I was watching The Naked Gun 2 & 1/2: The Smell of Fear
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.
Robert Hirsch as Gringoire, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame
Gringoire is another character that can be a lot of different things pending on the needs of the version. He can be the hero, comic relief, narrator or a useless poet.
The 1956 version of Gringoire is the useless poet variety. That’s not to say he isn’t enjoyable. He gets a few funny lines but not enough to say he is the comic relief.
Robert Hirsch as Gringoire, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame
So what does this Gringoire do in this version? Well, this Gringoire pretty much acts like he does in the book. He write a play that no cares about, he knows Frollo, he is smitten with Esmeralda, he almost gets hanged and marries her but doesn’t push the relationship and is just happy that she knows his name. He does want to help save Esmeralda for the removal of sanctuary but he told to stay behind and so he writes instead. And we never see again.
His character gets no resolution. I mean did he write that poem of the Court of Miracle’s victory with Jean as the hero? We’ll never know and I guess that makes him tragic.
Robert Hirsch as Gringoire, Alain Cuny as Phoebus, & Gina Lollobrigida as Esmeralda, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame
All kidding a side, Gringoire’s depiction in this may keep to book with exception of the ending as he is not tricked by Frollo and doesn’t runs off with Djali but as he doesn’t do much that for the main plot we can’t connect with him.
He’s just a guy who goes with the flow, likes to write and hangs out with pretty ladies and goat. Maybe if we saw his reactions to Esmeralda’s death or if we saw him react to any of the drama it would have added to his character. So Gringoire is dull but he’s few silly lines make him slightly enjoyable.
Robert Hirsch as Gringoire & Gina Lollobrigida as Esmeralda, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame
Next 1956 Article; Clopin
Philippe Clay as Clopin, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame
The first time I heard Belle
Now it’s only in the beginning of each that they sound similar. For first 7 seconds of each they really sound alike. They both have the same rhythms, beats and tone. But Belle’s tempo is much slower and the use of instruments is different. Belle uses guitars and Freya’s Theme uses what sounds like a harpsichord (I think). In any case, both pieces use strings.
Maybe it’s because I love Final Fantasy IX so much that helped me gravitate to Belle and Notre Dame de Paris. But they’re are both great pieces of music. Also bells are important item during the part where this music play in Final Fantasy IX. Coincidence? Oh, I think not.
Well actually I do. But isn’t that kind of cool. But then again the game does look to European history and style so they are more than likely refefencing the same music roots. But it’s worth noting that in Japanese the main character’s name is “Jitan” which is how the Japanese spell Gitan meaning Gyspy. So I suppose it’s possible that the production team took inspiration for Notre Dame de Paris as the Final Fantasy IX was being made right after the musical came out in Paris. Though I really doubt that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBXeXBpTVOk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ6yqiVOHT0
Music by Richard Cocciante and Nobuo Uematsu
Jean Danet as Phoebus,1956 Hunchback of Notre dame
Phoebus is a character that can fulfill many different niches. He can be a jerk or the love interest pending on the direction the version is taking.
The 1956 version of Phoebus is different, he is a sort of jerk but he does in fact care.
Jean Danet as Phoebus & Gina Lollobrigida as Esmeralda,1956 Hunchback of Notre dame
We first see Phoebus when he rescues Esmeralda from Quasimodo. He is, naturally, instantly attractive to her and proceeds to take her to an inn. After he pays for the room Esmeralda runs off. This really doesn’t bother him all that much. The owner of the inn says that Esmeralda is too beautiful and wild which is the kind of woman Phoebus always dreamed of.
Jean Danet as Phoebus & Anthony Quinn as Quasimodo, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame
So it would seem that maybe Phoebus and Esmeralda could have worked out in this version if things had gone differently. I mean, yeah, he is engaged to Fleur de Lys and he seems to like her enough. But Phoebus does tell Quasimodo that he wished he could have saved Esmeralda. So he does care for Esmeralda even if he is going to be with Fleur de Lys.
Jean Danet as Phoebus & Danielle Dumont as Fleur de Lys, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame
I could be reading into this a little too much or maybe I’m giving this Phoebus too much credit but it seems to me that Phoebus might have chosen Esmeralda and merely just settled for Fleur de Lys. I think if that was made more apparent in the film it would have given Phoebus a bit more pathos which makes sense as this movie has Anankh has its basis.
Plus it would make the audience connect more to him. However as it stands, two lines makes Phoebus a deeper and more interesting character than Esmeralda, Quasimodo and Frollo which is sad but still two lines isn’t enough make him sympathetic.
Jean Danet as Phoebus & Gina Lollobrigida as Esmeralda,1956 Hunchback of Notre dame
Next Article on the 1956 version: Gringoire
Robert Hirsch as Gringoire, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame
I was reading an article on Moviefone about Movie monsters and love. The article looks at The Beast, King Kong, The Phantom, The Wolf Man, Teen Wolf, Gill-Man, Swamp Thing, Shrek, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the Twilight boys and of course Disney’s Quasimodo.
Esmeralda, Phoebus and Quaismodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The write-up on Quasimodo and Esmeralda is basically the same old complaints with zero on incite to what the movie was trying to do.
Esmeralda and Quaismodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The articles implies that Esmeralda is not in love with Quasimodo because he is ugly. I think that if Quasimodo was in fact good-looking or normal looking but had the same personally she still would not be in love him. She treats him like a child. She supports, him and wants him to succeed but while she like his kindness she doesn’t find it a turn on. Esmeralda seems to like confidence, dry wit and kindness. Quasi doesn’t have have the first two traits at all.
Phoebus explaining his name Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Article also calls Phoebus vain? What? How do you figure? Is it because he say’s his name mean “Sun God?” Because he sounded more self-mocking than egoistical.
Quasimodo accepts Esmeralda and Phoebus as a couple Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
But I find it amazing that the general public are so quick to bring up the fact that Esmeralda does not fall in love with Quasimodo. The movie does several things which I have mentioned over and over (read here) to get the audience on the couple’s side. They share their first scene together, the have the snarky Disney couple trope, they have the same personality, they treat each like people not angels or devils, their animals have the same coloration. What else can this movie do? Did Quasimodo have to marry them? Because he did that but it was cut from the movie. He did join their hands and looks happy for them.
Esmeralda and Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre dame
I don’t want to say this movie is subtle but when it comes to getting that Esmeralda and Phoebus are perfect for each other, people either are in denial or really do just perceive Esmeralda as shallow when she doesn’t actually do anything really shallow except fall in love with a guy that is like herself. But perhaps the main reason for people’s general denial of acceptance of this couple is because many people can relate to the protagonist and in him getting the girl it gives us the viewers hope that we too can reach our goals.
Quaismodo Bells of Notre dame reprise Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
However I will point that Quasimodo’s main goal was to be accepted by society which he was in the end. His mission from the start was to spend a day outside without fear not to fall in love. One could make the point that his goal changed when he met Esmeralda but it really just seemed that his attachment got twisted into love by the gargoyles and an overall love of love. He was never really in love with Esmeralda he was in love with a perception of her based on that it was his time talking to a female and she was nice to him. His affection for her was not a deep love it was a strong friendship.
Esmeralda and Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
I’m sorry to rant like this but it just so annoying that people complain about this so much.
