The making of the Disney version of Hunchback. It was a special feature on the DVD
(I think Disney thought the Gargoyles were going to go over better)
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Today’s Horoscopes from the novel of The Hunchback of Notre Dame is thus;
“Without a word she approached the sufferer, who vainly writhed and twisted to avoid her, and loosening a gourd from her girdle, she raised it gently to the parched lips of the miserable wretch.”
Help with come to you even if you don’t want it at first.
These pictures were from a Futuristic Gothic Musical Version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame done in 2011. Scott Walter who played Frollo (and Clopin) received a lot of praise for his Frollo.
Ron Pederson as Quasimodo, Hunchback
Scott Walters as Claude Frollo & Ava Markus as La Esmeralda, Hunchback
Scott Walters as Claude Frollo, Hunchback
Scott Walters & Jeremy Baumung as Pierre Gringoire, Hunchback
Such cool weird costume ^^ I would love to see this version.
The production values is where the Wishbone version of Hunchback fails. I have seen more conniving ren-faires. Though it being a PBS show I’m not going to completely bash it because it doesn’t have the same budget as a movie or regular Tv show.
Composite shot in the Wishbone, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
One the biggest problems is the composite shots with Notre Dame in the background. The shot they used of Notre Dame has a very strong green and blue tone whereas the production uses a lot of warm tons. The contrast is jarring and it takes the viewer out of the story because it looks overly fake.
Painted Stone Set, Wishbone The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
The sets look very much like sets. The don’t have much age or personality but you seldom notice the sets to begin with. Really the nicest you can say about the sets is they’re dull. I mean you can just tell that the stone is painted.
Puppy Gargoyle, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
However the dog gargoyle while it does not look like stone at all is is at least cute and clever.
Wishbone’s Hunchback Costume, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
The only costume I think were made for this production was Wishbone’s Quasimodo costumes. A hunchback dog costume in 1995 seem to have been made custom but all the other costume just look like theater costumes. They are not interesting but they are serve their purpose.
Esmeralda (Lanell Pena), The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
I will say I’m happy Esmeralda is not in bright red but what is up with her hair? Is that Lanell Pena’s natural hair or is it a wig? I found it very distracting especially since Lanell Pena is very pretty.
Nice Angle, Wishbone, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
One of the major strength in this version is the camera work. The use of the camera make this interesting and diminishes impact the fake looking sets. I really like the shot of the crowd parting to reveal Esmeralda. There are just a lot of good interesting angles.
Wishbone as Quasimodo with a Gargoyle-Dog, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
For the part the production values on this version are really weak however the acting is not bad.
Next article the acting.
Esmeralda (Lanell Pena), The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
Is the Wishbone version of The Hunchback
Wishbone as Quasimodo, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
For a version that is ten minutes and only has three characters, it’s good. You can tell that that the production cared about the work and the story. Like when Frollo is talking about Esmeralda all his dialogue is taken from the book. Also given that there in only like five scenes Quasimodo does have an arch. He realizes he isn’t powerless and saves Esmeralda. I also don’t mind Quasimodo silly quips, they make it fun for kids. Also Esmeralda gets a bit of character arch as she learns that about inner beauty but that is a bit of a stretch.
Esmeralda (Lanell Pena) and Frollo (Sean Hennigan), The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
However there are some issues with it. For a ten minute version we’re not going to get rich detailed characters of the novel instead we sort of get them. At least by focusing the narrative to three characters at least they’re not completely devoid of personality but they are shades of their book counterparts.
Frollo (Sean Hennigan), The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
The introduction of Frollo is clumsy. Frollo ends Quasimodo’s being the “Prince of Fools” however Quasimodo doesn’t recognize him so Frollo has to explains who he is to both the audience and Quasimodo. It doesn’t feel natural and how would Quasimodo forget Frollo? Also the way the pronounce Frollo’s name is awful. They pronounce it like Dom “Fro-yo” which sound like a specialty Frozen Yogurt (I bet it would be chocolaty).
Esmeralda (Lanell Pena) and Wishbone as Quasimodo, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
I do miss the devotion that Quasimodo has for Esmeralda. In this version he seem like yeah he likes her but he is not love with her.
