SYNOPSIS: "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1923) is a silent film adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel, directed by Wallace Worsley and starring Lon Chaney in the iconic role of Quasimodo. Set in 15th century Paris, the story revolves around the deformed and kind-hearted bell ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral, Quasimodo, who falls in love with the beautiful Romani girl, Esmeralda, played by Patsy Ruth Miller. Esmeralda, a compassionate and free-spirited dancer, becomes entangled in a series of dramatic events involving Captain Phoebus, a handsome and gallant soldier, and the sinister archdeacon, Claude Frollo, portrayed by Nigel De Brulier. Frollo, consumed by his lust for Esmeralda, frames her for the attempted murder of Phoebus, leading to her arrest and sentencing to death. Quasimodo, who has been deeply touched by Esmeralda's kindness, rescues her from the gallows and offers her sanctuary within the cathedral. The film is noted for its elaborate set design, faithfully recreating the grandeur of medieval Paris, and Chaney's extraordinary makeup and performance, which brought the tragic figure of Quasimodo to life. The themes of unrequited love, social injustice, and the clash between personal desire and moral duty are poignantly explored, making "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" a landmark in early cinema and a poignant adaptation of Hugo's timeless tale.

PLOT Spoiler Alert: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) is set in 15th century Paris and centers around the life of Quasimodo, the bell ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral. Quasimodo, who is physically deformed and deaf due to his constant exposure to the loud bells, is shunned by society but finds solace within the walls of the cathedral. He is adopted and raised by the stern and self-righteous archdeacon, Dom Claude Frollo.

Esmeralda, a beautiful and kind-hearted gypsy dancer, captures the hearts of many, including the captain of the king's archers, Phoebus de Chateaupers, and Frollo himself. Frollo becomes consumed with lust and jealousy towards Esmeralda. In a desperate attempt to possess her, he orders Quasimodo to kidnap her. However, the plan is thwarted by Phoebus, who rescues Esmeralda and captures Quasimodo.

Esmeralda shows mercy towards Quasimodo during his public punishment of being flogged and left in the pillory. She offers him water, and he becomes deeply devoted to her in return. Meanwhile, Frollo's obsession grows, and he continues to plot against those who stand in his way.

Phoebus, despite being engaged to a noblewoman, is infatuated with Esmeralda.

During a secret meeting between the two, Frollo, driven by jealousy, stabs Phoebus and frames Esmeralda for the crime. Esmeralda is arrested and sentenced to death.

Quasimodo rescues Esmeralda from execution and hides her in the cathedral, invoking the right of sanctuary. The people of Paris, sympathetic to Esmeralda's plight, rally to protect her. However, Frollo manipulates the king into breaking the sanctuary law, and the authorities storm the cathedral.

In a climactic confrontation, Quasimodo defends Esmeralda, but she is ultimately captured and executed. Devastated, Quasimodo kills Frollo by throwing him off the cathedral's bell tower. The film ends with Quasimodo mourning over Esmeralda's body, symbolizing the tragic and unfulfilled love he had for her.

PRODUCTION: "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1923), produced by Universal Pictures with Carl Laemmle at the helm, was directed by Wallace Worsley. The screenplay, adapted from Victor Hugo's novel, was penned by Perley Poore Sheehan and Edward T. Lowe Jr. This film stands out for Lon Chaney's remarkable portrayal of Quasimodo. Known as "The Man of a Thousand Faces," Chaney designed his own makeup, including a 20-pound hump and facial prosthetics, to create his iconic and haunting character.

Universal's ambition for this film was monumental, featuring extravagant sets replicating medieval Paris and the Notre Dame Cathedral. With a budget of approximately $1.25 million, it was one of the era's most costly films. Long before production, Lon Chaney was the favorite to play Quasimodo. It was well-known in the industry that Chaney was eager for the role, even contemplating forming a company to produce the film abroad. By 1921, Chaney had acquired the rights and actively negotiated with Universal, even planning a potential collaboration with the German studio, Chelsea Pictures Company. However, these plans fell through, and Chelsea Pictures vanished.

Irving Thalberg aimed to elevate the film's artistic quality. He convinced Universal's founder, Carl Laemmle, to approve the production by pitching it as "a love story," leveraging Chaney's recent successes to gain approval. Universal Weekly formally announced the film in August 1922, with the scenario department and set plans underway. Chaney's ownership of the film rights afforded him significant artistic control, acting as an uncredited producer. Thalberg supported this arrangement to prevent cost-cutting on the artistic production. Although Chaney’s preferred director was Erich von Stroheim, Wallace Worsley was ultimately chosen, having successfully collaborated with Chaney on previous films.

Universal Weekly announced Worsley as the likely director in November, with confirmation following his clearance from Paramount. Filming started in January 1923 with the "Court of Miracles" scene, requiring several hundred extras.

Production required extensive sets, including the Notre Dame replica, and over 3,000 costumes for extras, taking six weeks to prepare. Worsley utilized a radio and loudspeaker system, costing $7,000, to direct large crowds, equivalent to $125,000 in 2024.

Filming concluded on June 8, 1923. Initially estimated at $750,000 to $1,000,000, the final cost was $1.25 million, making it the most expensive Lon Chaney film. His weekly salary was $2,500. Universal secured the Astor Theatre for the film's premiere on September 2, 1923, marking the culmination of this ambitious and artistically significant project.

