The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939): Cast & Plot
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a 1939 drama horror film directed by William Dieterle, starring Charles Laughton as The Hunchback Quasimodo, Cedric Hardwicke and Harry Davenport. It runs 1 hour 57 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 57m (117 min)
- Director
- William Dieterle
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- RKO Radio Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Hunchback of Notre Dame About?
The premise of The Hunchback of Notre Dame without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Set in 1482 Paris, the zealous magistrate Claude Frollo, chief justice under King Louis XI, becomes obsessed with the captivating Romani dancer Esmeralda. Quasimodo, the deformed bell‑ringer of Notre‑Dame and Frollo’s reluctant protégé, lives among the cathedral’s bells until the magistrate drags him into a murderous plot to rid himself of Esmeralda, whom he blames for witchcraft.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- disability
- 15th century
- fool's day
- beggar
- cathedral
- pamphlet
- nobleman
- first time praying
- catholic church
- framed for murder
- innocent woman framed
- kingdom of france
+38 more Show fewer
- france
- house of valois
- belief in prayer
- reference to christopher columbus
- reference to johannes gutenberg
- social progress
- xenophobia
- changing times
- king of france
- gypsy dancer
- fugitive
- archdeacon
- physical deformity
- wedding
- prisoner
- corporal punishment
- reference to the hundred years' war
- murder weapon
- crime of passion
- magistrate
- zealot
- forced confession
- injustice
- sentenced to death
- clergy
- ringing a bell
- royal pardon
- freedom
- catholicism
- sedition
- free thinker
- gypsy woman
- unrequited love
- chief justice
- bellringer
- gypsy
- gallows
- lifting someone into the air
The Hunchback of Notre Dame Cast & Characters
Charles Laughton leads the cast as The Hunchback Quasimodo, with Cedric Hardwicke as Frollo and Harry Davenport as King Louis XI. Directed by William Dieterle; 79 actors are credited in all.
- Director William Dieterle
- Charles Laughton as The Hunchback Quasimodo
-
Cedric Hardwicke as Frollo - Harry Davenport as King Louis XI
-
Maureen O'Hara as Esmeralda
Also Starring in The Hunchback of Notre Dame
· 75 more- Richard Clayton Young Priest at Cathedral (uncredited)
- Thomas Mitchell Clopin
- Spencer Charters Court Clerk
- Edmond O'Brien Gringoire
- Alan Marshal Phoebus
- Minna Gombell Queen of Beggars
- Fritz Leiber Old Nobleman
- Cy Kendall Nobleman Signing Petition (uncredited)
- J. C. Fowler Nobleman (uncredited)
- Charles Halton Printer (uncredited)
- Curt Bois Student
- Kenner G. Kemp Townsman (uncredited)
- Frank Mills Beggar (uncredited)
- Charlie Hall Mercury (uncredited)
- Harry Cording Guard (uncredited)
- Ralph Dunn Soldier (uncredited)
Show all 79 cast members Show fewer cast members
- John George Townsman (uncredited)
- Dewey Robinson Butcher (uncredited)
- Nestor Paiva Man in Street When Gypsies Arrive (uncredited)
- Edmund Cobb Soldier (uncredited)
- George Zucco Procurator
- Victor Kilian Esmeralda's Hangman (uncredited)
- Jack Perrin Minor Role (uncredited)
- Lionel Belmore Judge at Esmeralda's Trial (uncredited)
- Russ Powell 'Ugly Man' Contestant #2 (uncredited)
- Theodore Lorch Minor Role (uncredited)
- Arthur Hohl Olivier
- George Tobias Beggar
- Charles Drake Young Priest (uncredited)
- Paul Newlan Whipper (uncredited)
- Hector V. Sarno Knight (uncredited)
- Ferdinand Munier Defense Attorney (uncredited)
- Tempe Pigott Madeleine (uncredited)
- Sig Arno Tailor
- Etienne Girardot Doctor
- Katharine Alexander Madame de Lys
- Eddie Bracken Soldier at Festival of Fools (uncredited)
- George Barrows Minor Role (uncredited)
- Margaret Seddon Older Sister (uncredited)
- Eddie Dew Minor Role (uncredited)
- Dick Dickinson Wooden-Leg Man (uncredited)
- Alexander Granach Soldier (uncredited)
- Vangie Beilby 'Ugly Man' Contestant #1 (uncredited)
