Disney Renaissance Month - The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

         Hey guys, Chuck here, and I hope you guys enjoyed the weekend. I, myself, got to enjoy the big football game yesterday, which was a lot of fun for me. Anyway, we're back with more Disney Renaissance Month, and today takes us to the year 1996. Now, while 1995's Pocahontas was decent, but weighed down by historical inaccuracies, the film Disney followed it up with had a different problem: the dark nature of the source material. The Hunchback of Notre Dame was directed by Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale, who return after having worked on the critically acclaimed Beauty and the Beast, and is based on the French novel of the same name by Victor Hugo. 

       The movie is set in Paris, more specifically in and around the cathedral of Notre Dame. The story is introduced to us by a local jester named Clopin, who tells of the tale of the mysterious bell ringer of Notre Dame. According to the story, one cold, dark night, a group of terrified Romani were being snuck into Paris, only to fall into a trap set out by the local Minister of Justice, Judge Claude Frollo. Frollo is a deeply religious man, devoted to the law, who harbors an intense hatred towards the Romani, or as he (and the film) frequently refers to them by the racially insensitive term of "Gypsies." While arresting the group of Romani, one of them is caught with a bundle that she's very protective of. Assuming the bundle to be stolen goods, Frollo orders the bundle confiscated, leading the woman to flee. She eventually makes her way to the steps of the cathedral, and knocks on the door pleading for sanctuary within the walls of Notre Dame. Unfortunately, it's too late as Frollo has caught up with her and nabs the bundle, knocking the woman back so hard, she breaks her back and neck on the steps of the cathedral and dies. Hearing the cry of a baby from the bundle, Frollo looks upon the child, and is horrified by what he sees, deeming it a monster. Frollo attempts to drown the infant in a well, only to be stopped by the Archdeacon. Despite his attempts to justify his actions, the Archdeacon warns Frollo of his spilling of innocent blood, and how despite all his words, he can't hide his evil actions from "the eyes of Notre Dame." Fearing for his immortal soul, Frollo asks what to do, and the Archdeacon tells him to raise the child as his own. Frollo agrees, on the condition that the child lives in the bell tower of the Cathedral. As the years go on, the boy grows into the hunchbacked bell ringer of Notre Dame (the hunch being due to kyphosis), whom Frollo named Quasimodo. 

           Cut to twenty years later, and Quasimodo is a kind hearted young man, despite his physical appearance, and dreams of one day leaving his bell tower and walking among the streets of Paris. Especially on this particular day, as it's the day of the Festival of Fools, which is a celebration he has always wanted to attend. Despite encouragement to do so from his gargoyle friends Victor, Hugo, and Laverne, it's ultimately Frollo who forbids Quasimodo from doing so, in spite of attending the Festival himself due to his station as a public official. Meanwhile, in the streets of Paris, we see group of Romani, including a woman named Esmeralda, performing for passersby. Unfortunately, two guards attempt to arrest Esmeralda for the gold she earned, but they are stopped by Captain Phoebus, who has been summoned to the Palace of Justice to meet with Frollo, who has sought the services of Phoebus to help find the mysterious Court of Miracles, which is an underground haven for the Romani. 

          Frollo and Phoebus attend the Festival,which Quasimodo sneaks out of the cathedral to attend as well. It's here we see Esmeralda dancing for the crowd, which leads to the choosing of a new King of Fools (which in real life was actually referred to by names like "Pope of Fools"). Many try and are booed by the crowd, but they are horrified by Quasimodo...at least, at first they are. Ultimately, they get excited and crown him as King of Fools. However, the guards toss tomatoes, cabbage, and eggs at him, tying him to a wheel, causing humiliation on him. Ultimately, it's Esmeralda who takes pity and sets Quasimodo free, despite being told not to by Frollo. Esmeralda throws the guards for a loop and disappears. Quasimodo, still upset over the ordeal, runs into the cathedral and isolates himself once more. 

