A movie that talks about religion, abuse, lust, genocide and eternal damnation was somehow part of my childhood. Impressive. I definitely don't see Disney doing stuff like this nowadays.
The animators for this movie were given special permission to tour the cathedral. Much of what you see of it in here is a faithful depiction of the real thing.
The scary part about Frollo is how realistic of a villain he is…like most Disney villains are comically evil and so extreme but so many people like Frollo exited in the past and STILL exist to this day. He’s truly one of the best and scariest villains Disney made
I think the reason Frollo can provoke such.a visceral response from viewers is because we're not likely to meet talking lions, however, the world has no shortage of religious zealots. At any rate, side by side this movie and tangled are a great way to get conversations about gaslighting started with kids.
I've seen some interesting takes that the Heaven's Light/Hellfire song play into either making Esmerelda a total saint to Quasi or a wicked temptress to Frollo, but it's Phoebus who is able to appreciate her as a clever and hardworking woman, with moments like helping her with the soldiers in the beginning. Of course, Quasi's life experience makes his reaction understandable, and it's ok if you still didn't care for it, but i thought it was an interesting view.
Yes! Quasi saw her as an angel because she was the first person outside the archdeacon and “Frollo” to be kind to him, that and her personality and beauty made his high opinion of her develop into a crush, but he needs so much more emotional maturity I saw it more as puppy love
R.I.P. Tony Jay (1933-2006) Voice Of Judge Frollo from Disney's The Hunchback Of Notre Dame an amazing and chilling performance singing Hellfire Judge Frollo He's Evil One of The best and most Darkest Disney Villains Ever Judge Frollo He's Really Special and Tony Jay's Voice Was a part of it. ❤️🖤💜🔥😭😭😭😭😢😢😢
I remember seeing a comic somewhere that had the Disney characters going to high school. In that, Quasimodo and Rapunzel were siblings. Quasi was always struggling with his confidence, but Raps was always his rock.
Prior to the fire the creators of the Assassin's Creed games were able to do a high resolution scan of both the inside & out of Notre Dame for their game. The scan was later used to as "blueprints" to restore it after the fire.
Theres something that i really like in this movie. All throughout the story, the Cathedral is used to represent God (or divine power). During the "Eyes of Notre Dame" part of the opening, when the lightning flashes, the Icon of Mary's eyes open. At the end, when the bonfire is lit, Quasi screams, but at the same time, all the bells in the belfry resonate (like the cathedral itself is screaming at the injustice.) And when Frollo is standing on the Gargoyle Grostesque talking about plunging the wicked into the firey pit, the grostesque comes to life and drags Frollo to the firey death beneath him. Notre Dame feels like a quiet character in of itself. When i was growing up, my parents showed me this to tell me that manipulators can be anywhere. Especially in positions of power. (Bear in mind, i am a Christian, and am still practicing. I appreciate everyone's reactions to this film.)
Fun facts: During the Hellfire song, Esmerelda was originally naked when Frollo sees her in the flames. The producers thought it too excessive and had the animators dub a dress over her in post-production. Take note of Quassi's eyes; his left eye doesn't have any reflective light showing on his pupil, as opposed to his right. This could suggest the he's blind in that eye.
Actually she wasn't drawn 'naked' naked, but for the scene to be acceptable the exec wanted it to be clear that she *was* wearing clothes even in the flames.
Between this and The Prince of Egypt, there were some stunning and epic animated films in the 90s. It's such a shame that so many think that a film aimed at young audiences can't still contain mature themes and darker elements when time and time again it's proven that those are the best type of films and the longest lasting.
