The Many Styles of Frollo

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In the realm of Hunchback we know that Quasimodo will (or should) be ugly and deformed and Esmeralda should be pretty, these are truth in in the novel, they have set looks. Frollo, while he does have a set look in the novel and is supposed to have an austere harsh look gets a wide variety of looks in the movies.   So today we’re are going to look at some Frollo’s various hair styles.

Frollo’s hair in the book is balding. he had tuff of ugly gray hair on the side which give him a natural tonsure. Movie never go for this look

Jehan 1923 Hunchback of Notre Dame Brandon Hurst picture image

Jehan 1923 Hunchback of Notre Dame Brandon Hurst

In the 1923 we have two Frollo, Pious Claude and Jerk Jehan. Jehan has black hair that  goes to ears and he also seen wearing a bowler-like hat. Claude has  sepia color. He has a receding hair line.

 

Jehan Frollo (Sir Cedric Hardwicke) 1939 Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Jehan Frollo, Sir Cedric Hardwicke 1939 Hunchback of Notre Dame

In the 1939 version we again have Pious Claude and Jerk Jehan. Jehan has black hair that is a straight cut across his forehead. He has lock that curl on the side his face. Claude has white hair and he wears a bishop hat.

 

Frollo (Alain Cuny), 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo (Alain Cuny), 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame

In the 1956 version, Frollo has a full-head of brown hair. He keeps it short.

 

Kenneth Haigh as Frollo 1977 Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Kenneth Haigh as Frollo 1977 Hunchback of Notre Dame

In the 1977, Frollo has the brown hair with a straight bang line.

Derek Jacobi as Frollo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Derek Jacobi as Frollo, 1982 Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

In the 1982, Frollo hair at is at it’s most stupid. It’s a blond bowl cut.

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

In the Disney version, Frollo has the same cut of 1939 Jehan but with gray hair. His bangs cut straight along the center of his forehead and then it recedes.

 

Richard Harris as Frollo, 1997 The Hunchback picture image

Richard Harris as Frollo

In the 1997, he is bald.

Daniel Lavoie as Frollo Notre Dame de Paris picture image

Daniel Lavoie as Frollo Notre Dame de Paris

 

In original Notre Dame de Paris version, he has very short brown hair.

 

Richard Berry as Frollo 1999 Quasimodo d'El Paris picture image

Richard Berry as Frollo 1999 Quasimodo d’el Paris

In the 1999  parody version, Quasimodo d’El Paris, he has short black hair with long thin sideburns.

 

Frollo’s look in the movies (and musicals) are very different than the novel but they seem based Frollo’s look on the past movies than on the novel.

 

 

Melanie Renaud covers Vivre

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Renaud played Esmeralda in Notre Dame de Paris in the 2005 Canadian Cast as well as the 2005 French Cast.

I like her singing but the arrangement in parts or a little strange.

Anti Or Pro Hypothetical Casting; Taylor Swift as Fleur de Lys

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Taylor Swift picture image

Taylor Swift

I admit, I don’t care for Taylor Swift. Her music does nothing for me and  the fact the she plays an instrument and writes her songs maybe a feat in the current music scene but it’s not like she a huge talent that warrants vast praise. No, I’m not a fan of  Taylor Swift and I had intended this post to be anti-casting but the more I thought about her as a Fleur de Lys for an English version of Notre Dame de Paris the less I dislike the idea. I would say that if this ever did happen, I would complain but it’s way a more  palatable casting choice than most pop singers.

Taylor Swift from Love Story picture image

Taylor Swift from Love Story

 

Taylor Swift was up for the role as Epoine in Les Mis. It’s unclear if she did get the part or not but Epoine didn’t suit her but Fleur de Lys does. Swift has a reputation for being sweet and speaking to the teenage girls but on the flip side, she can be mean if you piss her off. Fleur de Lys in Notre Dame de Lys is both these things. At the start, she in love but as the play goes on she gets cruel and demands Esmeralda’s death and she gets away with it. Vocally, the English version is something I could see Swift being able to pull off.

Taylor Swift picture image

Taylor Swift

Swift also fits the standard looks for Fleur de Lys, fair skin and blond. Only four Fleur de Lys have differed from this look and three were Korean. Most other Fleurs have to wear blond wigs.  So she at least looks the part.

Taylor Swift picture image

Taylor Swift

 

As much as I don’t like Swift, she wouldn’t be the worse choice, I can see it working but it pisses me off at the same time. I’m on the fence for this hypothetical casting. What do you think? Yay or Nay on Taylor Swift?

Lost Films; 1911 Notre Dame de Paris

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Stacia Napierkowska

Stacia Napierkowska

The second lost film was made in 1911 and was directed by Albert Capellani. It was called Notre Dame de Paris and was 36 minutes long. It starred  Stacia Napierkowska as Esmeralda. Napierkowska was a dancer before going into films. She appeared in 86 movies between 1908 and 1926. Napierkowska was once arrested in New York City during a performance for her dance being considered indecent.

 

Notre Dame de Paris 1911 picture image

Notre Dame de Paris 1911

From the few pictures that exist we can see that movie has the pillory scene, Esmeralda’s torture and the Port de Rouge scene. Napierkowska’s Esmeralda looks to be both gentle and commanding. Considering her experience as a dancer and  her freedom in sensuality department, I would say that there could have been a great dance scene in this.

 

Belle for the Concept Concert

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This is from the Concept Concert the original, original cast (note Noa) performed in February 1998, 8 months before the show. This was the first time Belle was performed in Public.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j5cPdClV6c