The Hunchback of Notre Dame *** (1982, Anthony Hopkins, Lesley-Anne Down, Derek Jacobi, John Gielgud, Robert Powell, David Suchet) – Classic Movie Review 2667

Taking a trick or two out of Charles Laughton’s book, Anthony Hopkins greatly impresses as the hunchback Notre Dame Cathedral bellringer Quasimodo in director Michael Tuchner’s lavish, starry and highly entertaining 1982 British-based TV movie version of the Victor Hugo classic.

The fine cast of British acting worthies brings a lot of added value and conviction to proceedings. John Gay’s script makes a good job of providing the actors with speakable and intelligent lines and cuts a nice swathe through Hugo’s complex plotting. It is well worth seeking out.

Also in the cast are Lesley-Anne Down as Esmeralda, Derek Jacobi (as Dom Claude Frollo), John Gielgud (as Charmolue), Robert Powell (as Phoebus), David Suchet (as Clopin Trouillefou), Gerry Sundquist (as Pierre Gringoire), Tim Pigott-Smith, Nigel Hawthorne, Rosalie Crutchley, David Kelly, Alan Webb and Roland Culver.

The cinematographer is Alan Hume, the producer is Norman Rosemont and the score is by Kenneth Thorne.

This is Alan Webb’s last film. John Gielgud has only eight lines. The Quasimodo makeup took five hours to apply so Hopkins had to arrive on the set at 3 am.

Gerry Sundquist’s  career and personal life went into steep decline after 1984, later developing a drug problem, and in 1993 he committed suicide by jumping under a train at Norbiton railway station, UK, aged 37.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2667

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