Esmeralda (Lanell Pena) and Wishbone as Quasimodo, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
It is a bit disappointing that it ends with Quasimodo saving Esmeralda but at least it feels like an ending to the version of the story they were telling so it’s not that bad. After-all that is pretty much where the Disney version ended and this came out first.
Esmeralda (Lanell Pena) and Wishbone as Quasimodo, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
For a ten minutes version with three characters and 5 scenes it’s is good. Wishbone’s erm…. Quasimodo’s silly lines keeps it lighthearted . I like part where Quasimodo in fear of Frollo compliments him. Plus Quasimodo is played by a dog, how is that not awesome?
Wishbone as Quasimodo, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
Next Article – The Production
Puppy Gargoyle, Wishbone, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
This is a very interesting short view of Disney’s Hunchback by Charity Bishop. It is done from the religious symbolism perspective. In the review she draws parallels between the characters and Bible, like Quasimodo to Moses and Frollo to Satan. Her correlation between Notre Dame and God and how the characters interact with Notre Dame represents how they interact with God. It is a very interesting review that is well thought out and entertaining.
This is silly, I like the Frollo and the choice of music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF2ejJuj080
Last time we looked at the Hunchback episode of Wishbone
First off, due to the format of Wishbone the retelling of any of any the classic stories the show tells is severely abridged. The Notre Dame section is only about 10 minutes in length. There are only three principle characters; Quasimodo, Frollo, and Esmeralda. However Phoebus is mention but only as Esmeralda’s boyfriend.
Wishbone as Quasimodo, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
The first and longest part of the Hunchback segment is Quasimodo (played by Wishbone) is saying that he should get out more and bam a second later he is at the Feast of Fools and crowned the “Prince of Fools.” (That’s a new one)
Esmeralda (Lanell Pena) and Wishbone as Quasimodo, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
The crowd laughs at him and makes quips at his ugliness but then we meet Esmeralda. She dances as both Quasimodo and Frollo watch. She stops when she see Quasimodo’s face and runs off. Frollo then yells at Quasimodo by telling expository dialogue about how they know each other.
Esmeralda (Lanell Pena) and Wishbone as Quasimodo, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
Frollo and Quasimodo then go into a tavern where the see Esmeralda dancing. Frollo watches her intently. He then tells Quasimodo to get her for him. As she leaves, Qausimodo approaches her and tells her to come with him or Frollo will hurt him. Just then Frollo comes up behind Esmeralda and tries to grab her. But she faints and Frollo runs off leaving Qausmodo to take the blame.
Esmeralda (Lanell Pena) and Wishbone as Quasimodo, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
The next time we go back to the Hunchback story, Quasimodo is on the pillory asking for water. Esmeralda walks up to Quasimodo and gives him water and Quasimodo is thankful.
Esmeralda (Lanell Pena) and Frollo (Sean Hennigan), The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
The last segment of the story is the big rescue. Wishbone explains that Frollo attacked Esmeralda’s boyfriend but she is accused of the crime and is sentenced to death. As she brought up the gallows, Frollo stops her and tells her that he can save her if she accepts him but she rejects him.
Wishbone as Quasimodo, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
Quasimodo watches on but relieve that he can do something. He leaps down and bits the pant leg of the hang man. As he does Esmeralda removes the rope from her neck (I guess her hands were not tied).
Esmeralda (Lanell Pena) and Wishbone as Quasimodo, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
The two run towards Notre Dame but Frollo tries to stop them but fails. The two make it inside the cathedral and Esmeralda telling Quasimodo that “he is truly beautiful”. The End
And that is it. It’s very short and really only have like only 4 scenes and yet it still better than most made for video hunchback versions.
Next Wishbone article – Review of the Hunchback segment
Esmeralda (Lanell Pena), The Hunchdog of Notre Dame
Kenny Barker as R2D2, Star Wars
Did you know that Kenny Barker, who is best known for playing R2D2 in Star Wars was in the 1982 version Hunchback. He played a pick pocket.