Just a few notes. The priest that we see in the beginning of the movie is wearing red and carries a shepherd's crook with him when the time skip happens. This shows that he has been promoted to Cardinal or bishop and has a higher rank in the Catholic Church. A very large Cathedral like Notre Dame would have hosted Mass more frequently than your standard Church especially for different Saint Days. Last the ending in the book is far more depressing because Esmerelda dies in the fire and Quasimodo dies of heartbreak
if I recall correctly it’s that Frollo (who is Archdeacon in the book) hangs Esmeralda from the parapets of the bell tower and is then tackled off the tower by a grief-stricken Quasimodo (who can’t speak in the book). Somehow, Quasi survives long enough to crawl into the pauper’s grave they dug for Esmeralda, and their skeletons are found in embrace years later. Not to do an “um, actually!” it’s just an ending that’s stuck with me since i read the book as a kid, thinking it would be like the movie
I don’t know if anyone has mentioned this but I read a comment on a different reaction where during hellfire when the soldier tells frollo Esmeralda is gone he’s shown in a blue light and that represents heaven giving frollo one last chance to turn back from his vendetta and frollo turns back to the red light of the fire which represents hellfire.
Judge Claude Frollo is still to this day the most terrifying of all the Disney Villains. And as for his death scene, I always viewed the gargoyle breaking being God and the gargoyle coming to life being Satan coming to take Frollo straight to hell. Notice he lands in a lake of fire.
I loved this movie. In fact we had it on laser disc. The first time we watched it as a family my mother was like. " i cant believe this kid's movie is so dark. Maybe letting the kids watch this was a mistake."
I do like that they didn’t overly worry about what kids can handle. While I did not understand everything as a kid, I still picked up on the important morals and themes and carried them with me to this day. But it also helped that my mom taught me them as well.
@@gabrielleduplessis7388 i had the same experience as you. It is such a shame that we are in such a PC society now that is too afraid of scaring and offending children.
@@entertainmentlife430 it’s not children, it’s parents kids do not get offended by movies, parents do. Way too many people would look at this film today and condemn it for daring to show religion in any bad light despite the fact the film balances between proper following of religion (the Arch deacon, themes of self sacrifice, caring for the poor and downtrodden) and those like Frollo, who use religion to shield or justify their own immorality, hatred and bigotry
As a kid I watched a lot of classic Disney movies and I even watched this. And tbh the fake themes with religion didn’t surprise me. As a kid I had a bad experience with religion and slightly off topic I almost stopped believing in God cuz of my experiences. And what’s worse…. My parents had no idea what I went thru cuz I limited what I told them at a young age.
Great reaction to this! I will echo what others have said in support of Phoebus being the BEST and really only choice for Esmeralda to end up with. Frollo saw her as a temptress, witch, and demon. Quasimodo saw her as a perfect angelic being. Phoebus saw Esmeralda for who she actually was. A woman. He saw her as an actual person and not an idea or symbol. I can see the point that a romance wasn't needed, but with it in the movie I think this is the best option.
In the old 2D Disney animations the artists would use drawings from previous movies as templates to assist in storyboarding. I can see bits of Beauty and the Beast, the Little Mermaid, and Aladdin in this one.
The actor who voices Frollo is the late Tony Jay who has history of stage, television and radio. He had a semi recurring role on Twin Peaks and even voiced Disney's Shere Khan after his og actor, George Sanders, died. The guy had a very interesting career.
i never noticed the metaphor that the gargoyles have wings but cant fly because they are made of stone, while quasimodo is the same he is mobile full of energy and agility but cant leave because he is weighed down
Maybe what Frollo meant with the "Gypsies don't do well inside stone walls" is because in the dungeon, which is made of stones, they get tortured or even killed?
The lyrics to Hellfire is even better when you have the translation of the Latin the chorus is singing! Basically, while Frollo is singing that it’s the fault of anybody but him, the chorus sings about how it’s their fault. Here’s the lyrics (the Latin translation in these parenthesis) Beata Maria, (Blessed Mary) You know I am a righteous man Of my virtue I am justly proud (And to you, Father) Beata Maria You know I'm so much purer than The common, vulgar, weak, licentious crowd (That I have sinned) Then tell me, Maria Why I see her dancing there Why her smoldering eyes still scorch my soul (In thought) I feel her, I see her The sun caught in her raven hair Is blazing in me out of all control (In word and deed) Like fire Hellfire This fire in my skin This burning Desire Is turning me to sin It's not my fault (My fault) I'm not to blame (My fault) It is the gypsy girl The witch who set this flame (My greatest fault) It's not my fault (My fault) If in God's plan (My fault) He made the devil so much stronger than a man Protect me, Maria Don't let the siren cast her spell Don't let her fire sear my flesh and bone Destroy Esmeralda And let her taste the fires of Hell! Or else let her be mine and mine alone Hellfire Dark fire Now gypsy, it's your turn Choose me or Your pyre Be mine or you will burn (Lord have mercy) God have mercy on her (Lord have mercy) God have mercy on me (Lord have mercy) But she will be mine Or she will burn!
