The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Originally released in 1923


Lon Chaney as Quasimodo

This screen adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel was the movie that set the standard for Lon Chaney's make-up and opened the door for the horror genre.  The story is about Quasimodo the hunchback who lives in the bell tower of a cathedral.  Quasimodo is hired to kidnap a gypsy named Esmeralda, but he is caught and sentenced to be flogged.  Later, Esmeralda is wrongfully convicted of murder, and Quasimodo sets out to save her.  The subject of many remakes, this version of The Hunchback of Natre Dame was the most expensive film produced at the time, costing one and a quarter million dollars.


L.C. Subject Headings

The following Library of Congress Subject Heading is for use in searching the on-line catalog for materials pertaining to The Hunchback of Notre Dame.


Reviews

The New York Times Film Reviews 1913-1968.  Vol. 1, 1913-1931.  New York: The New  York Times & Arno Press, 1970.
[Davis Ref: PN 1995. N4 v1]

Variety Film Reviews 1907-1980.  Vol. 2, 1921-1925.  New York: Garland Publishing  Inc., 1983.
[Davis Ref: PN 1995 .V34 v2]

Original Novel

Hugo, Victor.  Notre-Dame de Paris.  Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999.  (originally  published in 1831)
[Davis, 7th floor stacks: PQ2288.A35 1999]

Known in English as The Hunchback of Notre Dame, this version of the Hugo classic was chosen because there were not many options to consider.  One of only two English versions at Davis Library, this one is a better translation because it sticks to the original text as best as it can, and Oxford University Press is a very respectable publisher.  There is one other English copy in UL storage, but it is from 1947, so this more recent publication would be a better read.

Video

The Hunchback of Notre Dame.  New York, N.Y.: Kino Video, 1990.
[UL NonPrint: 65-V3048]

The movie that defined Lon Chaney as a master of make-up, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is still as awesome today as it was when it was released in 1923, almost 80 years ago.  With magnificent sets and a fantastic job by Chaney as Quasimodo, this film still stands as one of the greatest horror movies ever produced.
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