The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1982 film)

**The Hunchback of Notre Dame** is a 1982 made-for-TV film starring Anthony Hopkins, Derek Jacobi, and Leslie-Anne Down based off of Victor Hugo's 1831 novel of the same name. It was broadcast on American network CBS on February 4, 1982 as a part of the network's *Hallmark Hall of Fame* series.

## Plot

Frollo finds an infant found inside Notre Dame and decides to take him in, naming him "Quasimodo". 25 years later, during the Feast of Fools, young poet Pierre Gringoire is putting on his original play, but failing to attract an audience as gypsy Esmeralda is dancing for money. As Clopin is gathering the townsfolk to crown the King of Fools, Quasimodo is spotted hiding behind a wagon and is dragged out and crowned for his ugliness. As he is paraded around Paris, Frollo stops him and sends him back into Notre Dame. Esmeralda is also seized and taken into the cathedral for dancing in the streets. Frollo explains to her she will not be taken to the Bastille so long as she claims sanctuary, and is given a space in the bell tower. However, Esmeralda rejects this as Frollo advances on her, and runs away. Frollo sends Quasimodo out to the streets to bring her back. As Gringoire is attempting to sell sonnets to Captain Phoebus, Esmeralda, smitten, is saved by the captain. The hunchback is arrested and sent to the pillory to be flogged for the alleged kidnapping. Gringoire wanders the evening streets, he is captured and taken to the Court of Miracles, where he is to be hanged for being a poet unless a woman marries him. Esmeralda takes pity on the poet, and the two are married.

At Quasimodo's flogging, witnessed by Esmeralda and Pierre, Frollo comes by on horseback and refuses to help the hunchback as he cries out for water. He is given water by Esmeralda, and Quasimodo becomes emotional from this as he heads back to the bell tower. Esmeralda meets Phoebus at a rendezvous at a later evening, where Frollo stabs the captain and frames Esmeralda for the crime. She is tried and sentenced to hang. Quasimodo saves her just in time and claims sanctuary for her and hides her in the bell tower. She clearly expresses love for Phoebus, and Quasimodo reluctantly attempts to bring Phoebus to her to talk. He dismisses the hunchback. Esmeralda later realizes she loves Pierre, not Phoebus.

Clopin, along with Gringoire, leads a siege onto Notre Dame in the name of Esmeralda's release. However, Quasimodo believes they've come to kill her and sends her to a secluded room. He defends the cathedral single-handedly, and causes the mob to retreat with molten lead.

Frollo looks for Esmeralda and finds her in the bell tower and attempts to rape her. Esmeralda finds one of the bells and successfully summons Quasimodo. Frollo and Quasimodo quarrel, the priest stabbing Quasimodo and the hunchback killing him by impaling Frollo onto spike on the wall. Gringoire makes his way inside the cathedral and into the bell tower. Soldiers advance onto Notre Dame, who have come for Quasimodo. Quasimodo smuggles Esmeralda and Gringoire out of the cathedral, Esmeralda kissing Quasimodo on the cheek as they bid farewell. As the soldiers make their way up the bell tower, passing Frollo's corpse, Quasimodo falls off Notre Dame and dies.

## Cast

* Anthony Hopkins as Quasimodo
* Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda
* Derek Jacobi as Claude Frollo
* Gerry Sundquist as Pierre Gringoire
* David Suchet as Clopin Trouillefou

## Version Differences

* Quasimodo is 25 instead of 20.
* Esmeralda runs off with Gringoire without a pardon with the help of Quasimodo. However, he does not run away with them for unknown reasons.
* Instead of throwing Frollo off Notre Dame, Quasimodo kills him by impaling Frollo's body through a hook in the bell tower. Quasimodo's death is switched with falling off of Notre Dame in a failed attempt to escape soldiers chasing after him.
* Phoebus is married instead of engaged. However, Fleur-de-Lys is absent.

## Reception

*Hunchback* curently holds a 49% Audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and 6.4/10 rating on IMDb.

## Gallery

Main article: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1982 film)/Gallery

## References

1. ↑ https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1029827-hunchback
2. ↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084100/