Also, while Esmeralda survives in this movie, in the original story AND the musical adaptation made by Disney, Esmeralda does die. It’s heartbreaking and beautiful. If you are interested in musicals and are okay with bootlegs, I know they have it here on YT. It also cultivates the relationship between Phoebus and Esmeralda better.
I never watched this movie as a child but I had a Disney CD that I would fall asleep to that had a couple of the songs. When I watched it for the first time last year I could feel the songs in my chest, it was the surrealist nostalgic feeling ever
Pheobus actually is the right person for Esmeralda, not bcs he's the typical choice but bcs he was the only one who saw her for her, as a person. Quasimodo saw her nearly like an angel, idolizing her, opposite side but the same coin as Frollo
You think this is dark? Trust me, it's a glittery color fest compared to the original novel. For starters, Esmeralda was 16, which makes Frollo's obsession all the creepier. Victor Hugo did not hold back.
In the novel, Frollo is also the archdeacon of Notre Dame. And Phoebus is also not a good guy. He just wants to sleep with Esmeralda. Quasimodo actually was abandoned by a Romani couple who then abducted and raised Esmeralda.
Frollo is & will always be the scariest villain Disney has ever created. The kind of men that Frollo was written after have always & will always exist, using their position of authority or even religious influence to hold power over people, or even worse, claim their actions are holy. I saw the Off-Broadway production of Hunchback at the Paper Mill Playhouse a long time ago & it was so good. I'm still sad it never got a proper Broadway run.
One thing I hope they bring to the live action version, don't @ me, is the fact that Frollo took Quasimodo in when no one else wanted him, (yes thats right, Frollo wasnt making that up) and raised him as his own, even taught him sign language when he went deaf from constant exposure to the ringing bells. Literally the only reason he becomes as cruel as he is here is because the public turned against him, calling him a sorcerer.
Disney Frollo was, of course, making it up. "I'm NoT tAlKiNg aBoUt DiSnEy FrOlO" Yes, you are, since he is the one who made the claim. Also, book Frollo didn't turn evil because of public opinion. That's some simplistic tumblr shit.
Heidi Mollenhauer is the singing voice of Esmeralda. Fun fact: in the Italian version of this movie, pop singer Mietta, who was hired to sing the rôle, ended up doing all the talking, too.
This was such a amazing movie. Little fact I don't know if you saw Belle from Beautu and the Beast in the end walking down the street. It's just for a couple of seconds but you can clearly see her reading a book. Love you guys😊
32:18. In case it hasn't been said yet, Frollo is voiced and sung by Tony Jay. He also was the voice of the asylum director from Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
I keep seeing people and hearing ppl speculate that the gargoyles are a figment of qausi’s imagination, yeah hey freeze up with anyone else but quasi but they *move* around, and they helped in the final scene so idk why people think that just bc frollo told quasi that stone cant talk
There's villains like Ursula and Dr. Facilier, who achieve their evil through magic. There's villains like Scar who are power-hungry usurpers. Well-written villains, but not entirely relatable. Then there's Frollo; an overly religious political leader who uses his power to persecute the innocent based on his beliefs, while using those beliefs as a crutch to justify his actions, deflecting any and all accountability, literally believing that he is working for the greater good; an old pervert who lusts after a much younger woman and blames her for his feelings, and is willing to go to any lengths he deems necessary to have her. He's the kind of monster that many of us have actually seen and/or dealt with. It's been said hundreds of times already, but I'll say it again; Frollo is such a terrifying villain because he's so painstakingly REALISTIC. There are many people out there just like him.
