The Hunchback of Notredame (1939)

The Hunchback of Notredame (1939)

Charles Laughton - The Hunchback

Maureen O'Hara -- Esmerelda

Edmund O'Brien - Grigoire

Sir Cecil Hardwicke - Frollo

Fear of gypsies. Fear why? Because they were nomads? What bigotry when most of the inhabitants of France came from somewhere else. "You came yesterday, we come today."

An exciting time in Paris. The King as arrived for a visit and so have the gypsies. At the time, Paris consisted of a small island in the middle of the Seine that was dominated by the cathedral Notre Dame. That island is now "Isle de la Cité" (The Island of the City) and Paris encompasses so much more area surrounding that island. "I've observed in all my travels...the earth is flat. It is flat!" Says the doctor as the visiting King comments that he's interested in investing in the travels of Columbus.

The gypsies entertain the people. Not unlike traveling carnivals of today. During the celebration they are looking for someone to crown the "King of Fools." As the gypsy Esmarelda dances, she sees the eye of one observing her. That one? The Hunchback. Deaf from the bells of the church that he rings. Seeing him, the crowd crowns him "King of Fools," then parades him through the streets until the Priest ends the celebration to take Quasimodo, his charge, back to the solitary life in the church.

The dancer Esmerlda is on a mission to speak to the king. When she tries to speak to him, the police call out to arrest her since she is a gypsy. Her first instinct is to run to the church for the protection of sanctuary. While being taken to her protector, she takes the time to pray for protection. Her prayer is not for herself but the unselfish prayer for those in need, "Help my people. They are in great danger."

There are actually two principals at the church, the chief justice and the priest; moreover, they are brothers. One evil the other good. Evident not only by the plot but also symbolized by good brother wearing white while the evil brother wears black. The evil brother seeks to rid the church of Esmerelda. He has no grace or mercy in his heart but destruction. His desire is to destroy her and her people. He says because they are wicked when in truth it's because he is struggling with his own sinful passion.

While praying, she is overheard by the King. He who she is praying for an audience with. He promises to send her his answer to Notre Dame. Unfortunately, she cannot leave the church because she is living there in sanctuary. When she attempts to leave, the evil priest catches her begging her not to leave. Not for her own good but because of his own lusts. When she escapes his clutches, he sends Quasimodo after her.

She has left the sanctuary of the church because in that sanctuary is a danger worse than the police of the city. Immediately he sends Quasimodo after her. He captures her only to have her rescued by Captain Phoebus. Gringoire challenges Phoebus for her love but is rebuffed. He runs only to find an underworld. An city below the city. "Bow down! You are standing before the King of Beggars!" "Do you know where you are?" "The court of miracles."

Now, both Gringoire and Esmerelda have found refuge in this underworld. "Good intentions are not good enough. They haven't put an onion in a pot of soup yet!" When Gringoire fails the test as a thief, he is to be hung, unless one of the girls will marry him. To his rescue comes...Esmeralda.

Meanwhile, Quasimodo continues to search and return her to sanctuary. Unfortunately, before his is successful, he is taken into custody. After his capture, Quasimodo is sentenced to 40 lashes for disturbing the peace and an additional hour of exposure to the hot sun on the pillory. The crowd throws fruit, vegetables and trash at him. It is a hot day and, to the laughter of the crowd, he cries out for water. His benefactor the chief justice, comes to look but merely rides away. Who has mercy on him? Esmeralda. While the crowd laughs, she brings him water from her own flask. Fearing hatred he recoils until he understands her compassion and he then he freely drinks her water. He was already in love with her, now he is truly indebted to her.

She remains in the company of the "thieves" for safety. When she dances for them, Phoebus is watching closely. He takes her off to woo her. Unbeknownst to them, Frollo has seen where they've run off to. During their love making, Phoebus is murdered and Esmeralda is accused. "I have killed a man out of the love of a woman who has bewitched me." Frollo confesses his murderous act to his brother. His plan is to be rid of Esmeralda through her conviction.

She is subject to trial and torture but the decision is a result similar to drawing lots. The decision is against her so when she is lead to the gallows, Quasimodo climbs from his bell tower to rescue her and, for a second time carries her off, this time to safety crying "Sanctuary" as he carries her to the bell tower. We are further enlightened to Quasimodo's life as he talks at Esmeralda. "Eat, eat. I am going away so that you don't have to see my ugly face when you eat." "I never realized 'til now how ugly I am, because you are so beautiful. I'm not a man, I'm not a beast." As he cries, Esmeralda looks on with a pity filled with gratefulness. "Why did you save me?" she asks. Referring to his previous attempt, he answers, "I tried to carry you off and the next day you gave me a little water and pity." Esmeralda begins to understand that Quasimodo is not repulsive rather a poor misshapen soul. When excited, he makes beautiful music with his bells. "Big Marie! She made me deaf you know."

