Allied Artists
Directed by Jean Delannoy
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(DVD, Miramax)
Anthony Quinn is Quasimodo and Gina Lollobrigida the gypsy Esmeralda in the first French version of the famous Victor Hugo novel and the most faithful adaptation. The story is familiar by now: Esmeralda is accused of murder and is given refuge in Notre Dame cathedral by Quasimodo. He is in love with her, but it is unrequited due to his grotesque features. She is in love with a womanizing soldier, while a cleric at the cathedral is in love with her. It all comes to a head in the dramatic finale. Unfortunately the film seems to flounder in epic excesses: the Carnival of Fools scene goes on far too long, as does Gina's seductive dance. Quinn overacts as usual and his makeup is ineffective. While it may not live up to expectations, it is good escapist entertainment, just not what Hugo may have intended.
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