The Hunchback of Notre Dame *** (1996, voices of Tom Hulce, Demi Moore, Kevin Kline) – Classic Movie Review 2665

It’s perhaps a bold and surprise project to adapt the 1831 Victor Hugo classic into an animated feature. But directors Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise’s 1996 effort proves an effective, extremely well-done, highly entertaining Disney cartoon version of the Hugo novel, with appealing, strongly realised visuals.

The 34th animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, the film is produced by Don Hahn.

The odd, American choices for vocal cast in Tom Hulce (as the hunchback bell-ringer Quasimodo), Demi Moore (as Esmeralda) and Kevin Kline (as Phoebus) turn out pretty well too, though it’s very much a handpicked cast for American audiences. The film’s voice cast also features  Tony Jay, Paul Kandel, Jason Alexander, Charles Kimbrough, David Ogden Stiers, and Mary Wickes in her final film role.

Alan Menken’s original score and music, with lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, are a considerable, graceful asset. The pair collaborated on Pocahontas a year earlier.

The film is considered to be one of Disney’s darkest animated films as it explores such mature themes as infanticide, lust, damnation, genocide and sin. It was a hit, grossing over $325million worldwide and becoming the fifth highest-grossing release of 1996.

A direct-to-video sequel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame II, was released in 2002.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2665

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