The Hunchback Of Notre Dame 1996 Film
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (also known as The Bells of Notre Dame in some countries) is a 1996 animated feature produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released to theaters on June 21, 1996 by Walt Disney Pictures. The thirty-fourth animated feature in the Disney animated features canon, the film is loosely based on Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame. While the basic structure remains, the film differs greatly from its source material. The plot centers on the gypsy dancer, Esmeralda; Claude Frollo, a powerful and ruthless judge who lusts after her; Quasimodo, the protagonist, Notre Dame's kind-hearted but deformed bellringer, who adores her; and Phoebus, the chivalrous if irreverent military captain, who holds affections for her.
The film was produced by Don Hahn, and directed by Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale. The songs for the musical film were composed by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz and featured the voices of Tom Hulce, Demi Moore, Tony Jay, Kevin Kline, Paul Kandel, Jason Alexander, Charles Kimbrough, Mary Wickes and David Ogden Stiers. A direct-to-video sequel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame II, was released in 2002.
The movie opens in Paris with Clopin, a gypsy puppeteer, telling a group of children a story about the bellringer of Notre Dame ("The Bells of Notre Dame"): One night long ago, four gypsies tried to enter Notre Dame but were stopped by Judge Claude Frollo, the Minister of Justice. One gypsy woman, carrying a bundle, attempts to flee, but is caught and accidentally killed by Frollo. Frollo then realizes that her bundle is a deformed baby, which he attempts to drown; he is stopped by the Archdeacon, who tells him to care for the child to save his soul from Hell. He reluctantly agrees, naming the baby Quasimodo, "...which means 'half-formed.'".
Twenty years pass, and Quasimodo is now facially deformed and with a crooked back. For the past twenty years, Frollo has locked him in the belltower to "protect" him from the cruel and wicked world below. Quasi is watched over by his three guardian angels, in the form of stone gargyoles: Victor, Hugo (puns off of the name of the author of the origanal book) and Lavern. On January 6, the day of the "Festival of Fools", Frollo realizes Quasi's desire to join the crowd. Frollo warns about how the world will reject him, but Quasi dreams of joining them nevertheless ("Out There").
Meanwhile, Phoebus, Captain of the Guard, returns to Paris after helping "the war effort" for many years. He helps save a gypsy dancer, Esmeralda, from being arrested before meeting Frollo. Frollo tells of his plans to kill the gypsies in Paris by destroying their sanctuary, known as the Court of Miracles. As the Festival of Fools begins, the two of them head into town to join the crowd. At the same time, Quasi sneaks out of the tower in disguise and watches the Festival, where Clopin is performing ("Tospy Turvy").
Amidst the festivities, Quasi briefly meets the beautiful Esmeralda and is fascinated by her. When she dances on stage, Phoebus is fascinated as well, and Frollo is seduced yet disgusted. When the time comes to crown the ugliest member of the crowd as the King of Fools, Quasi is chosen and then crowned (the humorous behavior of the crowd leads Quasi to think he is being honored). Moments later, the crowd ties him down and throws food at him. Despite Quasi's appeals for help, Frollo does nothing, much to the disgust of Esmeralda, who saves Quasi from the crowd before disappearing into Notre Dame. Frollo orders a city-wide search for Esmeralda, believing she is a witch, while an ashamed Quasi promises never to disobey Frollo again.
Phoebus flirts with Esmeralda in Notre Dame, although her pet goat Djali doesn't approve. Frollo finds her but is unable to act because she has claimed sanctuary and is supported by the Archdeacon. While alone, Esmeralda sings of a better world for the gypsies ("God Help the Outcasts"). She then finds Quasi in the bell tower, and Quasi falls in love with her because she is kind to him. He helps her escape Notre Dame before singing of his love for her ("Heaven's Light").
Meanwhile, Frollo is disturbed by his own lust for Esmeralda and fears eternal damnation as a consequence ("Hellfire"). When informed that Esmeralda has escaped, he goes hunting for her around the suburbs. He and his guards begin burning down houses and assaulting people who they suspect of harboring gypsies. Phoebus intervenes during one of these inquisitions and is shot by Frollo's soldiers. Left by Frollo for dead, Phoebus is saved surreptitiously by Esmeralda. Meanwhile, in the cathedral, the gargoyles reassure Quasi that Esmeralda return his love ("A Guy Like You"). Moments later, Esmeralda arrives and asks Quasi to keep Phoebus safe; he dislikes Phoebus but agrees out of love for Esmeralda. He is then heartbroken at the obvious affection they display toward one another.
That night, Frollo arrives and tells Quasi that he is going to storm the Court of Miracles the next morning with one thousand soldiers. Quasi and Phoebus venture out and find the Court, but are believed to be spies and are captured by Clopin and the gypsy guard ("The Court of Miracles"). Their "trial" and execution is stopped by Esmeralda, but Frollo, having followed Quasi to the Court with soldiers arrives at the same time. Frollo orders Quasi to be locked in the belltower and arrests everyone else, announcing that Esmeralda will be burned at the stake the following day.
The next day, to the seeming disgust of the large crowd, Frollo is preparing to burn Esmeralda in front of the cathedral. Quasi, his determination restored by the encouragement of the gargoyles, breaks free of his chains and snatches her from the pyre, taking her up to the belltower and claiming sanctuary. Phoebus and the arrested gypsies break free, incite the citizenry against Frollo's unjust rule, and together storm Notre Dame against Frollo's men. In the confusion, Frollo manages to break into the cathedral where he finds Quasi weeping over the unconscious Esmeralda. Frollo attempts to kill Quasi, promising to "end his pain," but Quasi fights back.
Quasi and the semi-conscious Esmeralda escape onto the balcony, and Frollo follows. Frollo corners them and is raising his sword to kill them both when the gargoyle he is standing on fractures, and Frollo plummets to the burning city below. Quasi falls from the tower himself, but is caught and saved by Phoebus. Quasi then "gives his blessing" to Esmeralda and Phoebus's relationship. The three of them exit the cathedral triumphantly, but the crowd is still wary of Quasi because of his appearance. When a young girl shows no fear of him, the crowd accepts and honors him with a spontaneous parade, while Clopin sings a reprise of "The Bells of Notre Dame."
