Disney’s ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ is too sanitized

Victor Hugo’s masterpiece, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, is one of the best books ever written (read review here), and the cinematic adaptations throughout the years have been stellar (notably the one starring Lon Chaney). In 1996, Disney tried its hand at the classic tale of the deformed bell-ringer of Paris’s famous cathedral. The results are enjoyable, but far too sanitized. All the dark nuances of the source material are lost. There is little comment on religion, politics, society or class. Quasimodo, voiced by Tom Hulce, has become an adorable clown, worthy of laughs and “aww, shucks” moments. But in the original, he is a darkly menacing creature cast from society.

One of the reasons for the watering down of the novel is likely that the target audience for the Disney movie is so young. You rightly can’t make Frollo (voiced by Tony Jay) an overbearing archbishop who uses his religious powers to exact revenge. But stripping this character of all his religiosity seems like a change gone too far. Esmeralda (voiced by Demi Moore) is probably the one character truest to the original.

Morphing the gargoyles of Notre Dame into the funny sidekicks of Quasimodo is a change I appreciated. Jason Alexander voices Hugo (a nod to Victor), and the jokes are childlike and funny.

The best part of the 91-minute animated film is the original songs by Alan Menken. From the opening sequence of “The Bells of Notre Dame” to the festive “Topsy Turvy,” the wonderful music lights up the screen. This movie deserves a stage adaptation.  The most touching song is Quasimodo’s “Out There.”

With a little more darkness thrown into the ebullient light, this Hunchback could have soared. Instead, it’s given the “kid’s treatment,” and the results are OK, but far from compelling.

• The Hunchback of Notre Dame

• 1996

• Directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise

• Written by Tab Murphy, Irene Mecchi, Bob Tzudiker, Noni White, Jonathan Roberts and Will Finn; based on the novel by Victor Hugo

• Original songs by Alan Menken

• Starring the voice talents of Tom Hulce, Tony Jay, Jason Alexander and Demi Moore

• Running time: 91 minutes

• Rated G

• Bubble score: 3 out of 4

• Click here to purchase The Hunchback of Notre Dame on DVD.