       Esmeralda, along with her pet goat Djali, have snuck into the cathedral, and Phoebus follows them to make peace and introduce himself to her. Initially, she doesn't trust him to not arrest her, which he reveals that he can't do as long as she's inside of the cathedral. In spite of Frollo's demands that she be dragged outside and arrested, regardless of Phoebus' claims that Esmeralda claimed Sanctuary, the ordeal is stopped by the Archdeacon, who sends Frollo, Phoebus, and the guards away. Esmeralda, taking solace in the sanctuary she has within the church, prays for God to help her people, in quite possibly one of the most beautiful song moments of the movie with the song "God Help the Outcasts." The sheer imagery, the lighting within the church, and Esmeralda's voice, all add up to one of my favorite moments of the movie. 

       Quasimodo ends up spotted, and hurries up to the bell tower, with Esmeralda and Djali in tow. Esmeralda and Quasimodo spend the next several moments getting to know each other, and learning that both are more than what men like Frollo deem them to be. Quad helps sneak Esmeralda out of the cathedral,.and she leaves him with a woven band, which we'll get to later. Quasimodo returns to the bell tower, where he is greeted by Phoebus, who is sent away by Quasimodo. Departing, despite meaning no harm to anyone, Phoebus tells Quasimodo that Esmeralda's lucky to have him as a friend, and to tell her that. Quasimodo returns to the bell tower, and carves small wooden replica of Esmeralda, feeling love for the enigmatic Roma woman. Frollo, meanwhile, finds himself at odds with his morals and his devotion to God. Why? Well, much like how Quasimodo feels love for Esmeralda, Frollo feels lust for Esmeralda. And let's be clear, "God Help the Outcasts" was one of the most beautiful scenes in the movie, with one of the most beautiful songs in the movie. However, "Hellfire" is one of the best scenes/songs in the movie simply for its dark nature, gothic atmosphere, and the sheer vocal prowess of Tony Jay. Seriously, guys like Jonathan Young and the Nostalgia Critic all love this song, and so do I, you guys. So do I. 

       Anyway, Frollo is informed of Esmeralda's escape, and he and his men sweep through the city, arresting Romani hiding across the city, much to the disapproval of Phoebus, who eventually takes a stand when Frollo orders him to burn the home of a local miller, which he refuses as it goes against his training to never harm the innocent. Frollo burns the miller's house, anyway, and Phoebus rushes inside to save the miller and his family. Frollo then orders Phoebus to be executed for insubordination, but he escapes into the river. Unfortunately, he is wounded by an arrow, and is rescued by Esmeralda and taken to safety in Quasimodo's bell tower. 

       Speaking of Quasimodo, what's he been up to? Well, he hangs around the bell tower, hoping for good news regarding Esmeralda. His gargoyle friends,. ultimately, try to raise his spirits by pointing out that he's one of a kind, and Esmeralda would be lucky to have him. And after the gargoyles have their own little song, which is unquestionably a Big Lipped Alligator Moment, Esmeralda arrives to aks Quasimodo to shelter Phoebus, and she tends to his wounds with a bottle of burgundy. Seeing how Esmeralda looks at Phoebus, Quasimodo realizes she will never love him. However, he still looks after Phoebus and hides him from Frollo,.who berates him for helping Esmeralda, and leading all of Paris to burn in the process. Frollo then warns that he's located the Court of Miracles, and will march upon it with a thousand men. 

        Realizing what they must do, Quasimodo and Phoebus use the woven band given to Quasimodo by Esmeralda before. Remembering her words, Quasimodo realizes that woven upon the band is a map of Paris, and it will lead to the Court of Miracles. Ultimately, the two allies find it, and are set up on by Clopin and a handful of Roma, who seek to hang the pair. However, they are stopped by Esmeralda, who recognizes them as friends. Phoebus warns that Frollo is coming, and Esmeralda orders an evacuation. Unfortunately, Frollo DID follow Quasimodo and Phoebus, has everyone arrested, and Quasimodo chained up to the pillars in the upper areas of Notre Dame. 

