THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1923)
According to Wikipedia, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME is the inaugural film in the storied Universal Horror film series. Lon Chaney plays Quasimodo in this famous silent-era film, the bell-ringer of Notre Dame besotted with the gypsy Esmeralda, while in the Court of Miracles the beggar king Clopin foments rebellion against Louis XI.
HUNCHBACK is famous for Chaney's makeup, which he applied himself, and the grand sets constructed in the Universal backlot to depict the famous Paris cathedral and its environs. The images of Quasimodo clambering up and down the outer face of the cathedral, swinging with his whole body to ring the cathedral bells, and capering with glee as he pours molten lead down on the heads of Our Lady's besiegers are indelible. The grand success of the film sparked the crazy idea that a successful film did not need to be anchored by gorgeous movie stars. The cultural impact is tremendous. I think part of what attracts me to classic horror is its literary pedigree. These are the adaptations of great stories, designed not to serve up the familiar, but to lead viewers on imaginative excursions deep into the unknown.
Universal Classic Horror Blog Series Rating:
4 - For everyone
3 - For horror fans only
2 - For classic horror fans only
1 - For Pete's sake
0 - Paging MST3K
HUNCHBACK is famous for Chaney's makeup, which he applied himself, and the grand sets constructed in the Universal backlot to depict the famous Paris cathedral and its environs. The images of Quasimodo clambering up and down the outer face of the cathedral, swinging with his whole body to ring the cathedral bells, and capering with glee as he pours molten lead down on the heads of Our Lady's besiegers are indelible. The grand success of the film sparked the crazy idea that a successful film did not need to be anchored by gorgeous movie stars. The cultural impact is tremendous. I think part of what attracts me to classic horror is its literary pedigree. These are the adaptations of great stories, designed not to serve up the familiar, but to lead viewers on imaginative excursions deep into the unknown.
Universal Classic Horror Blog Series Rating:
4 - For everyone
3 - For horror fans only
2 - For classic horror fans only
1 - For Pete's sake
0 - Paging MST3K