Runaway Reference

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A brief Hunchback of Notre Dame reference that may  go unnoticed is in the 1999 film Runaway Bride.

 

Maggie Carpenter (Julia Roberts) rings a church bell, Runaway Bride, Picture image

Maggie Carpenter (Julia Roberts) rings a church bell, Runaway Bride

During Maggie Carpenter’s (Julia Roberts) wedding rehearsal rings the church bell to which  Ike Graham says “Sanctuary.” Twice!

 

Ike Graham (Richard Gere) says "Sanctuary," Runaway Bride picture image

Ike Graham (Richard Gere) says “Sanctuary,” Runaway Bride

A mixed-up reference as Quasimodo don’t say Sanctuary when he is ringing the bells but whatever. Bells and uttering “Sanctuary” is a recipe for a Quasimodo reference.

Game of Thrones and Hunchback

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Let’s talk about Game of Thrones because everyone else is. Game of Thrones is a very popular show on HBO not mention a popular book series calledA Song of Ice and Fire. So what does this have to with Hunchback? Well on a VERY superficial level some of the characters harken to the Hunchback of Notre Dame. (I’m going to try to keep this as spoiler free as I can)

First up fan-favorite Tyrion Lannister.

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Game of Thrones picture image

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Game of Thrones

Tyrion is a dwarf and is often called the imp. But more than that in book he is supposed to be quite ugly. He is described as having stubby legs a jutting forehead, mismatched eyes of green and black, and lank, white-blonde hair. Later he gets an injury that removes most of his nose. So he is deformed. While he isn’t characterized as being a nice as Quasimodo he does have sympathy for outcasts and the mistreated.

Sandor Clegane a.k.a the Hound

Rory McCann as Sandor Clegane, Game of Thrones picture image

Rory McCann as Sandor Clegane, Game of Thrones

The Hound also has a deformity as result of getting very badly burned as a child. He is obsessed with Sansa Stark who is considered a great beauty. He is attracted to her after she shows him some compassion and treats him like a human. He reminds me of Frollo and Quasimodo. And Quasimodo was liken to a dog.

Petyr Baelish

Aidan Gillen as Petyr Baelish, Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark, Game of Thrones picture image

Aidan Gillen as Petyr Baelish, Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark, Game of Thrones

He sort of has Frollo level obession, first with Catelyn Stark and then that get refocuses on her daughter, Sansa Stark who looks like her.

Sansa Stark

Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark, Game of Thrones picture image

Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark, Game of Thrones

She is like Esmeralda in the sense that she captures men’s attentions and is a great beauty.

Arianne Martell

Arianne Martell by Matt Olson, Game of Thrones picture image

Arianne Martell by Matt Olson, Game of Thrones

She seems to resemble Esmeralda in the looks department. She is short, buxon, large dark eyes, olive skin, long black eyes. I would say whoever they get to cast her for the show could make a lovely Esmeralda except the show cut her and that was a dumb movie. I hated season five.

Edited July 27th, 2015

South Park Hunchback Reference

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The 1996 habitat from South Park Season 2 Episode 18, Prehistoric Ice Man picture image

The 1996 habitat from South Park Season 2 Episode 18, Prehistoric Ice Man

In Season 2 Episode 18 of South Park, Prehistoric Ice Man, Stan and Kyle find a man frozen in ice since 1996. The town put the man on display since they are sure he can’t adjust to the world of 1999, so they make an little habitat filled with that were topical in 1996. This includes a bedspread of The Hunchback  Notre Dame. You can tell because it’s label.

The Ice Man sits on his Hunchback Bed set, South Park Season 2 Episode 18, Prehistoric Ice Man picture image

The Ice Man sits on his Hunchback Bedspread, South Park Season 2 Episode 18, Prehistoric Ice Man

Hunchback Cameo in The Naked Gun

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I was watching The Naked Gun 2 & 1/2: The Smell of Fear and at one point, they’re are talking about questioning a witness who “looked pretty bad” and “took a nasty bump on the head.” The main character Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) turns to question an a ugly person who is not the witness.

Frank Drebin (Leslie Neilsen) questions Quaismodo in The Naked Gun2 & 1/2 pictureimage

Frank Drebin (Leslie Neilsen) questions Quaismodo in The Naked Gun2 & 1/2

Now tell me this isn’t supposed to look like Quasimodo? There is a hunch and the smaller eye. This is meant to be Quasimodo without saying it is.

The Nanny Hunchback Reference V.2

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Fran Fine (Fran Drescher) & Margaret (Nicholle Tom) in The Nanny S02x10 picture image

Fran Fine (Fran Drescher) & Margaret (Nicholle Tom) in The Nanny S02x10

Season 2 episode 10 of The Nanny entitled “The Whine Cellar” has a Hunchback reference. Fran Fine is throwing a party for her mother and when Margaret asks if they’ll be any boys her age there, Fran’s mother suggests they set her up with Cousin Irving who is “a nice boy with a wonderful personality.” Fran retorts with ” is he still ringing the bell at Notre dame?”

Watch the full episode here, reference starts at 1:42.

Mad Monster Party

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Mad Monster Party picture image

Mad Monster Party

Mad Monster Party was made by Rankin/Bass production a.k.a the people who made Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, as well as several other holiday stop-motion movies. Mad Monster Party came out in 1967 and was the fourth film they made.

