June 2013 - The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Release: 1996
Director: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
Starring: Tom Hulce, Demi Moore, Tony Jay, Kevin Kline.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is hardly considered one of the classics from the enormous Disney back catalogue. It's release in 1996 resulted in moderate commercial success for Disney going on to gross over $300 million worldwide though in comparison to The Lion King, released two years earlier, grossing close to $1 billion, this was an underwhelming box-office return, along with generally positive reviews however, regardless of this, it seems to have become a 'forgotten classic.' It was released a time where Disney began exprimenting with 3D animation, so perhaps audiences were a little more demanding and longed for the more ground-breaking visual spectacle they were becoming more familar with (the film's release was sandwhiched between Toy Story (1995) and A Bug's Life (1998)).
I know the main critic of the film is that is drifts too far from the original source novel by Victor Hugo, though kudos must be given to Disney for attempting to bring a new, younger audience to the story, whilst still keeping certain dark (often pitch black!) themes to accompany the whimsy.
Given the initial premise of the story and characters you'd be forgiven for assuming the film would be nothing more than your standard Disney film, ticking off the conventions as they come along; you have the unnassured hero in Quasimodo, the love interest in the gypsy Esmerelda, love rival in Captain Phoebus, the villian in Lord Frollo and a trio of gargoyles providing the laughs. As well as this it features the usual musical numbers, some more memroable than the others (The Festival of Fools, a barn-storming, foot-tapping number).
However it is in the character of Lord Frollo (chillingly voiced by Tony Jay) where the film really packs its thematic punch. Lord Frollo is a man who is driven to near-insanity; torn between his faith and his lust for Esmerelda, and this is evident in the haunting Hellfire scene. Frollo sings (in a stunning vocal performance from Jay) how he is fearful of the 'spell' being cast on him by Esmerelda and begs for protection and forgiveness from God, before finally forcing her to submit to his lust or face an eternity in 'Hellfire'. It is a hugely powerful and uncharacteristly dark moment in Disney films, up their with Night on Bald Mountain from Fantasia and the terrifying donkey transformation scene from Pinnochio. The visuals and music work together perfectly to provide the best Disney villain song of all time, and arguably one of the best Disney songs of all time.
This scene, combined with the spectacular (Hell?)firey climax set atop of Notre Dame Cathedral allows this film to be more than a Disney film, but a Disney film with a light-hearted front but a pitch black inside, which deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia and The Lion King.
Do you agree/disagree? Do you have any other suggestions for future Missed Masterpieces?
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