Anthony Quinn

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Maureen O'Hara and Anthony Quinn in Only the Lonely picture image

Maureen O'Hara and Anthony Quinn in Only the Lonely

A couple of days ago I decided to watch Only the Lonely (Great movie by the way) which stars Maureen O’Hara who play Esmeralda in the 1939 verion of Hunchback of Notre Dame. The movie also had in Anthony Quinn who play Quasimodo in the 1956 french version of Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Maureen O'Hara as Esmeralda

Maureen O'Hara as Esmeralda

Anthony Quinn as Quasimodo

Anthony Quinn as Quasimodo

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the Only the Lonely Quinn’s character is in love with Maureen’s character. It was just great to see two Hunchback alums in a movie. As it turns out O’Hara and Quinn were in five other movies together. The Magnificent Matador , Against all Flags, Sinbad the Sailor , Buffalo Bill, and The Black Swan.

Kind of makes you wonder what it would have been like in they played opposite in Hunchback of Notre Dame.