The Hunchback of Notre Dame

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Jay W Before Lon Chaney Jr. Became the Wolfman, Lon Chaney Sr. Was becoming a horror movie icon with his silent film performances. Daddy Chaney starred as the Phantom in "The Phantom of the Opera" and Quasimodo in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". Both of these classic silent films have been remade several times and have become more famous as musicals. But today, we look at the original big screen adaptation of Victor Hugo's story. This is one of those movies where you have to preface just about every praise with the qualifier: "For its time.". Really, it's a miracle that this film has survived for over 100 years. As you watch it on any streaming service you get that idea that the original film this is being played on is set to fall apart any second. This was an ambitious project. Due to the limitations of the time, the silent films typically have an easy to follow story with little dialogue and easily recognizable conflicts. Hunchback has more going on in its story than say, Charlie Chaplin trying to impress a girl. Don't get me wrong, a big portion of this story is trying to impress a girl, but there is a lot more to it. Consequently, the viewer really has to give this silent movie their full attention. And when I say silent, I mean silent, there was absolutely no music backing in the version I watched. Ir becomes a situation where I ask, does this even count as a movie? It is more a visual novel than a movie. I respect the film for what it was trying to do, and it may make an entertaining backdrop for a Halloween party. But I can't recommend sitting down and watching the full thing. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 11/20/24 Full Review Liam D One of the first adaptations of the Victor Hugo’s novel and the one that leads the most into horror. It still holds up 101 years later Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/22/24 Full Review Teddy B Wallace Worsley's direction isn't anything to really write home about but, admit it, Lon Chaney carries this film on his hunched back and into the stratosphere. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/12/24 Full Review Audience Member By far the best silent film I've seen. Love it! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Ethan S An enjoyable if a little overlong film. I haven't read the book, but it seems to me the filmmakers may have played up the bit about class struggle - there are definite shades of the French Revolution that seem a little anachronistic for the 15th century (though I realize the novel was also written well after the revolution also). Coming out in 1923 just as the Soviet Union emerged from its own revolution and civil war, I wonder if the filmmakers were not attempting some form of social commentary. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/22 Full Review Audience Member Not quite as iconic as other films of thebtime its still great. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/12/21 Full Review Read all reviews

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

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