One day Quasimodo offers Esmeralda a bird in a cage. It's then that she is reminded that she, too is a caged bird, unable to be free. Quasimodo loves her yet is unable to share that love. They are two caged animals; one a prisoner of the law the other a prisoner of his unrequited love.

"Why was I not made of stone like these?" was Quasimodo's question, further lamentation upon the fact that the unlovely are rejects and most likely left to live a lonely life. The church of that time was filled with superstitions. This movie reveals them all. The despair of those who are unlovely, the reviled outcast is is disturbing yet exists even in today's society.

The lovely, redheaded Irish Maureen O'Hara dreamed of a career in the classical theatre and in opera. This was all changed when Charles Laughton "discovered" her in a screen test. He cast her in his moving "Jamaica Inn." Her next film was this one, the one which led to her success. By the time she was 19, she had already starred in two major motion pictures. Starting on top and remaining there today. This film was both Maureen O'Hara and Edmund O'Brien's American film debut.

If you are a credit watcher as I am, you know the name Westmore. The Westmores were the makeup dynasty in films spanning generations. Laughton was a perfectionist when it came to the makeup and costumes. In spite of it being done by Perc Westmore, Laughton argued about his makeup daily.

In today's Paris, Notre Dame still stands proudly on Île de la Cité. Across the river also stands, a 17th century building housing the Hotel Esmeralda. Twelve of the rooms look out onto the majestic cathedral as well as the oldest chapel in Paris, St. Julien le Pauvre.

Gay Divorcée (1934) - The first film written specifically for Rogers and Astaire

Guy Holden - Fred Astaire

Mimi Glossop - Ginger Rogers

Aunt Hortense - Alice Brady

Egbert "Pinky" Fitzgerald - Edward Everett Horton

Rodolfo Tonetti - Erik Rhodes

The Waiter - Eric Blore

Gay Divorcée opens in Paris. Attorney Egbert Fitzgerald and dancer Guy Holden are spending their last evening before returning to London where Egbert will be manning in his father's law office. Upon docking in London, their paths cross with Mimi and her Aunt Hortense where Guy makes a bad impression on her. Instantly smitten, he is determined to find her and sets about London in pursuit. "That shouldn't be difficult, after all there are only 3 million women in London!" comments Egbert when Guy announces his intentions.

Meanwhile, Mimi has come to London so that her aunt can help her obtain a divorce from her neglectful husband. In a twist of predictable, yet fun, Hollywood fate, Aunt Hortense takes Mimi to one of her former suitors, Egbert! "He went elephant hunting in India! Why would he go elephant hunting when he could marry me?"

Egbert arranges a rendevous with a corespondent in order to be discovered by a detective who in turn will inform her husband all designed in hopes that he will agree to a divorce. Eager to succeed with his case, Egbert quickly packs for the trip and suggests that lovelorn Guy come along. Reluctantly Guy agrees even though he pines all along the way.

Mimi jumps to all the wrong conclusions about Guy when she finds him at the resort . She mistakens him for the hired corespondent. Her opinion of him sinks even lower at the thought of his "career."

Mimi finally is resigned to the idea and invites him into her room to await the detective hired by Egbert to "discover" them. As Guy arrives he meets Aunt Hortense. Aunt Hortense to Guy: "She's making a clean sweep of the old. Yes, and you're the broom."

Once in, Guy attempts small talk however Mimi is only concerned with getting the entire thing over with. Mimi: "I don't care what you did as a boy!" Guy: "Well, I did nothing as a girl so there goes my childhood."

When Guy finally breaks down her barriers and discovers the misunderstanding. After he explains who he is and Mimi realizes who he isn't, she confesses to her purpose there. During this exchange, the actual hired corespondent arrives in her room. The mixup? Rather than clearing things up, all is further confused. Especially when the husband finally shows up. Mimi: "Am I Mrs. Brown?" Waiter: "Why no, you're Mrs. Green!" Guy: "Why strike me pink!"

Of course all of this is set around dancing and singing. After all, it was written to showcase their dancing.

Look closely at the specialty dancer (I still do not understand the "specialty" designation) in "Let's Knock Knees." It's Betty Grable singing and aggressively dancing her way around the resort with Edward Everett Horton who was once a song and dance man himself.

