Hump Carriers

Victor Hugo wrote " NOTRE DAME DE PARIS " in 1837. It was a novel about a great edifice, a cathedral; about Gothic architecture, about the death of Art at the oil-spattered hands of Technology. Coincidentally, it was also a novel about unrequited love, fatal obsession, lust, sin, and murder.

Most of us think that this is mostly a tale about Quasimodo, the deformed bellringer, and it is. But the tale is about much more than that. The hunchback is but one of several characters that buzz around the hive of Notre Dame; living out their medieval lives as tragedy. Over the centuries, we have come to call this tale, " THEHUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME ". Many plays, books, and films bear that title; even though it is somewhat of a counterfeit, a morphallaxis.

From our modern perch, we understand the plot to be about the Bishop Claude Frollo, having to raise Quasimodo, the "little monster" left as a foundling on the steps of Notre Dame. Quasimodo grew up twisted, deformed, hunchbacked, and he became the bellringer for the cathederal. Soon he became deaf from the din.

The beast had the audacity to fall in love with the gypsy beauty Esmeralda. So did Bishop Frollo. Neither could have her. Frollo tried to frame her, to destroy her, to hang her. Quasimodo saved her from the gallows, and they fled to his bell tower. But the crowd, the rabble army of thieves, beggers, and gypsies, turned angry, and they attacked Notre Dame. Tragedy descended upon all.

The first silent film of the book, NOTRE DAME DE PARIS, was released in 1911. Henry Krauss was Quasimodo, and Stacia Napierkowska was Esmeralda.

In 1922, there was another silent film made, ESMERALDA, with Booth Conway as Quasimodo, and Sybil Thorndike as Esmeralda.

In 1923, the definitive silent version emerged, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, with the great Lon Chaney as Quasimodo, and Patsy Ruth Miller as Esmeralda.

In 1939, the first sound version appeared, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, with Charles Laughton as Quasimodo, and Maureen O'Hara as the temptress Esmeralda. Cedric Hardwicke was Frollo. Thomas Mitchell, Edmond O'Brien, and George Tobias lent support.

In 1957, the first color epic was released, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, with Anthony Quinn playing Quasimodo, and Gina Lollibridgida playing Esmeralda. Adrian Curry was Frollo. Rumor had it that in his free time, while filming this epic, Anthony Quinn worked on the cheap, and also filmed Fellini's LA STRADA .

In 1977, British television offered a production with Kenneth Haigh as Frollo, Warren Clarke as Quasimodo, and Michelle Newell as Esmeralda.

In 1982, American television offered a production with the incredible Anthony Hopkins as Quasimodo, Leslie Ann Down as Esmeralda, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, with Derek Jacobi as Frollo, and with John Gielgud, David Suchet, Robert Powell, and Nigel Hawthorne.

In 1996, the Walt Disney studios stunned the world with their production, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, a dazzling animated masterpiece; with the voice talent of Tom Hulce as Quasimodo, Demi Moore as Esmeralda, Kevin Kline, Jason Alexander, and David Ogden Stiers in support.

In 1997, Turner Broadcasting, on TNT, offered THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, with the late Richard Harris as Frollo, and Mandy Patinkin as Quasimodo, and the lovely Salma Hayek as Esmeralda. It was a pretty fair rendition of the tale.A&E offered a wonderful biography of all the actors who ever played the hunchback. Who will be next to don the hump ? It boggles the mind.

Glenn Buttkus 2004