Quasimodo Mad Monster Party picture image

Quasimodo Mad Monster Party

Now I’m not going to review the whole movie but the basic plot goes like this; Baron Boris Von Frankenstein is planning to retire and invites a slew of monsters (famous movie monsters) to his island to name his successor. There are lots of corny jokes and songs. It’s a cult classic and there is even a Monster convention held in North Carolina that is called “Mad Monster Party” click here for info.

Quasimodo (The Hunchback) Mad Monster Party picture image

Quasimodo (The Hunchback) Mad Monster Party

Now as you have probably guessed one of the monsters present at the Mad Monster Party is none other that our darling of Paris, Quasimodo or as he is known in this film as The Hunchback. So how does this film represent him? Ummmm he’s there….? Quasimodo does a few things like rings the bells (classic trait), carries the mummy’s tomb around, dances, sleeps and participants in the mob at the end. However with a few exceptions most of the monsters in this movie don’t do much more than that. He provides more of a monster-atmosphere than an impact on the plot.

So I’m not holding it against the film for using Quasimodo in this fashion besides in the scope of monsters, Quasimodo isn’t a monster he a deformed hero. Although I would fault the movie that Quasimodo didn’t actually speak any words of dialogue. Not sure if this reference to the Silent Chaney version or that he is deaf. My guess would be a nod to the silent version as deaf people can speak and Quasimodo lost his hearing at the age of 14* so he knows how to speak.

Quasimodo (Hunchback) Mad Monster Party picture image

Quasimodo (Hunchback) Mad Monster Party

So Quasimodo is a non-entity of a character but how does he look? He looks like Quasimodo should look. He has a clear hunch, his smaller eye looks like it really does impair his vision, snub nose, etc. He looks recognizable as Quasimodo unlike his portrayal Hotel Transylvania. He also moves the way you would except Quaismodo to move which is no small feat considering this is a stop-motion puppet. The only thing is why does Quasimodo have pink hair? Did they think we would confuse him for Francesca the hot red hair?

Francesca Mad Monster Party picture image

Francesca, Mad Monster Party

Because I don’t think the audience would have. I really can’t think of why they went with pink over red but I guess that was the filmmakers’ grand vision.

The Hunchback's credit Mad Monster Party image picture

The Hunchback’s credit Mad Monster Party

All in all, Mad Monster Party is a fun little romp and I’m glad Quasimodo does get a credited role but still I find it vexing that he’s lump with Monsters, traditional or not it’s affront to his character but at least for the film running length you can forget that.

* (book 4 chapter 3 Immanis Pecoris Custos, Imanior Ipse )

Horror’s Hunchback Reference

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Horror from The Pagemaster picture image

Horror from The Pagemaster

The Pagemaster is a forgettable little movie about a boy over coming his fears by reading books. In the boy, Richie, played by Macaulay Culkin, gets trapped in alternative library reality where he encounters three annoying books one is called Horror. Horror resembles Quasimodo. He also at one point shouts “Sanctuary” (no no real reason) and anyone who yells the word “Sanctuary” in a film is a referencing Quasimodo.

Me and my Goyle

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This video is from The Muppet Show, episode 509 (season 5 episode 9) where Mulch plays Quasimodo and sings to his gargoyle girlfriend. Isn’t it adorable?

no release date as of yet for season 5 of The Muppet Show 

Notre Dame de Paris Reference in AB FAB

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Ab fab or Absolutely Fabulous is one of my favorite television shows ever. It’s a comedy show from England. It’s about two middle-aged  women who think they are hip and trendy. And the main character’s daughter is their unfashionable, mature foil. The show is very funny and blends physical comedy with wit.

Anyway in season 4 episode 3, entitled Paris, they all go to Paris and there is a reference to Notre Dame de Paris the musical albeit, the London cast.

Watch the video for the full reference. Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o-lIosEyFE

Hugo inspiration in Princess Tutu

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Don’t let the title fool you, Princess Tutu is great show even if you’re not a fan of anime. It uses a lot of elements and story imaginary from famous ballets and classical music. There are two slight references to Hunchback well one motif and one to Hugo.

The Spider and the Butterfly caught in the web Princess Tutu Trailer picture image

The Spider and the Butterfly caught in the web

The first is to Frollo’s imagery of the fly and the spider both caught in the web (though it;s a butterfly here). While I don’t believe this imaginary  to be native to Hugo but he made it well known. Though to be fair this reference comes a promo trailer for Princess Tutu which you can watch here. But moreover Princess Tutu also deals with the characters fighting cruel fates and although this contrasts with Hunchback where the characters give in to fate I thought it was worth a mention.

Mute and the Willis Princess Tutu Episode 4 Giselle picture image

Mute and the Willis Princess Tutu

The second reference is to the Ballet Giselle. Like I said Princess Tutu uses ballets for the basis of episode’s story lines and the show does this really well. Episode 4 uses the Giselle as story reference. The story of Giselle uses Hugo’s poem Fantômes as one of its’ inspiration for the. The ghostly dancer or Willis are from Fantômes. In Fantômes a girl dances to death but if you read the poem which was published before Hunchback you would see a proto Esmeralda. For instance in the poem there is a young Spanish girl who is 15 years old and enjoys dancing. Hugo likens her to a bumblebee and she too wear s blue with spangles.

You can read Fantômes in french here (I used Google Translate)

I realize these references are a bit of stretch so thank you for indulging me.