This new Kino Blu-Ray marks the fourth time that I have written a review of the 1923 Lon Chaney movie THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. I wrote my first review in 1999 about the Image Entertainment DVD which was the first quality release. It featured a speed corrected print that had been tinted and a cobbled together score of Medieval music which was surprisingly effective. Then in 2007, Image upgraded their older version with a better picture and a score composed by Donald Hunsberger and called it the “ULTIMATE EDITION”. In 2015, Flicker Alley issued the 2007 version on Blu-Ray.
There appears to be only one circulating print for HUNCHBACK which is sourced from the late David Shepard’s Blackhawk Films Collection. I say this because every version I’ve seen always lists Tully Marshall as “El Rey Luis XI” just like in the Shepard print instead of “King Louis XI” . Each new release has been an upgrade of the 1999 version but unfortunately doesn’t use that version’s Medieval music score which remains the most effective. The Donald Hunsberger score is good in and of itself but seems too lightweight for the dramatic goings on, however the Kino score by Nola Kroll-Rosenbaum & Laura Karpman comes in a close second to the Medieval score .
Lon Chaney remains a marvel as Quasimodo, fully inhabiting the character beneath the makeup and the natural speed transfer restores his performance to what it should be. Patsy Ruth Miller is a sincere Esmeralda, Norman Kerry is in training for his PHANTOM OF THE OPERA role and veteran silent heavy Brandon Hurst is a despicable villain. Ernest Torrence is a striking Clopin while Gladys Brockwell makes the most of her brief but key madwoman part. The large scale medieval sets and vast army of extras also continue to inspire almost 100 years later. Those sets remained in use on the Universal backlot for over 40 years until a fire destroyed them in 1967.
This print, like all the others, is derived from a 16mm home entertainment edition which cut the film from 133 minutes to 110 minutes. This was done to remove more violent scenes like Quasimodo’s complete whipping and Esmeralda’s torture. There are other bits and pieces missing including Gladys Brockwell’a title card as Sister Gudule, Esmeralda’s revenge obsessed mother. After undergoing a 4K scan, this print is easily the best looking by far but still isn’t perfect and never will be. Extras include commentary from critic Farran Smith Nehme, a booklet by Chaney expert Michael F. Blake, and more.
The Capsule Critic 