The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923/I)

Director:

Wallace Worsley

Writers:

Victor Hugo (novel)
Perley Poore Sheehan (adaptation)
(more)

Release Date:

6 September 1923 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

Plot:

In fifteenth century Paris, the brother of the archdeacon plots with the gypsy king to foment a peasant revolt. Meanwhile, a freakish hunchback falls in love with the gypsy queen.

Plot Keywords:

Gypsy | Hunchback | King | Gypsy King | Soldier

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Lon Chaney	...	Quasimodo
Patsy Ruth Miller	...	Esmeralda
Norman Kerry	...	Phoebus de Chateaupers
Kate Lester	...	Madame de Condelaurier
Winifred Bryson	...	Fleur de Lys
Nigel De Brulier	...	Don Claudio (as Nigel de Brulier)
Brandon Hurst	...	Jehan
Ernest Torrence	...	Clopin
Tully Marshall	...	El Rey Luis XI
Harry von Meter	...	Mons. Neufchatel (as Harry Van Meter)
Raymond Hatton	...	Gringoire
Nick De Ruiz	...	Mons. Le Torteru (as Nick de Ruiz)
Eulalie Jensen	...	Marie
Roy Laidlaw	...	Charmolu
Ray Myers	...	Charmolu's Assistant (as W. Ray Meyers)
William Parke	...	Josephus (as William Parke Sr.)
Gladys Brockwell	...	Sister Gudule
John Cossar	...	Judge of the Court
Edwin Wallock	...	King's Chamberlain
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fred Behrle	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Joe Bonomo	...	(uncredited)
Earl Gordon Bostwick	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Helen Broneau	...	(uncredited)
C.E. Collins	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Jim Collins	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Harry De Vere	...	(uncredited)
Charles Farrell	...	(uncredited)
Al Ferguson	...	(uncredited)
John George	...	(uncredited)
John Gough	...	Prisoner in Torture Chamber (uncredited)
Cesare Gravina	...	(uncredited)
Charles Haefeli	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Fred Herzog	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Alfred Hollingsworth	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Harry Holman	...	Fat Man (uncredited)
Al Hoxie	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Jay Hunt	...	(uncredited)
Arthur Hurni	...	(uncredited)
John Impolito	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Gladys Johnston	...	(uncredited)
Bob Kortman	...	Hook-Hand (uncredited)
Ethan Laidlaw	...	(uncredited)
Louise La Planche	...	Baby Esmeralda (uncredited)
Eva Lewis	...	(uncredited)
Elmo Lincoln	...	(uncredited)
Albert MacQuarrie	...	(uncredited)
George MacQuarrie	...	(uncredited)
Harry Mann	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Alex Manuel	...	(uncredited)
Louis Miller	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Russ Powell	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Albert Prisco	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Mabel Richardson	...	(uncredited)
Walter Rodgers	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Gilbert Roland	...	Extra (uncredited)
Gene Roth	...	(uncredited)
Lou Salter	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Rolfe Sedan	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Nick Shaid	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Jane Sherman	...	(uncredited)
Lydia Yeamans Titus	...	(uncredited)
Rene Traveletti	...	(uncredited)
Pearl Tupper	...	(uncredited)
Clarence Wilson	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)

Directed by
Wallace Worsley

Writing credits
Victor Hugo		(novel "Notre-Dame de Paris")
Perley Poore Sheehan		(adaptation)
Edward T. Lowe Jr.		(scenario)

Produced by
Serge Bromberg	....	producer (2006 alternate version)
David H. Shepard	....	producer (2006 alternate version) (as David Shepard)
Carl Laemmle	....	producer (uncredited)
Irving Thalberg	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Sam Perry		(1929 sound reissue)
Heinz Roemheld		(1931 sound reissue)
Hugo Riesenfeld		(premiere: New York) (uncredited)

Cinematography by
Robert Newhard		(photographed by)
Tony Kornman		(uncredited)
Virgil Miller		(uncredited)
Stephen S. Norton		(uncredited)
Charles J. Stumar		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
Edward Curtiss		(as Edward Curtis)
Maurice Pivar
Sydney Singerman

Casting by
Fred A. Datig		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Elmer Sheeley		(as E.E. Sheeley)
Sidney Ullman		(as Sydney Ullman)

