Frollo The Secret of the Hunchback picture image

Frollo

I don’t know what to call this song, it’s basically Frollo stating who he is, what he wants and how godlike he is.  He wants simply everything, who can’t relate to that?

I really enjoy this song. It’s so hammy and over-the-top that is just an utter delight.  I think the voice actor/singer is REALLY having fun with this song. Frollo is just power hungry ego-manic and that makes for a good villain with a silly song.

This is song is far too short.

Props to the singer for saying Forte correctly, A+. Also I want to point out that all the singers sing very well  which is unlike the Jetlag version, that guy’s raspy voice still annoys me.

Sarousch Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Sarousch Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

To be fair any villain when compare in direct opposition to Frollo  is going to look weak and lack luster, so Saroush being in a sequel of Hunchback didn’t stand a chance. The only way he would had avoided negative comparison was if his deeds were far more despicable than Frollo’s which means he would have had to kill many cute things but since this film is about Quasimodo getting a girlfriend that was not going to happen.

 

 

Sarousch Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Sarousch Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Circus Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Circus Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Saroush magically zap balls to Zephyr HUnchback Sequel Disney 2 II picture image

Saroush magically zap balls to Zephyr Hunchback II Disney

 

 

 

 

 

 

Being in a direct to DVD sequel, Saroush was doom from the start, I mean no one takes those movies seriously, No One! Saroush is a Gypsy circus master who wants to be rich. To get rich he steals from his patrons but he has his sights on La Fidèle. It’s curious though, Saroush has exotic animals in his circus which includes but not limited to three elephants, two giraffes, and a zebra. Any of those animals  would have worth more than the Bell. He also seems to employ some magic tricks that look more like magic than illusions, ex the transporting balls into the crowd. Not sure how that one could be explained but it seems that would have been a boon to his stealing. So he’s greedy and dumb.

 

Saroush fawns over Himself Hunchback of Notre Dame II Sequel 2 DIsney picture image

Saroush fawns over Himself Hunchback of Notre Dame II DIsney

Sarousch in his griddle Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Sarousch in his griddle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Sarousch being arrested Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Sarousch being arrested Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beside being a “criminal mastermind” he is VERY vain. He has pictures of himself in his cart that can change to mirrors, so he can see himself. He also wears a corset (griddle) and a hair piece. Not sure if this is only for comedy or if they is some under lying commentary on a youth obsessed culture? No it’s just for shits and giggles and to make him look stupid when he gets his comeuppance at the end seeing him all fat, bald and old (actually there is some commentary on youth obsession). Actually my guess is Saroush’s vanity harkens back to Quasimodo and how awesome he is even if he’s ugly. Remember the first rule of a Hunchback cartoon for kids, drive the ” it doesn’t  matter what you look like” moral over the edge. To reiterate Saroush is greedy, dumb, and vain yet ugly.

 

Saroush Hunchback of Notre Dame II Sequel 2 DIsney  picture image

Saroush Hunchback of Notre Dame II DIsney

Phoebus and Sarousch Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Phoebus and Sarousch Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Sarousch kidnapping Zephyr Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Sarousch kidnapping Zephyr Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saroush is also ruthless. When he gets idea in his head he will do anything to achieve those means even someone has to get hurt. He also blackmails and uses guilt to get what he wants. He sets up Madeline to be arrested by telling Phoebus that she wanted the bell just as a distraction. He then also kidnapped Phoesbus’ son Zephyr and threaten  the boy to ensure his get away.  Saroush is greedy, dumb, vain yet ugly and an Asshole.

 

Saroush  sees La Fidèle Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Saroush sees La Fidèle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

Now in the scope of villain, being greedy, dumb, vain yet ugly and an Asshole isn’t bad, but Saroush’s non sequitur about referring to things as lovely, his nicknames for Madeline (trinket, Eclair, Bonbon, and other anachronistic treats of the 19th century), and his reference to his underwear make him  comic and not scary or menacing as a  villain. But what chance did he have  of being a Villain whose main objective is to steal a jewel encrusted bell on the inside.

 

 

Sarousch autographs a ball for Zephyr Sequel Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney picture image

Sarousch autographs a ball for Zephyr Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

That being said I kind of enjoy his stupid antics and he’s voiced by Michael McKean who played Mr. Green in Clue and I love that movie (it was my childhood). However Saroush is a lousy villain but at least he’s entertaining.

 

 

 

Next the Personality Deficient Fruit of Phoebus’ Loins Plot Device umm Zephyr

Zephyr Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney Sequel 2 picture image

Zephyr Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney

 

Next up the Villain: Frollo

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame  picture image

Judge Claude Frollo

Frollo is Quasimodo’s counterpoint and the Villain of the movie. Frollo is a bit different from other Disney villains. Many of the villains are trying to get more power (Ursula, Jafar, Scar etc), Frollo already has Power, he is the High Justice of Paris. His motivation keeping control and he is fueled by hate. He thinks he’s better than everyone else from a moral stand point and if he judges it as amoral than he thinks he is in the right, from killing an innocent women, to trying to kill a baby, burning Paris or attempted genocide.