As an aside, being a bit of a foodie, I'm reminded of a head of radicchio in one of Miss Rogers' dances scenes. No, wait until you've seen it to make your decisions about my mental state.

One of the most interesting things about Fred Astaire's story is that he was not the star in the dance act he started out in. He got his start dancing with his sister Adele in a brother/sister act that was developed by their mother. Adele was the star. Fred went out on his own when Adele chose marriage over her dance career.

When he tested for RKO Pictures, the decision was "Can't sing. Can't act. Balding. Can dance a little." Astaire himself said the report actually stated "Can't act. Slightly bald. Also dances." Regardless, someone was shortsighted and the rest is history.

Also, in the team of Astaire and Rogers we often think of Fred Astaire as the leading star when in fact, Ginger Rogers had done 24 movies before she was teamed with Astaire in his very first film meaning that Rogers was the bigger star.

Astaire was a perfectionist. He insisted on the floors being polished before he danced and in his contract was the stipulation that he be showcased alone at least once in every movie.

Gay Divorcée is another fun mindless film that is a joy to watch and sing along too. Especially "The Continental." If you've seen "Home Alone" you may notice scenes that were lifted from this movie.

Stagecoach (1939)

Stagecoach (1939) "The movie that launched John Wayne's career"

Ringo Kid - John Wayne

Dallas (prostitute) - Claire Trevor

Buck (stagecoach driver) - Andy Devine

Hatfield (gambler) - John Carradine

Doc Boone (drunk doctor) - Thomas Mitchell

Mr. Peacock (meek Pastor) - Donald Meek

In the movie, Ford used Shoshone, Hopi, Navajo all Arizona tribes - not Apaches. Ford always used Indians as extras. Never using "spray paint."

Presented on TCM and introduced by Robert Osborne and Professor Hanay Geiogamah, professor of American Indian Studies at UCLA. It's interesting that during the discussion preceding the film, he doesn't refer to them as Native Americans but as Indians. Which is in my opinion, a refreshing change from so much political correctness. Full disclosure, I am 1/8th Cherokee and proud to be referred to as an Indian.

Typical John Ford movie has it all: comedy, drama, suspense, love, romance. He has the gift to be able to weave all elements through the story. Always important in creating a larger audience.

This movie is about a group of non-Indian outsiders. They are traveling from Arizona to New Mexico while evading yet being pursued by Indians. A point made by Professor Geiogamah is that both groups are or contain outsiders in American society.

However, not all of the passengers are societal outcasts. Included in the non-outcast group is the pregnant wife of a soldier. She is travelling to the fort where husband is stationed where she is hoping to rejoin him. Also included is a meek (pun intended as the actor portraying him is Donald Meek) Pastor traveling home to his family in Kansas City KS. The outcasts include the drunk doctor, the prostitute (both of whom were run out of town by the Law and Order League - the "respectable" women of town) "We are the victims of the disease of social prejudice my dear" says the drunk doctor to the prostitute as they are being escorted to the stagecoach that is leaving town' the bank manager who is running off with his client's money (he continually complains about the steps the government is taking to oversee banks including bank examiners—sound familiar?), the gambler, and the notorious jail escapé Ringo Kid. But the real outcasts of the film are the native Americans; specifically Geronimo!

When such a diverse group is brought together, there is excitement in the anticipation of how each is changed by the others. The first crisis occurs when they reach the fort only to find that the soldiers have gone on ahead. Even after this crisis, the social prejudice remains. "You can use my shoulder to lay your head on." says Dallas. "No thank you" replies the very travel weary Mrs. Mallory.

After a vote, they move on to the next stop only to discover that the soldiers have left to chase the Indians. They decide to press only but an additional crisis has arisen. Mrs. Mallory goes into labor. Here is where lives begin to be changed. "Savage!!!" "No, she's my wife." "Savage!!!" "Yes, she's a bit savage I think."

Unfortunately, the next day brings the attack of the Apaches so there is no rest for the new Mom and her babe. Even though it seems futile, they attempt to outrun the Apaches and reach the safety of the American military fast! At this point the intensity increases.

After the crises that they've experienced which has brought them together, reality is they are from different worlds. Mrs. Mallory: "Dallas, if there is ever anything I can do for..." Dallas: "I know." Dallas is fully aware of the chasm that separates their station in life.

Fun movie that reveals the social prejudice that existed and exists today. It also shows how short sighted many are...not taking into account the difficult circumstances that have lead to poor choices. More importantly, also portrayed is forgiveness that was not always abundant. A lesson to us that we need to understand what has brought people to the point where they live and to grant the forgiveness that is desired.