RELEASE: ”The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1923) achieved major box office success and widespread acclaim for its exceptional production design, Lon Chaney's remarkable performance, and its faithful adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel. The film significantly enhanced Universal's reputation and cemented Chaney's status as a leading Hollywood star.

Critics were effusive in their praise. Motion Picture World lauded Chaney's portrayal of Quasimodo as "a marvel of sympathetic acting," noting how he evoked profound sympathy and admiration for the character. The New York Times recognized the film's strong production and artistic settings, despite its grim atmosphere, highlighting Chaney's dedication to making Quasimodo as repugnant as possible. Bioscope commended Chaney's "brilliantly conceived" movements and gestures, particularly during the climactic scenes, describing his performance as reaching the limit of grotesquery.

Photoplay emphasized the film's impressive spectacle and extraordinary settings, calling Chaney's performance "weird, almost repellent at times, but always fascinating." Exhibitors Trade Review echoed this sentiment, declaring Chaney's makeup as Quasimodo to be fantastically effective and unmatched in its grotesque realism.

However, not all reviews were entirely positive. Variety described the film as "a two-hour nightmare," criticizing its unrelenting misery and suggesting it might detract from box office appeal despite Chaney's commendable performance. In contrast, Harrison's Reports praised Chaney's unforgettable portrayal, asserting that his work would endure in memory long after other elements of the film had faded.

Overall, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" remains a milestone in cinematic history, celebrated for its artistic achievements and Chaney's unforgettable performance.

CAST:

• Lon Chaney as Quasimodo

• Patsy Ruth Miller as Esmeralda

• Norman Kerry as Phoebus de Chateaupers

• Kate Lester as Madame de Gondelaurier

• Winifred Bryson as Fleur de Lys

• Nigel De Brulier as Don Claude

• Brandon Hurst as Jehan

• Ernest Torrence as Clopin

• Tully Marshall as King Louis XI

• Harry von Meter as Monsieur Neufchatel

• Raymond Hatton as Gringoire

• Nick De Ruiz as Monsieur Le Torteru

• Eulalie Jensen as Marie

• Roy Laidlaw as Charmolu

• Ray Myers as Charmolu’s Assistant

• William Parke as Josephus

• Gladys Brockwell as Sister Gudule

• John Cossar as Judge of the Court

• Edwin Wallock as King’s Chamberlain

CREW:

• Director: Wallace Worsley

• Producers: Carl Laemmle

• Writers: Perley Poore Sheehan, Edward T. Lowe Jr. (screenplay), Victor Hugo (novel)

• Cinematographer: Robert Newhard

• Editor: Edward Curtiss, Maurice Pivar, Sydney Singerman

• Art Director: Elmer Sheeley, Sidney Ullman

Production Company: Universal Pictures
Distributor: Universal Pictures

Release Date: September 2, 1923
Country of Origin: United States
Running Time: 115 minutes
Budget: $1.25 million
Box Office $3.5 million

IMDB Rating =  7.2 / 10

TRIVIA: 

• To prevent thefts, Universal hired 50 detectives to mingle among the crowd.

• Many extras for the massive crowd scenes were recruited from downtown Los Angeles for $1.00 a night plus meals. Among them were a significant number of prostitutes who reportedly engaged in additional business on set.

• The film only survives in 16mm form due to poor-quality transfers, mainly preserved through Universal's "Show-At-Home" film rental library. 

• Approximately 10-15 minutes of footage remains missing.

• Lon Chaney's makeup for Quasimodo was his most extreme yet, involving a knotted wig, nose putty, cotton and flexible collodion, false teeth, and a plaster hump weighing about 20 pounds. 

• The application process took three hours each day of filming. 

• Lon Chaney spent three hours daily applying his makeup for the role. 

• Lon Chaney's dedication to realism caused him significant physical discomfort from his makeup and harness. 

• Lon Chaney earned $2,500 per week for his role in the film. 

• Shooting began in December 1922 and was completed in June 1923. 

• The film required a massive set spanning 19 acres. 

• Over 750 crew members were involved in the production. 

• Over 2,000 extras were outfitted in period costumes for the film. 

• The film included extensive night sequences that took two months to film. 

• The night sequences required 105 electricians, the largest number ever employed on one film at the time.  

• Lon Chaney's manager, Alfred Grasso, was instrumental in suggesting the story and key personnel for the film. 

• Lon Chaney's dentist, James L. Howard, helped make his false teeth for the film. 

• Lon Chaney personally guided Patsy Ruth Miller in her performance. 

• Priscilla Bonner and Marguerite De La Motte were considered for the role of Esmerelda before Patsy Ruth Miller was cast. 

• Lon Chaney's physical preparation for the role included interviews with people with physical deformities. 

• The film's extensive set construction included a cathedral set that stood until destroyed by fire in 1967. 

• The film's makeup and costumes were designed with meticulous attention to historical accuracy. 

• Lon Chaney's salary and bonuses for the film amounted to close to $60,000. 

• Lon Chaney's makeup included an external glass eye and a painful harness that fixed his shoulder to his hip. 

• The film was one of 18 productions shooting on the Universal lot at the time. 

• Lon Chaney's dedication to his role led to the use of innovative makeup techniques not seen before. 

• Lon Chaney's role was so innovative that it was copied by other actors for generations. 

"The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1923) remains a cinematic classic, celebrated for Lon Chaney's transformative performance and its monumental production, standing as a testament to early 20th-century filmmaking prowess.