Move over Venus, Quasimodo is the new goddess of love and beauty.
The Birth of Quasimodo
For a while I have been thinking about films that has similar character types to The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Like movies that feature Hunchbacks, Gypsies, Obsessed creepy guys, etc.
One famous movie to feature a Hunchback in it is called Jean De Florette
Gérard Depardieu and Yves Montand inJean De Florette
It stars Gérard Depardieu as Jean de Florette who is a hunchback. Unlike Quasimodo he is not ugly, Daniel Auteuil’s character, Ugolin covers that as well as creepy romantic obsession in the second part Manon of the Spring (more on this in another post). The two films make up one story.
Gérard Depardieu as Jean with his wife Aimee (Elisabeth Depardieu) and Daughter Manon (Ernestine Mazurowna), Jean de Florette
So what is the movie about? Basically, a greedy landowner, Cesar Soubeyran (Yves Montand) and his nephew Ugolin want the property next to them. When the owner is killed in a fight his nephew Jean Cadoret, a tax collector and a hunchback, inherits the property. He moves in with his wife Aimee and young daughter Manon and tries to live off the land. But Cesar and Ugolin’s designs on getting Jean’s property push them to ruin Jean.
Gérard Depardieu as Jean De Florette
The sequel Manon of the Spring picks off where Jean de Florette left off and it gives a reason for why Jean was a Hunchback that could be applied to Quasimodo. I won’t say what it is but it’s fun to think about what caused Quasimodo’s deformity.
I was watching The Naked Gun 2 & 1/2: The Smell of Fear
Frank Drebin (Leslie Neilsen) questions Quaismodo in The Naked Gun2 & 1/2
Now tell me this isn’t supposed to look like Quasimodo? There is a hunch and the smaller eye. This is meant to be Quasimodo without saying it is.
HunchDownton Abbey
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
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
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
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
Next Article on the 1956 version: Gringoire
Robert Hirsch as Gringoire, 1956 Hunchback of Notre dame
I was reading an article on Moviefone about Movie monsters and love. The article looks at The Beast, King Kong, The Phantom, The Wolf Man, Teen Wolf, Gill-Man, Swamp Thing, Shrek, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the Twilight boys and of course Disney’s Quasimodo.
Esmeralda, Phoebus and Quaismodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The write-up on Quasimodo and Esmeralda is basically the same old complaints with zero on incite to what the movie was trying to do.
Esmeralda and Quaismodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The articles implies that Esmeralda is not in love with Quasimodo because he is ugly. I think that if Quasimodo was in fact good-looking or normal looking but had the same personally she still would not be in love him. She treats him like a child. She supports, him and wants him to succeed but while she like his kindness she doesn’t find it a turn on. Esmeralda seems to like confidence, dry wit and kindness. Quasi doesn’t have have the first two traits at all.
Phoebus explaining his name Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Article also calls Phoebus vain? What? How do you figure? Is it because he say’s his name mean “Sun God?” Because he sounded more self-mocking than egoistical.
Quasimodo accepts Esmeralda and Phoebus as a couple Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
But I find it amazing that the general public are so quick to bring up the fact that Esmeralda does not fall in love with Quasimodo. The movie does several things which I have mentioned over and over (read here) to get the audience on the couple’s side. They share their first scene together, the have the snarky Disney couple trope, they have the same personality, they treat each like people not angels or devils, their animals have the same coloration. What else can this movie do? Did Quasimodo have to marry them? Because he did that but it was cut from the movie. He did join their hands and looks happy for them.
Esmeralda and Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre dame
I don’t want to say this movie is subtle but when it comes to getting that Esmeralda and Phoebus are perfect for each other, people either are in denial or really do just perceive Esmeralda as shallow when she doesn’t actually do anything really shallow except fall in love with a guy that is like herself. But perhaps the main reason for people’s general denial of acceptance of this couple is because many people can relate to the protagonist and in him getting the girl it gives us the viewers hope that we too can reach our goals.
Quaismodo Bells of Notre dame reprise Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
However I will point that Quasimodo’s main goal was to be accepted by society which he was in the end. His mission from the start was to spend a day outside without fear not to fall in love. One could make the point that his goal changed when he met Esmeralda but it really just seemed that his attachment got twisted into love by the gargoyles and an overall love of love. He was never really in love with Esmeralda he was in love with a perception of her based on that it was his time talking to a female and she was nice to him. His affection for her was not a deep love it was a strong friendship.
