Like many reviewers, I first saw this version as a child and even as a kid I was not impressed. It looked positively low budget compared to the Charles Laughton version (I didn’t see the Lon Chaney version until many years later) and Anthony Quinn was certainly no Charles Laughton. Of course I saw it on a small black and white TV in what would have been the equivalent of pan and scan and I was unfamiliar with Anthony Quinn’s celebrated appearance in Fellini’s LA STRADA which he draws on heavily for his performance of Quasimodo. Now that Miramax has released this film on DVD in a 45th anniversary edition that restores the original Cinemascope ratio and with the vivid color photography intact (note the costumes against the drab Parisian sets) then it becomes a very different film and one that has surprising staying power.
Of all the film versions that I have seen, this one comes the closest to matching Victor Hugo’s book although it is not a faithful adaptation by any means. In France and Europe it is known as NOTRE DAME DE PARIS, the book’s original title which tells you that the emphasis won’t completely be on Quasimodo and how ugly he is but on the cathedral and other characters. Gina Lolabrigida is too old for Esmerelda but in her vivid red dress and olive complexion (she looks much more like Bizet’s CARMEN) it’s easy to see why men are “bewitched” by her. Quinn comes across as a mildly deformed version of Zampano the strongman which works well enough within the overall context of the film once you get past his not being as ugly as Laughton or Chaney. The acting honors go to Alain Cuny as a truly tormented Claude Frollo (not a priest but an alchemist in this version) and to Jean Tissier as a crafty Louis XI.
The major problem with this version is that not only is the English dubbing irritating, it’s downright uninspired (it was released in this country by Allied Artists who were known for their low budget movies). Gina and Anthony are fine of course, Cuny too but the rest of the cast spout banal 1950s dialogue in accents as French as the 4th of July. This frequently places the film on the level of an Italian spear and sandal epic like Steve Reeves’ HERCULES. The actor dubbing Clopin is especially grating as his voice never changes its tone. I’m sure that the original French soundtrack would not only sound more natural but would draw us more into the story as well. Too bad it isn’t on this DVD. Nevertheless if you’ve never seen this version and want something more than an ugly Quasimodo, then it is well worth seeking out especially for the powerful and effective ending.
The Capsule Critic 