         Frollo has Esmeralda tied to a stake, where he threatens to burn her is she doesn't give herself to him. Refusing, Esmeralda's Fate is sealed, and Frollo sets the flame. Quasimodo breaks his chains and swings into the Plaza, freeing Esmeralda and declaring sanctuary for her. Phoebus breaks free, and sets both the Roma and the citizens of Paris free to stand against Frollo and the guards. A massive fight ensues, with Quasimodo and the gargoyles fending off the guards from up high, unleashing a torrent of molten lead onto the streets. Frollo, finally fed up, violates the sanctity of the cathedral, and goes to finish off both Quasimodo and Esmeralda. Now, I should point out that Frollo had stated that Quasimodo's mother (the Roma woman he killed earlier in the movie) had abandoned him. But now, with the gloves off, Frollo reveals that she ACTUALLY died trying to protect Quasimodo from Frollo, much as he's willing to do to protect Esmeralda. Quasimodo nearly falls, but is saved by Esmeralda. Frollo readies his sword, let's out the now legendary line "And he shall smite the wicked and plunge them into the fiery pit," but finds himself falling into the molten lead below. Quasimodo, who also falls, is saved by Phoebus, and he accepts both Phoebus and Esmeralda as a couple. The two greet the people of Paris, and bring Quasimodo to meet the people properly. Initially afraid, the people accept Quasimodo, and he happily goes with them around the city of Paris. 

      Okay, so let's just say that The Hunchback of Notre Dame is easily one of the darkest films released in the Disney Renaissance, and it has lost of both dark overtones and religious overtones, which was quite risky for Disney at the time. Top that off with the film being released just after Pocahontas, the movie didn't quite get much chance to. However, it's definitely gotten a bigger following over the years, and it's gotten much more popular as time has passed. 

     The voice cast of the movie is fantastic, with Tom Hulce really good as Quasimodo. He definitely brings an innocence to his performance and is terrific. Both Demi Moore and Kevin Kline are fantastic as Esmeralda and Phoebus, and their chemistry is just fantastic. Tony Jay is absolutely fantastic as Frollo, and he is easily the darkest Disney villain of all time. Yes, darker than even the mistress of all evil herself, Maleficent. I also enjoyed the performances of both Paul Kandel and David Odgen Stiers as Clopin and the Archdeacon, respectively. Ultimately, the three weakest points of the movie are Charles Kimbrough, Jason Alexander, and Mary Wickes as the three gargoyles. Now, I enjoyed them as a kid, and it was great getting to have George Costanza from Seinfeld doing voice work in a Disney movie. But, as I have grown up, I found them to be a distraction, and not a very good one. However, I should point out that this was Mary Wickes' final film, as she died a year before the film's release. 

      The music, aside from the two songs I talked about earlier in the review, is fantastic. Alan Menken did Stephen Schwartz reunite from working together on Pocahontas, and they deliver a genuinely kickass soundtrack. Songs like "The Bells of Notre Dame," "Topsy Turvy," and "Out There" are all bonafide classics. "God Help the Outcasts" was truly a beautiful piece of music, and "Hellfire" was truly fantastic in the pantheon of Disney villain songs. Heck, this would mark the LAST Disney villain song until "Friends on the Other Side" from The Princess and the Frog in 2009. 

         So, with stellar animation, a fantastic soundtrack, and an incredible voice cast, it's unfortunate that the dark nature of the story made it difficult for many to gravitate towards this movie. It's great that it has such a strong following now, and I'm glad that people are enjoying it. I'm giving The Hunchback of Notre Dame a rating of 4.65/5. 

      Alrighty guys, this is Chuck signing off. Disney Renaissance Month will continue this Thursday when we take a look at the third Disney Renaissance flick from Ron Clements and John Musker: Hercules.