The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923 film)
| The Hunchback of Notre Dame | |
|---|---|
.jpg)
British theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Wallace Worsley |
| Produced by |
Carl Laemmle Irving Thalberg |
| Screenplay by |
Edward T. Lowe, Jr. Perley Poore Sheehan |
| Based on |
The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo |
| Starring |
Lon Chaney Patsy Ruth Miller Norman Kerry Nigel de Brulier Brandon Hurst |
| Music by |
Cecil Copping Carl Edouarde Hugo Riesenfeld Heinz Eric Roemheld |
| Cinematography |
Robert Newhard Tony Kornman Virgil Miller Stephen S. Norton Charles J. Stumar |
| Edited by | Edward Curtiss Maurice Pivar Sydney Singerman |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
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Release date
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September 2, 1923 |
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Running time
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102 minutes
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| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
| Budget | $1,250,000 (estimated) |
| Box office | $1.5 million |
102 minutes
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a 1923 American romantic drama film with horror elements starring Lon Chaney, directed by Wallace Worsley, and produced by Carl Laemmle and Irving Thalberg. The supporting cast includes Patsy Ruth Miller, Norman Kerry, Nigel de Brulier, and Brandon Hurst. The film was Universal's "Super Jewel" of 1923 and was their most successful silent film, grossing over $3 million.
The film is based on Victor Hugo's 1831 novel of the same name, and is notable for the grand sets that recall 15th century Paris as well as for Chaney's performance and make-up as the tortured hunchback Quasimodo. The film elevated Chaney, already a well-known character actor, to full star status in Hollywood, and also helped set a standard for many later horror films, including Chaney's The Phantom of the Opera in 1925. In 1951, the film entered the public domain (in the USA) due to the claimants failure to renew its copyright registration in the 28th year after publication.
The story is set in Paris in 1482. Quasimodo is a deaf, half-blind, hunchbacked bell-ringer of the famous Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. His master Jehan, the evil brother of Notre Dame's saintly archdeacon Don Claudio, prevails upon the hunchback to kidnap the fair Esmeralda, a dancing gypsy girl (and the adopted daughter of Clopin, the king of the oppressed beggars of Paris' underworld). The dashing Captain Phoebus rescues Esmeralda from Quasimodo, while Jehan abandons him and flees. At first seeking a casual romance, Phoebus becomes entranced by Esmeralda, and takes her under his wing. Quasimodo is sentenced to be lashed in the public square. After being whipped, he begs for water. Esmeralda pities him, and brings him some.
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