Drama

Romance

Horror

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

RKO Radio Pictures

United States of America

English

Latin

Charles Laughton

Cedric Hardwicke

Thomas Mitchell

Maureen O'Hara

Edmond O'Brien

Alan Marshal

Walter Hampden

Harry Davenport

Katharine Alexander

George Zucco

Fritz Leiber

Etienne Girardot

Helene Reynolds

Minna Gombell

Arthur Hohl

Curt Bois

George Tobias

Rod La Rocque

Spencer Charters

Kathryn Adams

Diane Hunter

Sig Arno

Frank Mills

Dewey Robinson

Frank Mazzola

Alan Copeland

Arthur Millett

Ferdinand Munier

Barlowe Borland

Victor Kilian

James Fawcett

Alan Spear

Ward Shattuck

Ray Long

Lillian Nicholson

Gisela Werbisek

Harry Cording

Angela Mulinos

Lionel Belmore

Earl Clyde

Thom Fox

Gretl Dupont

Tempe Pigott

Nestor Paiva

Arthur Dulac

Vallejo Gantner

Charlie Hall

George Barrows

Peter Godfrey

Edward Groag

J. C. Fowler

Cy Kendall

Charles Halton

Norbert Schiller

Eddie Abdo

Alexander Granach

Edmund Cobb

Ralph Dunn

Eddie Bracken

Harold DeGarro

Louis Zamperini

John George

Kenner G. Kemp

Rondo Hatton

Vangie Beilby

Russ Powell

Louis Adlon

Paul Newlan

Dick Dickinson

Joseph P. Mack

Charles Drake

Richard Clayton

Billy Jones

Theodore Lorch

Eddie Dew

Margaret McWade

Jack Perrin

Hector V. Sarno

Margaret Seddon

William Dieterle

Victor Hugo

Sonya Levien

Pandro S. Berman

Alfred Newman

Joseph H. August

William Hamilton

Robert Wise

Mel Berns

Bruno Frank

Vernon L. Walker

Van Nest Polglase

Walter Plunkett

Darrell Silvera

John E. Tribby

Will Price

Incredible film-making, bravo for real classics.

What a truly lavish and gorgeous film this is, thematically it pulls the emotions in different directions, and as a story it's as sharp as a tack. Boasting a quite incredible performance from Charles Laughton as the tragic bell ringer Quasimodo (no nomination Academy, are you flipping sure?), and sets that are simply out of this world, this film to me defines classic cinema.

Into the mix we get a radiant Maureen O'Hara as Esmeralda who lights up the screen in every scene she is in, it's a very special performance in view of it being her first lead US turn. However, really the film's triumph lies with its script, a very aware piece of writing encompassing political goings on and the corruption of the church set around the hunchback's tragic love. The make up of Laughton leaves an indelible image when brought into focus with the great detail of the surroundings, and the score is mightily appropriate.

All in all this film cost 2 Million Dollars for RKO Studios, one of their most expensive outlays, but they were rewarded in spades as the film was a monster success and here in the modern day age of cinema the film still stands up as a benchmark for great movie making. 9/10

CinemaSerf

The is a wonderfully evocative version of the timeless Victor Hugo story of love, desire, cruelty and brutality in 1490's Paris. Charles Laughton turns in a tour de force performance as the physically and mentally disabled "Quasimodo" who is feared, loathed and ridiculed by the local population. When a wandering gypsy girl "Esmerelda" (quite possibly Maureen O'Hara's best ever performance) is found guilty of murder he rescues her and gives her sanctuary in the high bell tower of Notre Dame cathedral. Here she is easy prey for the already infatuated "Frollo" - superby depicted by Sir Cedric Hardwicke. What follows is the stuff of great literature adapted with adroit skill and sympathy by Sonya Levein (screenplay) and directed by William Dieterie. The use of light and shadow, Alfred Newman's nimble score and an authentic set (recreated in California) make this by far the best rendering of this story on film.

THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1939) trailer EnglSubt./S.T.Fr. (optional)

Hunchback Of Notre Dame 1939 Trailer

Guillermo del Toro on “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1939)

Best Movies

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Cast & Crew

Videos

Cast

Charles Laughton

Cedric Hardwicke

Thomas Mitchell

Maureen O'Hara

Edmond O'Brien

Alan Marshal

Walter Hampden

Harry Davenport

Katharine Alexander

George Zucco

Box office

More Like This

Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

Half Brothers

Kalle Aaltosen morsian

Nur ein kleines bißchen Liebe

Tetro

Dolores Claiborne

In Her Shoes