Frollo | The Hunch

30Jul 2013

Almost There; The 1982 version of Frollo

by Jessica

Derek Jacobi as Frollo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

The 1982 version is a really good depiction of Frollo but it’s lacking in a few areas of his characters. This is one of the few film versions where Frollo is a priest however he doesn’t practice alchemy at all. Instead he’s a pretty by the book religious sort, spouting God when ever he can. But he starts off well, he adopts Quasimodo as an act of charity and he seems godly and pious which is great counter-point to his downfall later (not much later mind you ^_~ ).

Derek Jacobi as Frollo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

However, the way this movie handles his relationship with Esmeralda is weird. First off, Frollo never sees Esmeralda dancing. I’m going to repeat that, Frollo never sees Esmeralda dancing. That is a HUGE oversight. Her free-spirited dancing and radiance is what captured him. Instead he sees her being arrested for dancing and is enchanted. It’s not too far-off but it’s just wrong for both characters. Although I will get more into Esmeralda and her “dancing” when we get to her.

Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda & Derek Jacobi as Frollo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Frollo is also more forceful towards her. When Frollo is a judge this force makes a level of sense but as Priest the approach-avoid conflict should be part of this dynamic with Esmeralda. In this version he lets her off-the-hook for dancing, which is apparently a no-no. And the when she is arrested again she is brought to him for his consent to take her to Bastille (I don’t know why this would happen). However he offers her sanctuary and she goes along with it. He brings her to a room where he makes attempt for sex. She runs off and Quasimodo tries to bring her back. So in the course of a few hours Frollo goes though all the moments that in the books took him months of suffering to reach.

Derek Jacobi as Frollo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Also he tries to buy Esmeralda from Gringoire for 40 gold crowns. I’m not sure how much that would be today because to my understanding a crown is an English silver coin. But it probably was a sizable amount. However Frollo offering to buy is quite silly but at least the scene is alluded to again when Gringoire is trying to get Frollo to help him save Esmeralda so I overlook the absurdity of then scene.

Derek Jacobi as Frollo & Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Let’s talk about his looks. Derek Jacobi makes a great Frollo but that wig, that wig makes him look like a dork. Jacobi’s Frollo may have the most hair of any Frollo, which considering the character is bald with tuffs of hair isn’t a good thing. It’s just 100% dork salad bowl cut. Also he doesn’t have that angular austere look that Frollo should have.

Derek Jacobi as Frollo & Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

However, despite all that this version tweaks and weirdness, there is jail scene where Frollo bares his soul to her. Is it perfect? No, the scene has its flaws and is not as powerful as the book. But its there and that is more than most of the other versions have.

Derek Jacobi as Frollo & Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

All in all the 82 version of Frollo is commendable. It didn’t get all the facets of his complex character but it tries and does fine job communicating it. I think the credit has to given to Jacobi for his portrayal because he really works to sell this Frollo. So it’s an almost a fantastic depiction but not quite.

Next 1982 Review Post; Esmeralda

Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

23Jul 2013

Plotting at the Plot of the 1982 Hunchback

by Jessica

Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Pretty much the 1982 version follows the 1939 model of how to tell this story. However the 1982 version doesn’t dive into social commentary the same way. The blight of Gypsies is not an issue and Esmeralda doesn’t concern herself social inequality. Esmeralda’s main concerns are not getting arrested, marrying Phoebus and keeping Frollo off of her.

Derek Jacobi as Frollo & Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Frollo is also different than his 1939 incarnation. For one thing, in the 1982 version he is a priest and has no younger brother. Also he is a little more forward, instead of staring at her he basically tries to get with Esmeralda in the first 20 minutes. He went right to lust. But this version has a decent jail scene so point in its favor. Although I would point out that having Frollo bring Esmeralda into Notre Dame after she gets arrested for dancing and then trying to seduce her robs a bit from the jail scene when Esmeralda asks why he hates her. Esmeralda in the book was scared of Frollo and Frollo’s interaction with her was very limited to no existent. In this movie he is not really acting hateful toward Esmeralda. He acting confused and desperate but he was acting fairly nice toward till he tried touch her and she ran off. So Esmerald questioning him was tad on the unnecessary side.

Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda & Gerry Sundquist as Gringoire, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Since the social concerns are not presence in this movie Gringoire has little else to do but moon over Esmeralda, although like in 1939 version he and Esmeralda do fall in love and leave together at the end.