Set Decoration by
Hans Dreier		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Lon Chaney	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
William Koenig	....	unit manager (uncredited)
George M. Stallings	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James Dugan	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Jack Sullivan	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Robert Wyler	....	assistant director (uncredited)
William Wyler	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Finn Froelich	....	sculptor (uncredited)
Charles Gemora	....	sculptures (uncredited)
Stephen Goosson	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Charles D. Hall	....	assistant art director (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Friend Baker	....	photographic effects (uncredited)
Phil Whitman	....	photographic effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Joe Bonomo	....	stunt double: Lon Chaney (uncredited)
Harvey Parry	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bud Barner	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Eddie Barry	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Harry D. Brown	....	lighting effects (uncredited)
Henry Freulich	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Jack Freulich	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Karl Gotham	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Soldier Graham	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Bert Kohler	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
George Merhoff	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Earl Miller	....	lighting effects (uncredited)
Fred Sealock	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Arthur E. Shadur	....	electrical engineer (uncredited)
Cliff Shirpser	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Eric van Miessel	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Wayne West	....	lighting technician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gordon Magee	....	costume supervisor (uncredited)

Music Department
Donald Hunsberger	....	score compiler (2006 alternate version) (as Donald Hunsburger)
Robert Israel	....	conductor: The Robert Israel Orchestra {Europe} (2006 alternate version)
Robert Israel	....	score adaptor (2006 alternate version)
Heinz Roemheld	....	musical director (1931 sound reissue)
Henry Baron	....	music theme (uncredited)
Jack Feinberg	....	musician (uncredited)
Sam Feinberg	....	musician (uncredited)
Sam Perry	....	music arranger (uncredited)

Other crew
Carl Laemmle	....	presenter
Albert Conti	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Archie Hall	....	technical director (uncredited)
Edgar Stein	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Charlotte Woods	....	continuity (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1923) (USA) (theatrical)
• Viking Video Classics (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• Marathon Music & Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Delta Expedition (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (VHS)
• Reelclassicdvd.com (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2005) (worldwide) (TV)
• Bach Films (2009) (France) (DVD)
• Blackhawk Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Catcom Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Continental Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Film Preservation Associates (2006) (USA) (all media) (2006 alternate version)
• Grapevine Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1996) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Image Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Kartes Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Kino Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Living Colour Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Vestron Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• The Robert Israel Orchestra  music performers (2006 alternate version) (as Robert Israel Orchestra {Europe})

Also Known As:

Der Bucklige von Notre Dame (Austria) [de]
Der Glöckner von Notre Dame (Germany) [de]
Dzwonnik z Notre Dame (Poland) [pl]
El jorobado de Notre Dame (Spain) [es]
El jorobado de nuestra señora de París (Spain) [es]
I Panagia ton Parision (Greece) (TV title) [el]
Il gobbo di Notre Dame (Italy) [it]
Nossa Senhora de Paris (Portugal) [pt]
Notre Damen kellonsoittaja (Finland) [fi]
Notre-Dame de Paris (France) [fr]
O Corcunda de Notre Dame (Brazil) [pt]
Ringaren i Notre Dame (Sweden) [sv]

Runtime:

Canada:95 min (Ontario) | USA:98 min (TCM Print) | USA:117 min (2006 alternate version) | 133 min (24 fps)

Country:

USA

Color:

Black and White | Color (tinted)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

USA:Unrated | Canada:G (Ontario) | Spain:T | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

European Village set, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

This film was the first to use intercom technology to act as a communication device between the director and his assistants during production. Western Electric provided the wireless communication. This is standard equipment on large-scale films today.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: After Esmeralda gives 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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked (2000) (V)

A True Classic of the Silent Screen

"The Hunchback of Notre Dame" is the often filmed Victor Hugo classic tale of the tragic Quasimodo and his love for the lovely Esmeralda in 15th century Paris.

Lon Chaney in perhaps his greatest role, plays the title character to perfection. Even through the grotesque make up that he created for the character, he can still elicit the sympathy of the audience through his touching portrayal. Chaney is barely recognizable through the 40 pounds of make up and appliances that went to create Quasimodo for the screen. You have to remember that this was 1923 and Chaney did not have the benefit of today's make up techniques.

Patsy Ruth Miller brings youth, beauty and innocence to the role of Esmeralda, a perfect contrast to the hunchback. Norman Kerry plays Phoebus, the nominal hero of the tale who is Esmeralda's true love. Brandon Hurst is the chief villain, Jehan, who wants Esmeralda for himself. Ernest Torrence plays Clopin the "King of the Beggars". In the role of Gringoire is Raymond Hatton, who "B" western fans will remember as the comical sidekick in several westerns of the 30s and 40s.

However, this movie truly belongs to Lon Chaney. It is truly a pity that he died before he could manifest his genius in sound films. (He died in 1930 and made just one sound film).

After almost 80 years, Lon Chaney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" remains the definitive version and a true classic of American cinema.