Phoebus in the 1982 version is a straight-up jerk face. Which makes him a whole new depiction as there is NOTHING redeemable about him, NOTHING!
First off, Phoebus in the novel is a handsome womanizer but is this movie his is just a womanizer. He is not very attractive and he seems old for the role.
So as was mention before Phoebus is a jerk with no redeeming quality. He first meets Esmeralda and woos her and as soon as he gets in the room he starts acting stand-off and doesn’t really try to continue the seduction. Then the ball drops, Phoebus in this version is married. Upon hearing this Esmeralda leaves and then Phoebus, who is unremorseful, berates her. So when he gets stabs she is leaving anyway but the catharsis is there.
Of course the joy of his stabbing is short lived as he lives and his near death experience doesn’t make him a better like in the book. As he is recovering he is still a big jerk as he believe Esmeralda should die as she tried to kill him, of course he is looking at her when Frollo stabs him so we can add idiot to his personality.
He’s just a jerk with no personality or likability. He also has stupid hat.
Next 1982 Article; Clopin
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Phoebus is my least favorite character in pretty much every adaptation. The characterization in the ’82’ adaptation shows why. And I agree, this Phoebus isn’t good looking at all and he looks about 35, maybe 40. When I sit down to watch an adaptation of HOND/NDDP I expect Phoebus to be young and so good looking that I want to like the character.