- Barlowe Borland Dubois (uncredited)
- Norbert Schiller Saturn (uncredited)
- Rod La Rocque Phillippe
- Peter Godfrey Monk (uncredited)
- Rondo Hatton Ugly Man (uncredited)
- Arthur Millett Count Graville (uncredited)
- Kathryn Adams Fleur's Companion #1
- Gisela Werbisek Grandmother (uncredited)
- Louis Adlon Venus (uncredited)
- Walter Hampden Archdeacon
- Margaret McWade Younger Sister (uncredited)
- Helene Reynolds Fleur de Lys
- James Fawcett Festival Ball-Walker (uncredited)
- Eddie Abdo Singer (uncredited)
- Gretl Dupont Lissy (uncredited)
- Arthur Dulac Mars (uncredited)
- Billy Jones
- Frank Mazzola Child (uncredited)
- Harold DeGarro Stilt Walker (uncredited)
- Joseph P. Mack Workman in Play (uncredited)
- Ward Shattuck Festival Juggler (uncredited)
- Diane Hunter Fleur's Companion #2
- Lillian Nicholson Fleur's Servant (uncredited)
- Earl Clyde Juggler (uncredited)
- Ray Long Festival Skeleton Dancer (uncredited)
- Vallejo Gantner Merchant (uncredited)
- Alan Copeland Choirboy (uncredited)
- Alan Spear Festival Contortionist (uncredited)
- Angela Mulinos Helene (uncredited)
- Thom Fox Jupiter (uncredited)
- Edward Groag Moon (uncredited)
- Louis Zamperini Street Urchin (uncredited)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame Plot Summary
What happens in The Hunchback of Notre Dame from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the bustling city of Paris during the year 1482, Louis XI reigns over a city filled with vibrant life, deep-seated secrets, and looming darkness. The story centers around Maureen O’Hara as Esmeralda, a spirited and alluring Roma dancer whose charm and beauty captivate everyone she meets. She becomes a focal point of desire and obsession for several characters, each driven by their own motives. Among them is Charles Laughton as Quasimodo, a deformed but kind-hearted bell-ringer of Notre-Dame Cathedral, who is both feared and misunderstood by society. Also entangled in her fate is Cedric Hardwicke portraying Frollo, an archdeacon torn between his religious vows and an obsessive lust for Esmeralda.
Full summary
The whole story of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, scene by scene
The Hunchback of Notre Dame Trailers & Videos
3 videos: 2 trailers and 1 featurette.
- Trailer THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1939) trailer EnglSubt./S.T.Fr. (optional)
- Featurette Guillermo del Toro on “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1939)
How Well Do You Know The Hunchback of Notre Dame?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the main setting of the film?
Seen The Hunchback of Notre Dame?
Movies Like The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
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The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1923 -
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1956 -
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1911 -
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1982 -
The Hunchback 1997 -
Notre Dame de Paris 1999 -
The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1976 -
Quasimodo d’el Paris 1999 -
Notre Dame de Paris 2017 -
The Hunchback of Paris 1959 -
The Hunchback 1944 -
Esmeralda 1905
The Hunchback of Notre Dame FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Hunchback of Notre Dame?
The Hunchback of Notre Dame runs 1 hour 57 minutes (117 minutes).
When was The Hunchback of Notre Dame released?
The Hunchback of Notre Dame was released on August 31, 1939.
Who directed The Hunchback of Notre Dame?
The Hunchback of Notre Dame was directed by William Dieterle.
More films by William Dieterle Who is in the cast of The Hunchback of Notre Dame?
The Hunchback of Notre Dame stars Charles Laughton as The Hunchback Quasimodo, Cedric Hardwicke as Frollo and Harry Davenport as King Louis XI, among 79 credited actors.
Does The Hunchback of Notre Dame have a post-credit scene?
No. The Hunchback of Notre Dame has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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