The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) - Chaney radiates humanity as tragic deformed hero in impressive production

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A dark and quite haunting, elaborate painting of the 'Festival of Fools' scene from the film makes up this atmospheric poster for Wallace Worsley's The Hunchback of Notre Dame

In Paris' Cathedral of Notre Dame in the year 1482 the outcast hunchback Quasimodo is in charge of the bells during a dramatic period, in which local gypsy beauty Esmeralda becomes the object of desire for the dashing Captain Phoebus.

 

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is written by Perley Poore Sheehan (For Those We Love (1921)) and Edward T. Lowe Jr. (Educating Father (1936)), with Chester L. Roberts (Prisoners of Love (1921)) contributing uncredited contributions, adapting the same-titled 1831 novel by Victor Hugo (Bug-Jargal (1826), and directed by Wallace Worsley (An Alien Enemy (1918)).

It is an impressive major production, which shows what incredible lengths the Hollywood studio machine was able to traverse to entertain and woo the world in the roaring twenties. The result is grand and it is entertaining.

The film presents thousands of extras, horses, costumes, beautiful sets and the dilemma plot of Esmeralda caught between her raucous street background and her new-found love from the aristocracy. But the film's inevitable highlight is without a doubt Lon Chaney's (The Ace of Hearts (1921)) deeply impressive turn as Quasimodo.

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: Estimated 1.25 mil. $

Box office: 3.5 mil. $ rentals

= Box office success (returned 2.8 times its cost in rentals alone)

[The Hunchback of Notre Dame premiered 2 September (New York) and runs 102 minutes, with a cut version running 98 minutes and a director's cut version running 117 minutes. Chaney had personally bought the rights to make the film and was deeply involved in the production. Erich von Stroheim was reportedly his first choice to direct but was fired by Universal executive Irving Thalberg for budget overruns on his Merry-Go-Round (1923). Construction of the Notre Dame set took approximately 6 months, including 35 ten feet high replicas of the 'Gallery of Kings' statues. Shooting took place from December 1922 - June 1923 in California and France. The 3.5 mil. $ rental figure stems from a 1932 Variety article; it should be noted that a gross figure could then realistically be much higher. The film has fallen into public domain and can be seen and downloaded free and legally right here. Worsley returned with The Man Who Fights Alone (1924). Chaney returned in The Next Corner (1924). The Hunchback of Notre Dame is fresh at 92 % with an 8.10/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

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