A Real Flower; The 1956 Version of Fleur de Lys

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Danielle Dumont as Fleur de Lys, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

Danielle Dumont as Fleur de Lys, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame

Fleur de Lys in the 1956 version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame doesn’t have a big part, in fact she has a very small part as she in only in one scene and is only discussed in another. So she appears less in this movie than she does in the 1923 version. So why is she getting her own post?

Because I think she might be the most interesting and complex character in this movie. Which is a little sad.

Jean Danet as Phoebus & Danielle Dumont as Fleur de Lys, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

Jean Danet as Phoebus & Danielle Dumont as Fleur de Lys, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame

At first glance, Fleur de Lys might be consider a bitch. She baits Phoebus into recognizing Esmeralda and then orders him to make her leave the public square to prove that he loves her. Of course he uses that chance to arrange a meeting with Esmeralda so the joke is on Fleur de Lys.

Jean Danet as Phoebus & Danielle Dumont as Fleur de Lys, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

Jean Danet as Phoebus & Danielle Dumont as Fleur de Lys, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame

In her brief scene we know a few things about her, she loves Phoebus but is insecure and masks it but acting haughty, which I think is relatable. This also makes it believable when her mother says that she was deeply hurt by Phoebus‘ wanton behavior but that she also longs to see him. She is self-realized enough to know she is jealous but instead of letting it consume her, she confronts Phoebus. This make her not passive . Though her affections for Phoebus are a bit naive as she does believe that he chased Esmeralda as proof of his love and not used it as arranging a meeting.

Danielle Dumont as Fleur de Lys, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

Danielle Dumont as Fleur de Lys, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame

Perhaps being surrounded by characters that are less than 3-dimensional makes her seems more relatable and interesting than she is meant to be. Though maybe the beauty of her characterization is that she is only one scene so the film couldn’t muddle it. However for me she is most likable and the most real character in the movie.

Danielle Dumont as Fleur de Lys, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

Danielle Dumont as Fleur de Lys, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame

Next 1956 Article – The other characters that are there

Maurice Sarfati as Jehan, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

Maurice Sarfati as Jehan, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame

King of Hanging Out; The 1956 Version of Clopin

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Philippe Clay as Clopin, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

Philippe Clay as Clopin, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame

The 1956 version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one of the only times where Clopin and the Duke of Egypt are separate characters. He is a leader of the Court of Miracle and is the King of Beggars. His duties include preceding over the “King”of Fools” crowning, yelling “charity” at random points, hanging poets, leading the charge to save to Esmeralda and just hanging out.

Philippe Clay as Clopin, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

Philippe Clay as Clopin, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame

Clopin doesn’t really do too much in this film beside those things. He gets a few good lines here and there. He has respect for Esmeralda as he tries to convince Esmeralda that she is too good for Gringoire and he is there when she dies and begs for mercy on her behalf.

Philippe Clay as Clopin, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

Philippe Clay as Clopin, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame

Clopin also yells ‘charity” at various points which does get annoying but provides insight to the viewpoints of the common people and King Louis. So it’s an interesting mechanic but the way he says “charity” is really annoying and grating.

It would have been interesting if he had more of commentary on society or some kind of conviction like the 1939 version or Notre Dame de Paris but he really doesn’t. He is not even that entertaining, so he is kind of wasted.

Philippe Clay as Clopin, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

Philippe Clay as Clopin, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame

He doesn’t have that much character to him and the movie isn’t to concerned with developing him as character and thus he is more of a mechanic for the plot.

But unlike other Clopins he doesn’t have heart and therefore for you can’t really feel for him and he is not that memorable.

Philippe Clay as Clopin, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

Philippe Clay as Clopin, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame

Next 1956 Article – Fleur de Lys

Danielle Dumont as Fleur de Lys, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

Danielle Dumont as Fleur de Lys, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame

Korean Hunchback Musical

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This is a video for a   Korean musical version of The  Hunchback of Notre Dame . You can see the influences of Notre Dame de Paris and the Disney version.  It was done by the N.A Company and it premiered in August 2012. It seems to have  great energy and maybe more light-hearted than other stage versions. And I think there may even be Sister Gudule in this version.

Poster for the Korean Hunchback Musical

Poster for the Korean Hunchback Musical

Useless Poet; The 1956 Verion of Gringoire

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Robert Hirsch as Gringoire, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

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 picture image

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

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 picture image

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 picture image

Philippe Clay as Clopin, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame

Not a total Jerk; The 1956 Version of Phoebus

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Jean Danet as Phoebus,1956 Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

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 picture image

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 picture image

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 picture image

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 picture image

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 picture image

Robert Hirsch as Gringoire, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame

 

Menken still wants the Hunchback Musical to happen

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Alan Menken picture image

Alan Menken

Last week I wrote about how with the announcement of the Aladdin Broadway show we shouldn’t except the Hunchback musical anytime soon. However while that is true don’t loss hope that it will never happen. According to an article on Broadway.com there is a line that Alan Menken is “also eyeing bringing and The Hunchback of Notre Dame to Broadway.”  This line is at the very end of the article but it shows that Menken is still on board with making the Hunchback musical happen, so maybe it will the show after Aladdin closes.

There is also another article on Broadway.com, that says that Journalist Michael Riedel  reports  The Hunchback Musical “could be back moving forward as well. ”  So we’ll see

But in the mean time you can see a play version of the Hunchback at the Actors Youth Theatre in Glibert Arizona in May.

You can read more here;

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/166837/aladdin-composer-alan-menken-working-on-two-new-musical-projects/

http://broadwayworld.com/article/POLL-Which-Animated-Movie-Musical-Should-Disney-Bring-to-Broadway-Next-20130111#

http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/20130103actors-youth-theatre-moving-gilbert.html?nclick_check=1