I have already said a lot about this film on Patreon and during the premiere, but I am incredibly pleased at the love this film is getting. I preferred other Disney films as a child, but it is now one of my favorites.
If You want to see more heartbreaking phenomenal movies, with stunning soundtrack and animation, I definitely recommend Prince of Egypt, released in 1998 by Dreamworks. It is about Moses’s story but both religious and non religious people can enjoy it. Humane characters, beautiful and terryfing messages, amazing animation, songs and soundtrack… a masterpiece. By the way, in Frollo’s song, the line that the people who wear red says “Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa”, which means “my fault”.
Despite this movie being a bit hit (like everything else Disney made back then), the company has never really tried to revisit these characters outside of that one direct-to-video sequel. All the other big Disney hits get re-trod all the time, but this one they leave alone. Probably for the best. Never mess with what works 😊
This is the best Disney movie ever made, lion king, beauty and the beast, Tarzan and etc quickly follow but you will never have a movie like hunchback in how it is able to make it’s message, combined with Alan Menkin’s OST which is his magnum opus, and carried by the unique and colourful voice cast The themes, power and majesty of the film cannot be replicated.
Speaking of tom hulce: the voice of Quasimodo, I highly recommend the movie Amadeus where Hulce plays Mozart. The script, the storytelling, acting, and just about everything was fantastic. Keep in mind, it is a dark and sad story, but is well worth the watch.
So, the original story is a bit different. Phoebus, the blond knight is actually engaged to a noble lady, he cheats on her with Esmeralda, in the end, they execute Esmeralda and Phoebus does nothing, later on I believe Quasimodo kills Frollo and goes to Esmeralda's dead body and they find their bones next to each other years later...
One of my favourite movies. The music is stunning and the story is so compelling and dark. It also teaches an important message about the abuse of authority, twisting of religion and bigotry. The scene where Quasi gets humiliated at the Festival still makes me so uncomfortable. As it should.
Fun detail - in the song "Hellfire," Frollo spends the entire song denying responsibility for his sins, blaming Esmeralda, the devil, etc. Meanwhile, the chorus is singing in response the lines from the Confiteor, a prayer during the Catholic Mass in which you acknowledge your sins. As Frollo sings "It's not my fault / I'm not to blame," the response from the chorus is "Mea culpa / Mea culpa / Mea maxima culpa," which translates to "through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault." The film and its score are absolutely bursting with extra meaning if you either know Latin or, more particularly, are familiar with Catholicism. The recurring motif of "Kyrie eleison," which appears throughout the musical score, means "Lord have mercy" in Greek and is part of the Catholic Mass. Also a cool detail is that during the end of hellfire, the solder who told Frollo that Esmeralda had escaped was basked in an heavenly blue and white light while Frollo was in the hellish red and orange light. This symbolizes that God gave Frollo a chance to do the right thing and let Esmeralda go, but Frollo refused and gave into his sins as he turned towards the fire, implying that he’s made his final choice and that he is going to hell. 2 : gargoyles are protectors against demons and evil spirits, and Frollo's soul had been fully corrupted to the point where the gargoyle saw him as a demon.
You guys should watch Mr. Church. It's a movie based on a true story about friendship and chosen family. It stars Eddie Murphy and Britt Robertson. It's heartfelt. Another movie is saved! From 2004. It's a really funny movie with a good messege. I love your videos. Been watching since first video. Was a huge fan of the movie budzs. Big fan.
I've seen Mr. Church, a good one. I've heard about Saved, want to check it out at some point. Thanks so much! Glad you're enjoying our videos 😊✨ - Maria
saved is great plays a lot into religion just like this one just funny and less murder. Glad you have seen Mr church it one snuck by people which sucks cause it's a good one.
26:31 - "Aww, he named the bells." Me - He didn't name the bells. They were named after important figures in the history of the church and the city. Bells names... Emmanuel Marie Gabriel Anne-Geneviève Denis Marcel Benoît-Joseph Maurice Jean-Marie
The child that approached Wuasi in the ending, was seen in the opening listening to Clopin’s story. Which kind of reflects him telling his audience to question WHO is monster and who is man.
