The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
Horror
Alpha Video  (1923) 110 mins NR

7.4 (1,152 votes)
The original silent film classic

Lon Chaney, cinema's "Man of a Thousand Faces", stars in this silent classic-the first version of Victor Hugo's novel about the tortured hunchback. Half-blind and monstrously deformed, Quasimodo dwells within the sanctuary of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Ridiculed and exploited by a cruel world, he passionately rings the cathedral's great bells to express his feelings. Quasimodo secretly loves a beautiful gypsy girl named Esmeralda, for whom he sacrifices his life when he rescues her from her evil guardian. Chaney's great performance and his incredible use of make-up brilliantly evoke both terror and pity for the hunchback as this classic tale is played out in medieval Paris.

**Please be advised that while a great effort is made in restoring these films in their entirety, portions which have been destroyed beyond repai...

Play Movie

Cast and Crew
Ruth Miller  ...... 
Kate Lester  ......  Madame de Condelaurier
Lon Chaney  ......  Quasimodo
Raymond Hatton  ...... 
Norman Kerry  ......  Phoebus de Chateaupers
Patsy Ruth Miller  ......  Esmeralda
Director  .....  Wallace Worsley
Producer  .....  Carl Laemmle; Irving Thalberg
Writer  .....  Perley Poor; Edward T. Lowe; Victor Hugo; Edward T. Lowe Jr.
Notes
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: After Esmeralda have given Quasimodo water (he's still chained down), the nose putty on Quasimodo's left cheek is coming loose -- there's a noticeable gap between Lon Chaney's face and the nose putty used to make the fake cheek. (more)

Trivia:
The myth that Irving Thalberg came up with the idea for the movie was dispelled when it was discovered through telegrams and contracts in the collection of Alfred Grasso, Lon Chaney's manager, that Chaney himself suggested not only the story but who would be cast and who would direct. Chaney's original pick for director was actually Frank Borzage, not Wallace Worsley (who had directed several other pictures for Chaney). Erich von Stroheim, Allen Holubar, Chester Withey and Emile Chautard were all considered as well. (more)

Filming Locations:
European Village set, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA (more)

Awards:
1 win (more)