Movie Monday: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)

It’s time to take a moment and appreciate the classics, and I am not just talking about film! The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one of those stories that you feel like you know even if you have never read the novel of seen one the many films based on this story. Before watching the 1939 version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame starring Maureen O’Hara and Charles Laughton, I had never really known anything about the story besides it was a Disney movie.

After the tragically watching the Notre Dame Cathedral burn in 2019, I figured 2020 would be a great time to review today’s classic film. This week’s Movie Monday serves as a reminder that the Notre Dame Cathedral is so much more than just a building, it is an icon in popular culture. Although parts of the cathedral burned last year, we shouldn’t forget what happened now that it is 2020. If you would like to donate to the rebuilding of the Notre Dame Cathedral, you can follow this hyperlink here.

This live action version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame came at an important time in this story’s history. After about 100 years of existence within the popular imagination, The Hunchback of Notre Dame was thrust into the modern age with its very own film! It was really important that this movie was made at the time in history it was captured.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame was made in a huge year of films, too! 1939 was a big year of movies if you are familiar with some of the classics. Among the films also released in 1939 are The Wizard of Oz, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Women, and Gone With the Wind. There are so many more films I could name, but those are some of the most notable. Not to mention, those listed above were also contenders for The Oscars! Despite being one of the best films released in 1939, in my option, The Hunchback of Notre Dame had some stiff competition!

If you have ever seen any of the films from the 1930s time era, you know that the hot entertainment of that decade was musicals. For many reasons, I am thankful that this version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame wasn’t a musical! Not only would a few songs made this film even longer than it already is, but I feel like the plot advances a lot better than if there were songs sprinkled in there.

The main difference in this adaption of the film and with what is portrayed in the Disney animation version is how Esmerelda is presented. Maureen O’Hara’s version of this character is a lot more innocent and capable. Of course, Disney is always a champion of crafting independent women for the younger generation to look up to. However, there is just something convincing about the way that O’Hara plays Esmerelda.

The one actor who was really outstanding in this film, and the one who convinced me that The Hunchback of Notre Dame was one of the best movies ever made, was Charles Laughton. Can you imagine having to act with all of the prosthetics that were placed on Laughton? He literally had one eye and had to hunch (see what I did there) over while playing his character. The job wasn’t easy, but Laughton did it with perfection!

I love how Laughton made Quasimodo lovable, understandable, and enduring. It solidifies everything fans of the novel would want to see come to life on the big screen. Laughton’s version of Quasimodo keeps your eyes glued to the every scene.

In honor of the beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral, let’s all start 2020 by watching this classic film centered around the beautiful structure!

Much Love,

Sarah