I also think its interesting that “fools” during at least the tudor era im not sure about this one, were actually likely people with austism/ disabilities. Who were seen as closer to good because they seemingly had the “inability to lie” and just told its how they saw it
This movie lives in my head rent-free. It's one of my favorites growing up. I had the Blu-ray DVD. One of my favorite Easter eggs is that when Quasi sings his song, down in the town, you can see Belle walking by reading a book.
I’m listening to this thru my AirPods while chiseling a sandstone into a block for a retaining wall. Coincidentally, I’m using the tools that my great grandfather used to build a church in my lil town back in the day. We have a lot of sandstone in AZ as well. Some rocks are easily broken, but the last two I’ve worked on were quite a challenge.
Grew up watching it and love it and esmeralda was first dinsey crush love her beautiful eyes and i love the Bells and Hellfire also im an atheist but was sad when 5 years ago Notre Dame burned once again and lost a lot of history and relics to the fire and am glad its now repaired and hope to go see it someday
@12:25 Funny you say that cause one of the composers for The Little Mermaid, Alan Menken, actually worked on The Hunchback of Notre Dame's score/songs along with Stephen Schwartz.
my head canon as a kid was that God cast a small miracle for Quasi as a baby and bought the three gargoyles to life, and when he was a baby they would take care of him because Frollo probably only hired a wet-nurse once a day, or maybe the nuns helped too. but then i was a christian kid with wayyy too much time and special interest in these movies haha
The Voice of Frollo was provided the late Tony Jay. Just like Phoebus is voiced by Kevin Kline, Quasimodo voiced by Tom Hulse, and Esmerelda voiced by Demi Moore.
A full circle ending for Frollo, will always be nice to see. His “Hellfire” song will always be one of my favorites in Disney, even if he’s one of the most evil villains ever made😅
I love this movie a lot as it’s one of the darker Disney movies. However I don’t like that Quasimodo is the only Romani character who doesn’t have the darker hair or skin tone, and that they erased his being deaf bc of the bells. (though I understand why it was done this way).
During Frollo's song, in which he was effectively begging God to save him, the guard bursting into say that Esmeralda escape was meant to represent an angel offering Frollo a chance to avoid damnation i.e. "let it go before you sell your soul"
I’m not sure if anyone else mentioned this, but when Esmeralda saves Phoebus from the water, it is the exact scene from Little mermaid, when Ariel saves Prince Eric from the water.
As an adult with more literature knowledge, I'm not shocked that anything based on a work by Victor Hugo is dark & pretty depressing~ The guy responsible for things like Les Mis and The Man Who Laughs (the work whose title character is cited as one of the inspirations for the look of The Joker~) They actually *really* brightened this story up😅 I wonder how people that knew of Victor Hugo's work felt when it was announced that Disney would be doing this movie???
Good point. I read the book when I was 15, and just now watched this. They sure did bring Disney energy to it 😁 come to think of it, curious what was the pitch at the time - Maria
the fact that quasi's mom, an innocent, dies violently ON SCREEN is fucking nuts. the only other cases i can think of a character dying on screen in these movies are villains (e.g. ursula getting stabbed.) the way she falls and hits the stone steps head first and then just lays there in that crooked pose; people don't fall OR lay like that in kids media, they're always on their side or neatly on their back, she was dead on impact. even mufasa, who was fucking trampled to death, was laying neatly on his side
FUN FACT: Esmerelda's design during Hell Fire had to be re-edited due to the imagery being "too provocative" for children because she was *ahem* practically naked. As for the gargoyles, I wish they had made it more clear whether or not they were just figments of Quasi's imagination. I would have loved this movie more than I already do if they had gone that direction, along with cutting down the scenes with the gargoyles, they tend to halt the film occasionally.