 

Disney Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Judge Claude Frollo

Disney villains generally have two looks to them, elegant and slim or fat yet still elegant. Frollo is of the elegant, slim and tall variety. Looking at the concept art you can see parallels between Disney’s Frollo and Sir Cedric Hardwicke. He dresses like noble but

Concept Art for Frollo disney Hunchabck of notre dame picture image

Concept Art for Frollo

we’re given no back story other than his relationship with Quasimodo so we have no where he comes from. In the musical Der Glökner von Notre Dame ( German musical by Alan Menkan based on the Disney movie) Frollo was a priest prior to becoming the high Justice, which makes  his pious-bent makes a little more sense, but you don’t go from a priest to High Justice. At least in 1939 version his piousness was the result of having a Brother who was the Archdeacon. With Disney Frollo there is no hint or reason given for a morally-corrupt pious Judge. You can make guesses as to  what the reason is for Frollo’s behavior but Disney films have never been a venue for giving out much character development of their villains. Character Development might prompt sympathy. My Guess would be being pious and acting moral helps Frollo maintain his hold over the Parisians.

 

Frollo and Quasimodo Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo and Qausimodo

Frollo is very conniving and manipulative. He raises Quasimodo out of guilt for killing Quasimodo’s mother in front of Notre Dame  but he keeps him locked away in Notre Dame. I can’t quite figure out his logic for keeping Quasimodo in Notre Dame (other than the almighty plot and source material told him to), I mean Frollo lives in a jail. Anyway Frollo also raises Quasimodo with the hope that Quasimodo will be useful to him in some capacity. It’s hard to know if Frollo actually likes Quasimodo or he simply likes the dynamics of their Master/slave:Father/son relationship. My guess is Frollo all about Power and keeping power and Quasimodo serves as a consistent reminder of his hold over Paris and when Quasimodo proved too willful for him he tried to kill him.

Frollo and Quasimodo Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo trying to control Quasimodo

Frollo and Quasimodo Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo trying to kill Quasimodo

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Esmeralda Disney red dress costume picture image

Esmeralda giving Frollo a Kiss

In direct opposition to Frollo’s control is Esmeralda. Esmeralda is everything that Frollo hates, she’s a free-spirited Gypsy who dances and lives outside the social order that he controls.  Frollo first notices her when she danced a very sensual dance and kissed him on the nose. The dance, while getting his attention wasn’t the factor to make him obsessives towards her, it was her defying him in support of Quasimodo who was being tortured by the crowd. Esmeralda uses some parlor tricks that Frollo misconstrues as witchcraft (another of Frollo’s turn off) and after a merry chase she gives him the slip

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame groping Esmeralda picture image

Frollo groping Esmeralda

and  goes into Notre Dame. Frollo’s obsession for her intensify to the point where he has to over come her, at this point by arresting her. Frollo tries to arrest her in Notre Dame but due sanctuary, she is protected. It’s at this point Frollo loses control and gropes her, and sniffs her hair, and thus the lust begins.  As he can’t arrest her, he blocks her in Notre Dame stationing guards at every door of the cathedral. Frollo then sings about how his losing control is the fault  of Esmeralda and not his (Hellfire). At this point arresting Esmeralda is not enough, he needs to be in possession of her or she mustn’t exists.  It’s

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Hellfire picture image

Frollo and an illusion of Esmeralda during Hellfire

during this song where he  learns that once again that Esmeralda has given him the slip.  Frollo then goes on a spree of burning Paris, trying to bribe other Gypsies for Esmeralda’s whereabouts and then arresting them for not being helpful.  Frollo  manipulates Quasimodo to learn the

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame with Esmeralda picture image

Frollo’s ultimatum to Esmeralda

location of the Court of Miracles. This is where Esmeralda is when Frollo attacks and arrests everyone there. As Esmeralda is tied to the stake and about to be burn, Frollo gives Esmeralda his final ultimatum, (him or Flame). Ultimately, like all Disney  movies there is a climax that ends with the villain’s death, like many Disney movies, Frollo is not killed or subdue by the hero, he’s actually about to kill Esmeralda and Quasimodo but the gargoyle he is standing on breaks and Frollo falls to his death. So the real hero of the story is Notre Dame.

Frollo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame death picture  image

Frollo’s Death

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Hellfire picture image

Frollo singing Hellfire

So in the history Disney of Villains, Frollo is one of the favorite. Nostalgia Critic and Nostalgia Chick from the immensely popular website Thatguywiththeglasses.com, ranked Frollo as one of the best villains after The Chernabog from Fanastia and Mola Ram from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, respectively. As far as Disney Villains go, he’s guilty of some of the most heinous acts. Within the first two minutes of his introduction, he kills

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Kicking Quasimodo's mother Disney picture image

Frollo killing Quasimodo’s Mother

a women and tries to kill a baby, he shows no remorse for

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame Well Disney picture image

Frollo attempting to drown baby Quasimodo

these acts, in fact he justifies them; the women ran, he just followed (he must have thought the kick was an act of God) and he justifies almost killing a baby because it’s ugly (ok he thinks it’s a monster, hey Frollo you’re no great beauty either).  What makes Frollo more compelling as a Villain is his control and power and the fact that he thinks he both righteous and pure.

Next Time – Esmeralda
Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame red dress costume picture image

Esmeralda