The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Seen it?1939 | 117 min | Drama, Romance, Horror
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (94% on Rotten Tomatoes). A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for romantics and horror fans. If you loved Before Sunset or The Man in the Moon, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Scary, warm and romantic.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 57 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1939: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Paris, France, 1482. Frollo, Chief Justice of benevolent King Louis XI, gets infatuated by the beauty of Esmeralda, a young Romani girl. The hunchback Quasimodo, Frollo's protege and bell-ringer of Notre Dame, lives in peace among the bells in the heights of the immense cathedral until he is involved by the twisted magistrate in his malicious plans to free himself from Esmeralda's alleged spell, which he believes to be the devil's work.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
94% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.3 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
Nominated for 2 Oscars.
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$7 million worldwide on a $2 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 79K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by William Dieterle
- Charles LaughtonThe Hunchback Quasimodo
- Cedric HardwickeFrollo
- Thomas MitchellClopin
- Maureen O'HaraEsmeralda
- Edmond O'BrienGringoire
- Alan MarshalPhoebus
- Walter HampdenArchdeacon
- Harry DavenportKing Louis XI
- Katharine AlexanderMadame de Lys
- George ZuccoProcurator