Disney's The Hunchback Of Notre Dame is my favorite Disney movie ever Disney's The Hunchback Of Notre Dame an amazing Disney movie about the music and Disney animation 📽🎬🎥🔔🎞
Also, have any of you ever noticed how abusive signals were constantly drawn towards the children of these fairytale films on Disney? Just about every child was locked up in a tower. Quazi was in the belltower, Rapunzel in an abandoned tower, Cinderella in the attic tower, and Snow White, imprisoned in her royal tower. Shoot, even Fiona from Shrek was imprisoned by her own parents and held at dragon-point
About Phoebus getting shot with the arrow through his armour; plate armour holds up better against sword strikes and slashes than it does piercing damage. Arrows can be extremely effective against even high quality plate armour, even from long range. And speaking of quality, Phoebus's armour seems to be mostly decorative anyway. Gold is very heavy compared to other metals, but also very soft. Soft enough that small amounts of it can be pressed flat by pinching it between your fingers. Gold plated armour like his would likely have an iron or steel layer underneath, but to balance out the weight of the gold the actual protective layer of hard metal would have to he pretty thin. Design wise I think it was probably an intentional choice to give him flimsy decorative armour. Underneath it all he wears white. It conveys the idea that once you look past the glitzy exterior; the gold, the title, the cocky personality, he's a good, pure hearted man at his core.
Thank you so much for reacting to this. It's my favorite animated Disney film. And I 100% agree. It's not that I wanted Quasimodo and Esmeralda together, but if the 3 of them had just ended up platonic friends I feel like it would have been perfect. It kind of feels like Esmerelda and Phoebus only liked each other because they were both attractive.
I'm guessing the originally script did have her throwing the rock at a knight's head - but you're not allowed immitable violence in a children's movie.
A movie that talks about religion, abuse, lust, genocide and eternal damnation was somehow part of my childhood. Impressive. I definitely don't see Disney doing stuff like this nowadays.
I mean, it's a well-told story that needed to exist. I understand how it can be part of your childhood. Yeah, I agree. That's very unfortunate - Maria
I remember as a kid there was a video game I played on my computer. It was fun!
Hi Sam and Maria!
I remeber when it came out a lot of ppl said “ this is dark!”
I see much more Tangled as opposed to Little Mermaid. The world is cruel. Stay locked up. Mother knows best
The animators for this movie were given special permission to tour the cathedral.
Much of what you see of it in here is a faithful depiction of the real thing.
Seeing the magnificent stained glass window takes me back to when I got to see it every time.
I think after the fire of Notres Dame, they used the drawing Disney animators made of the cathedral for this movie for the reconstrucrion.
@@MillyKKitty this and assassins creed
The scary part about Frollo is how realistic of a villain he is…like most Disney villains are comically evil and so extreme but so many people like Frollo exited in the past and STILL exist to this day. He’s truly one of the best and scariest villains Disney made
And in his final moments: Frollo learned that stone CAN talk.
Or in his case, roar!
I think the reason Frollo can provoke such.a visceral response from viewers is because we're not likely to meet talking lions, however, the world has no shortage of religious zealots. At any rate, side by side this movie and tangled are a great way to get conversations about gaslighting started with kids.
I've seen some interesting takes that the Heaven's Light/Hellfire song play into either making Esmerelda a total saint to Quasi or a wicked temptress to Frollo, but it's Phoebus who is able to appreciate her as a clever and hardworking woman, with moments like helping her with the soldiers in the beginning. Of course, Quasi's life experience makes his reaction understandable, and it's ok if you still didn't care for it, but i thought it was an interesting view.
Yeah, I love that view! In the end, the romantic relationship Esmeralda built was with the guy who viewed her as a person
Yes! Quasi saw her as an angel because she was the first person outside the archdeacon and “Frollo” to be kind to him, that and her personality and beauty made his high opinion of her develop into a crush, but he needs so much more emotional maturity I saw it more as puppy love
R.I.P. Tony Jay (1933-2006) Voice Of Judge Frollo from Disney's The Hunchback Of Notre Dame an amazing and chilling performance singing Hellfire Judge Frollo He's Evil One of The best and most Darkest Disney Villains Ever Judge Frollo He's Really Special and Tony Jay's Voice Was a part of it. ❤️🖤💜🔥😭😭😭😭😢😢😢
I like fanart of Rapunzel and Quasimodo getting along, they were isolated by narcissistic people after all
Yes!! Both Mother Gothel & Frollo gaslighted them completely! The mental manipulation was rough!
