The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939 film)
| The Hunchback of Notre Dame | |
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Theatrical poster
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| Directed by | William Dieterle |
| Produced by | Pandro S. Berman |
| Screenplay by |
Sonya Levien Bruno Frank (adaptation) |
| Based on | The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo |
| Starring |
Charles Laughton Sir Cedric Hardwicke Thomas Mitchell Maureen O'Hara Edmond O'Brien Alan Marshal Walter Hampden |
| Music by |
Alfred Newman (musical adaptation and original composition) |
| Cinematography | Joseph H. August A.S.C. |
| Edited by |
William Hamilton Robert Wise |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. |
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Release date
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Running time
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116 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,826,000 |
| Box office | $3,155,000 |
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a 1939 American film starring Charles Laughton as Quasimodo and Maureen O'Hara as Esmeralda. Directed by William Dieterle and produced by Pandro S. Berman, the film was based on Victor Hugo's novel of the same name.
For this production RKO Radio Pictures built on their movie ranch a massive medieval city of Paris and Notre Dame Cathedral, one of the largest and most extravagant sets ever constructed.
"With the end of the 15th century, the Middle Ages came to a close. Europe began to see great changes. France, ravaged by a hundred years of War, at last found peace. The people under Louis XI felt free to hope again ~ to dream of progress. But superstition and prejudice often stood in the way, seeking to crush the adventurous spirit of man."
The film opens with Louis XI, the King of France, and Jean Frollo, the King's Chief Justice of Paris, visiting a printing shop. Frollo is determined to do everything in his power to rid Paris of anything he sees as evil, including the printing press and gypsies, who at the time are persecuted and prohibited from entering Paris. That day is Paris' annual celebration, the Festival of Fools. Esmeralda, a young gypsy girl, is seen dancing in front of an audience of people. Quasimodo, the hunchback and bell ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral, is crowned the King of Fools until Frollo catches up to him and takes him back to the church.
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