The Death of Frollo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Speaking of the end, Quasimodo kills Frollo in self- defense by impaling him on a nail. This…..this ……is not cool movie. While I get that the self-defense angle, impaling Frollo on a nail is A) stupid and anti-climactic and B) having Frollo fall from Notre Dame is a powerful metaphor. My guess the reason why Frollo dies in this manner is the budget but still shame.

Anthony Hopkins as Quasimodo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Quasimodo is pretty much the same from 1939 version, Hopkins plays him very sympathetic but it works.

David Suchet as Clopin, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Clopin is not fun in this version, He is very conniving. He is not to concern about anything other than survival.

Robert Powell as Phoebus & Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Phoebus is depicted as huge womanizing jerk who is married in this version. Another strange addition to this version is Frollo offering to buy Esmeralda from Gringoire.

Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda & Derek Jacobi as Frollo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

This version plays the story out pretty conventionally. It doesn’t make too many big annoying changes to the plot. The changes they make are small and mostly the impact the characters.

So let’s dive deeper into those characters, let’s start with the heart and soul of the movie; Frollo

Derek Jacobi as Frollo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

16Jul 2013

1982 Hunchback Review Series; Start!

by Jessica

Anthony Hopkins as Quasimodo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

The 1982 version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame was a US made for TV movie. It was made 4 years after the 1977 version was released the US in 1978. It’s part of the Hallmark Hall of Fame series. It starred Anthony Hopkins and Derek Jacobi as Quasimodo and Frollo. Most of the cast is made up of British actors.

Anthony Hopkins as Quasimodo & Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Pretty much this movie plays out like the 1939 version but without King Louis and the modernity angle and the blight the Gypsies in Paris. And it follows the book a bit more than the 1939 version but there a lot differences from.

Derek Jacobi as Frollo & Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

So, is this good version, an adequate version, or terrible awful version? Let’s Jump in, shall we?

Next 1982 Post – Let’s look at that plot

Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

14Jul 2013

Frollo is a rarity fan

by Jessica

Frollo likes Rarity

13Jul 2013

World Tour Pictures

by Jessica

: Alessandra Ferrari as Esmeralda, Notre Dame de Paris, World Tour, Crocus City Hall

: Robert Marien as Frollo, Notre Dame de Paris World Tour cast, Crocus City Hall

: Alessandra Ferrari as Esmeralda & Yvan Pedneault as Phoebus, Notre Dame de Paris World Tour cast, Crocus City Hall

: Matt Laurent as Quasimodo, Notre Dame de Paris World Tour cast, Crocus City Hall

: Alessandra Ferrari as Esmeralda & Ian Carlyle as Clopin, Notre Dame de Paris, World Tour, Crocus City Hall

: Richard Charest as Gringoire, Notre Dame de Paris World Tour cast, Crocus City Hall

: Elicia MacKenzie as Fleur de Lys & Matt Laurent as Quasimodo, Notre Dame de Paris World Tour cast, Crocus City Hall

05Jul 2013

Fan-art Friday 7/5/13

by Jessica

This week’s fan art is by SamaHatter. It depicts a conversation Frollo and Gringoire have about Esmeralda fr0m the book. Gringoire mentions how he peaked in on Esmeralda changing and Frollo becomes enraged . I love the expressions in this work. It’s awesome

Once I Peeked at her through the Keyhole by Samahatter

http://samahatter.deviantart.com/art/Once-I-peeked-at-her-through-the-keyhole-381154850

Check out more by SamaHatter

04Jul 2013

Uncle Frollo wishes you a Happy 4th of July

by Jessica

Uncle Frollo

01Jul 2013

Salad Fingers

by Jessica

Salad Fingers

A few weeks ago I had the displeasure of watching all nine episodes of Salad Fingers with a friend of mine. Salad Fingers is a post-apocalyptic psychological horror Flash cartoon series originally created by British cartoonist David Firth in July 2004. It gain rapid popularity in 2005. Watching all the episodes in a single sitting messes with your head so don’t watch if you haven’t already, don’t watch.

However, it is eerily addictive but what really struck me is that Salad Fingers seem to the sick amalgamation of Frollo and Quaismodo. Like he’s Frollo and Quasimodo’s love child. I mean he has hunchback, one eye that is larger than the other and a weird naivity but also there is sick, sick weird sexual aspect to him and he’s just bat-shit insane. All in all it’s a weird thing.