I saw this BBC made but released as a Hallmark Hall of Fame Production when I was twelve years old. Warren Clarke was excellent as Quasimodo though not as ugly as some. His performance was very much like Anthony Quinn. Miss Newell turned in a good performance. A little inexperienced at that time as an actress (she later went on to play most famous Cleopatra of all in the British miniseries The Cleopatras)is not as sexy as some of the past Esmeraldas. She looked like a teenager which Esmeralda was in the book fifteen years of age. Maureen O'Hara was in her late teens when she took on the role. Salma Hayak was in her twenties. Lesley Ann Down and Gina Lollobrigida were 29 and 30 when they took over the part. Silent film star Patsy Miller also made a very young Esmeralda. Haigh's Frollo is a perfect villain. Anyone who enjoys a faithful rendition should see or possibly obtain a copy of this film it is worth it. In my opinion this production compares favorably in faithfulness to the novel with the 1957 Anthony Quinn and Gina Lollobrigida film and with the French Movie musical Notre Dame De Paris. Here comes the spoiler unlike the Charles Laughton,Anthony Hopkins and Silent film star Lon Chaney Senior films, this film is true to the novel THERE ARE NO HAPPY ENDINGS FOR THE MAIN CHARACTERS. Hallmark,PBS,BBC most of the time released excellent productions of literary classics and I hope and pray that more of them become available on DVD through film/TV archives or from rare film collectors. This version of the timeless classic is a rare treat!
Review of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
