The Wishbone Version; in a Nutshell

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The Wishbone episode “The Hunchdog of Notre Dame” presents a very simple telling of the Hugo’s novel.

Wishbone as Quasimodo, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame, picture image

Wishbone as Quasimodo, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame

The whole point of Wishbone is to communicate classic novels and stories to children and make them accessible so children will in turn want to read them. The wishbone version cares about the source and does make the novel accessible for children.

Esmeralda (Lanell Pena) and Wishbone as Quasimodo, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame, ;icture image

Esmeralda (Lanell Pena) and Wishbone as Quasimodo, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame

We do get the lesson about inner beauty but it doesn’t feel as forced or as hammered in as some other versions (Disney). And despite its lack of budget and the lackluster complimentary story about an underdog learning to play hockey it’s an enjoyable short version.

Wishbone as Quasimodo, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame, picture image

Wishbone as Quasimodo, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame

Plus this version has the cutest Quasimodo ever!

Next Version – That’s up to you. Vote in the poll.

Which Version should be reviewed next?

Which Version should be reviewed next?

Acting in the Wishbone Version of Hunchback

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The acting is the Wishbone version is decent. I don’t think any of the roles were that much of challenge since the materials is very much at its core basics, so you don’t get the rich complexity of Quasimodo, Frollo or even Esmeralda in this version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

 

Frollo (Sean Hennigan), The Hunchdog of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo (Sean Hennigan), The Hunchdog of Notre Dame

That said, there are moments where the actors showcase the characters very well.  Sean Hennigan, who played Frollo, does a great job communicating Frollo’s obsession  in both a menacing way and in a more coxing way. He goes back and forth between facets  with great ease.

 

Esmeralda (Lanell Pena), Wishbone, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda (Lanell Pena), The Hunchdog of Notre Dame

 

Lanell Pena, who played Esmeralda, also does a good job of showing how she starts as put-off by Quasimodo and gradually comes to see him for the soul he is (I hesitate to say person because Quasimodo is a puppy). I also like how she tells off Frollo.

 

Wishbone as Quasimodo, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame, picture image

Wishbone as Quasimodo, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame

 

Then we have Wishbone as Quasimodo. Wishbone is played by a few entities. First, the dogs. Wishbone was mainly played by a veteran dog actor “Soccer” though I believe they used a few other dogs for a shots. Wishbone’s voice was played Larry Brantley. Brantley has great comic timing and his quips make the literary tales fun. Animal acting it hard to say if it “good” or not because the looks and movements are all tricks.  All in all though I think the depiction of Quasimodo in this version is a fine one. Plus it’s the cutest depiction of Quasimodo ever. (I’m a dog person, although  Quasimodo as a cute would be adorable as well)

 

 

Next Time Wishbone Article- Conclusions

Wishbone as Quasimodo, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame, picture image

Wishbone as Quasimodo, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame

 

The Production Values of Wishbone

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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 picture image

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 picture image

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 picture image

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 picture image

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), Wishbone, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame picture image

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 picture image

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, picture image

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), Wishbone, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda (Lanell Pena), The Hunchdog of Notre Dame

Wishbone; Intro

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Wishbone, picture image

Wishbone

Wishbone was show on PBS that ran from 1995 to 1998. It starred a Jack Russell terrier named Wishbone who drew parallels between the events of his owner, Joe and his friend to classic literature. The show would have to stories happening on would the events of Joe and his friends and the other would the classic story where Wishbone would play the lead role. Since the show was 30 minutes and there was two stories occurring the classic story would be very abridged. However it didn’t shy away from the sadder material. The show won a lot of awards including four Emmys.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Wishbone, picture image

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Wishbone

Only a handful of the episode were released for home use and one episode was Hunchdog of Notre Dame. So how is this episode? What situation did Wishbone relate to The Hunchback?

Wishbone as Quasimodo with a Gargoyle-Dog, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame, picture image

Wishbone as Quasimodo with a Gargoyle-Dog, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame

Next Wishbone Article – The Plot of The Hunchdog

Wishbone, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame, picture imag e

Wishbone, The Hunchdog of Notre Dame