MOVIE REVIEW
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
also known as “The Bells of Notre Dame,” “A Notre Dame-i toronyőr,” “Cocosatul de la Notre Dame,” “De klokkenluider van de Notre Dame,” “Der Glöckner von Notre Dame,”
See all »“Dzwonnik z Notre Dame,” “El geperut de Notre Dame,” “El geperut de Notre-Dame,” “El jorobado de Notre Dame,” “Goozhposht-e Notre Dam,” “Ha-Giben M'Notre Dame,” “Hringjarinn í Notre Dame,” “I Panagia ton Parision,” “Il gobbo di Notre Dame,” “Jumalaema kiriku kellamees,” “Klokkeren fra Notre Dame,” “Kurrizoja i Notre Damit,” “Le Bossu de Notre-Dame,” “Notr-Dam cho'chqasi,” “Notr-Dam qozbeli,” “Notre Dame'ın Kamburu,” “Notre Damen Kellonsoittaja,” “Notredamski zvonar,” “O Corcunda de Notre Dame,” “Paryžiaus katedros kuprius,” “Ringaren i Notre Dame,” “Ringeren i Notre Dame,” “Thằng Gù Nhà Thờ Đức Bà,” “Zvonar crkve Notre Dame,” “Zvonár u Matky Božej,” “Zvoník u Matky Boží,” “Η Παναγία των Παρισίων,” “Горбань із Нотр-Даму,” “Горбун из Нотр-Дама,” “Звонар Богородичине цркве,” “Нотр-Дам бүкірі,” “Парижката света Богородица,” “ノートルダムの鐘,” “鐘樓怪人”
Reviewed by: Marcus Mann
STAFF WRITER
Moral Rating: |
Average—with caution (somewhat offensive)
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Moviemaking Quality: |
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Primary Audience: |
Adults Young-Adults Teens
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Genre: |
Animation
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Length: |
1 hr. 31 min.
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Year of Release: |
1996
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USA Release: |
June 21, 1996
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Featuring |
Tom Hulce … Quasimodo (voice)
Demi Moore … Esmeralda (voice)
Jason Alexander … Hugo (voice)
Jim Cummings … Guards / Gypsies (voice)
David Ogden Stiers … Archdeacon (voice)
See all »
Mary Kay Bergman … Quasimodo’s Mother / Additional Voices (voice)
Corey Burton … Brutish Guard / Additional Voices (voice)
Bill Fagerbakke … Oafish Guard (voice)
Tony Jay … Frollo (voice)
Paul Kandel … Clopin (voice)
Charles Kimbrough … Victor (voice)
Kevin Kline … Phoebus (voice)
Heidi Mollenhauer … Esmeralda (singing voice)
Patrick Pinney … Guards / Gypsies / Additional Voices (voice)
Gary Trousdale … The Old Heretic (voice)
Frank Welker … Baby Bird / Djali (voice)
Mary Wickes … Laverne (voice)
Jane Withers … Additional Laverne Dialogue (voice)
Jack Angel … Additional Voices (voice)
Joan Barber … Additional Voices (voice)
Scott Barnes … Additional Voices (voice)
Bob Bergen … Additional Voices (voice) (Robert Bergen)
Susan Blu … Additional Voices (voice)
Maureen Brennan … Additional Voices (voice)
Rodger Bumpass … Additional Voices (voice)
Victoria Clark … Additional Voices (voice)
Philip L. Clarke … Additional Voices (voice) (Philip Clarke)
Jennifer Darling … Additional Voices (voice)
Debi Derryberry … Additional Voices (voice)
Jonathan Dokuchitz … Additional Voices (voice)
Bill Farmer … Additional Voices (voice)
Laurie Faso … Additional Voices (voice)
Merwin Foard … Additional Voices (voice)
Dana Hill … Additional Voices (voice)
Judy Kaye … Additional Voices (voice)
Eddie Korbich … Additional Voices (voice)
Alix Korey … Additional Voices (voice)
Michael Lindsay … Additional Voices (voice)
Sherry Lynn … Additional Voices (voice)
Mona Marshall … Additional Voices (voice)
Howard McGillin … Additional Voices (voice)
Mickie McGowan … Additional Voices (voice)
Anna McNeely … Additional Voices (voice)
Bruce Moore … Additional Voices (voice)
Denise Pickering … Additional Voices (voice)
Phil Proctor … Additional Voices (voice)
Jan Rabson … Additional Voices (voice)
Peter Samuel … Additional Voices (voice)
Kath Soucie … Additional Voices (voice)
Gordon Stanley … Additional Voices (voice)
Mary Stout … Additional Voices (voice)
Marcelo Tubert … Additional Voices (voice)
Thurl Ravenscroft … Quasimodo’s Father / Frollo’s Father
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Director |
Kirk Wise
Gary Trousdale
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Producer |
Roy Conli
Don Hahn
Philip Lofaro
Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Feature Animation, Walt Disney Pictures
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Distributor |
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Disney’s animators have done it again. A genuine blockbuster! Spectacular animation, great music and charming characters highlight this adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic tale.
Quasimodo (the “hunchback”) is a lonely outsider who dreams of leaving the protection of Notre Dame for just one day. He ventures into the city (Paris) during the annual Festival of Fools against the wishes of his master, the self-righteous, evil Judge Frollo. “Topsy-turvy”, the song for the celebration, describes very well the rest of the story as Quasimodo’s world turns upside down. During the celebration, he is crowned “King of the Fools” and finds himself falling instantly in love with the Gypsy dancer Esmeralda. Joy turns quickly to sorrow as the crowd cruelly mocks and rejects him for his misshapen appearance, failing to see the charm which lies below his odd looks.
Back in the safety of the Cathedral, Quasimodo is at first heartbroken to find that Esmeralda is in love with another, yet he ultimately risks everything to bring the two lovers together. In the end, the entire city of Paris owes Quasimodo a great debt as he teaches the people the important lesson of acceptance and love. Paris learns to appreciate the unique values of the outcast Gypsies and the disfigured hunchback.
As Christians, we find this to be an admirable lesson. The Bible teaches that all the people in the world are the miraculous creation of God (in God’s own image) no matter the color of skin or the standard of beauty. Gratefully, Disney’s adaptation of the novel makes the great Cathedral, and it’s priest, the protector and sanctuary of the mistreated; rather than an evil oppressor. Disney erects a clearly evil judge as the villain, making it easy for the entire audience to distinguish the good guys from the bad guys.
The major weakness of this film lies in it’s portrayal of evil judge Follo’s lust for Esmeralda. The scenes which deal with this topic are intense, dark and definitely adult in nature. If indeed this film were intended for younger children (as the toy marketing would indicate), then Disney has sadly missed the mark.
“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” is easily the best Disney animation since “Beauty and Beast.” Older children, teenagers and adults will thrill to the adventures of this likable bell-ringer, but parents may want to preview it before taking their younger kids.
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Comments from young people