Esmeralda and Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
I’m sorry to rant like this but it just so annoying that people complain about this so much.
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- Dancers, Notre Dame de Paris, Asian Tour
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- Dennis Ten Vergert as Gringoire with a Dancer, Notre Dame de Paris, Asian Tour
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- Dancers, Notre Dame de Paris, Asian Tour
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- Stephen Webb as Phoebus with a Dancer, Notre Dame de Paris, Asian Tour
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- Dennis Ten Vergert as Gringoire with a Dancer, Notre Dame de Paris, Asian Tour
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- Candice Parise as Esmeralda, Stephen Webb as Phoebus with Dancers, Notre Dame de Paris, Asian Tour
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- Robert Marien as Frollo & Candice Parise as Esmeralda, Notre Dame de Paris, Asian Tour
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- Lilly -Jane Young as Fleur de Lys & Stephen Webb as Phoebus, Notre Dame de Paris, Asian Tour
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- Matt Laurent as Quasimod & Candice Parise as Esmeralda, Notre Dame de Paris, Asian Tour
Some background; When I was sorting out the pictures from the Asian Tour I decided to make a sexy/romantic folder which I put into folder 20. It’s an accident that this folder coincides with Valentine’s day, but it seems appropriate doesn’t it?
Still from the Crocus City performances in Moscow.
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- Alessandra Ferrari as Esmeralda, Notre Dame de Paris World Tour Cast
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- Yvan Pedneault as Phoebus, Notre Dame de Paris World Tour Cast
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- Ian Carlyle as Clopin & Alessandra Ferrari as Esmeralda, Notre Dame de Paris World Tour Cast
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- Richard Charest as Gringoire, Notre Dame de Paris World Tour Cast
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- Matt Laurent as Quasimodo & Alessandra Ferrari as Esmeralda, Notre Dame de Paris World Tour Cast
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- Matt Laurent as Quasimodo, Notre Dame de Paris World Tour Cast
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- Robert Marien as Frollo, Notre Dame de Paris World Tour Cast
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- Elicia MacKenzie as Fleur de Lys, Matt Laurent as Quasimodo & Alessandra Ferrari as Esmeralda, Notre Dame de Paris World Tour Cast
Quasimodo (Anthony Quinn), 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Gotta say the 1956 version of Quasimodo was quite a disappointment. For a version that works so hard to maintain the plot of the book it really failed with Quasimodo’s character.
Quasimodo (Anthony Quinn) & Frollo (Alain Cuny), 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
First off this Quasimodo isn’t a Hunchback, he is a slouch-back. He stands up fairly straight. I’m not sure if was this was the director trying to make Quasimodo more human or Anthony Quinn being lazy. My guess this was the director’s decision and I don’t agree.
You can’t really have the Hunchback of Notre Dame without the Hunch. If the director wanted to humanize Quasimodo he could have done it with the make-up but I think he missed the point. The point of Quasimodo is he the most human character but he looks like a monster. Having him not have the hunch takes away a big part of his character instead of being deformed he is just ugly. Although in the pillory scene you do see a hunch, too bad it disappears when he puts his shirt back on.
Quasimodo (Anthony Quinn) giving flowers to Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida) 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
That is not it though, Quasimodo’s personality is very watered down to point where I’m not quite sure if he has one. He makes comments about people being bad but he spends most of his time mumbling and giggling. He just comes off a childish but with zero charm or interest.
You don’t feel for him; his pain, his love, his despair, nothing. So when we get the the original ending to the book in a movie you can’t feel anything because you have sent two hours not feeling anything for the emotional core of the movie.
Quasimodo (Anthony Quinn) laying down next to Esmeralda (Gina Lollobrigida) 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The movie tries to make you feel for Quasimodo but due the performance you really can’t connect with this Quasimodo and that does weaken the second half of the movie. It’s like all the pieces are there to make an good Quasimodo but they don’t connect right and we’re left with a half-form Quasimodo.
Quasimodo (Anthony Quinn) on the Pillory 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The only good thing to come from this Quasimodo is after Esmeralda gives him water he says ‘beautiful” or “Belle” and that inspired one of the greatest Hunchback songs ever.
Quasimodo (Anthony Quinn) with a cat, 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Also why is Quasimodo holding a cat? What’s up with Hunchback versions instering cats into shots?
Next 1956 Article – Frollo
Frollo (Alain Cuny), 1956 The Hunchback of Notre Dame