@@Adrianne519 Frollo did early version of Mother Knows Best.
Me too.
They were also proficient at several creative hobbies :)
I remember seeing a comic somewhere that had the Disney characters going to high school. In that, Quasimodo and Rapunzel were siblings. Quasi was always struggling with his confidence, but Raps was always his rock.
Fun Fact The Hunchback of Norte Dame Was the First Animated Flim to Cost $100 Million Dollars to make!
oh wow! I hope they made the money back and had profit - Maria
Movie Grossed over $100.1 Million Dollars 💸 Worldwide!
Cool that's something I didn't know before
Hi Maria!” And Sam!
This movie, Atlantis, Treasure Planet, and meet the robinsons are gems to me. . . And Robin Hood. . . And the Rescuers Down Under. . . 😂
Okay, I want to watch all of them 😁 Which Robin Hood though? - Maria
Also Bolt.
@@samandmariachannel I think it's the one with the animals
@@samandmariachannel can't wait for Treasure Planet when ever you get to it. The movie is so underrated.
treasure planet is a staple of my childhood!
Prior to the fire the creators of the Assassin's Creed games were able to do a high resolution scan of both the inside & out of Notre Dame for their game. The scan was later used to as "blueprints" to restore it after the fire.
Theres something that i really like in this movie. All throughout the story, the Cathedral is used to represent God (or divine power). During the "Eyes of Notre Dame" part of the opening, when the lightning flashes, the Icon of Mary's eyes open. At the end, when the bonfire is lit, Quasi screams, but at the same time, all the bells in the belfry resonate (like the cathedral itself is screaming at the injustice.) And when Frollo is standing on the Gargoyle Grostesque talking about plunging the wicked into the firey pit, the grostesque comes to life and drags Frollo to the firey death beneath him.
Notre Dame feels like a quiet character in of itself.
When i was growing up, my parents showed me this to tell me that manipulators can be anywhere. Especially in positions of power. (Bear in mind, i am a Christian, and am still practicing. I appreciate everyone's reactions to this film.)
Fun facts:
During the Hellfire song, Esmerelda was originally naked when Frollo sees her in the flames. The producers thought it too excessive and had the animators dub a dress over her in post-production.
Take note of Quassi's eyes; his left eye doesn't have any reflective light showing on his pupil, as opposed to his right. This could suggest the he's blind in that eye.
Actually she wasn't drawn 'naked' naked, but for the scene to be acceptable the exec wanted it to be clear that she *was* wearing clothes even in the flames.
Esmerelda is my favorite Disney heroine, and her God help the outcasts is a beautiful song.
Between this and The Prince of Egypt, there were some stunning and epic animated films in the 90s. It's such a shame that so many think that a film aimed at young audiences can't still contain mature themes and darker elements when time and time again it's proven that those are the best type of films and the longest lasting.
R.I.P. David Ogden Stiers and Tony Jay The Archdeacon and Judge Frollo are now in Heaven 😭😭😭😭😭😢😢😢😢
And famed character actress Mary Wicks as Laverne the gargoyle.
Just a few notes.
The priest that we see in the beginning of the movie is wearing red and carries a shepherd's crook with him when the time skip happens. This shows that he has been promoted to Cardinal or bishop and has a higher rank in the Catholic Church.
A very large Cathedral like Notre Dame would have hosted Mass more frequently than your standard Church especially for different Saint Days.
Last the ending in the book is far more depressing because Esmerelda dies in the fire and Quasimodo dies of heartbreak
yes he was an arch-deacon at the beginning but is now the head of Notre dame church
if I recall correctly it’s that Frollo (who is Archdeacon in the book) hangs Esmeralda from the parapets of the bell tower and is then tackled off the tower by a grief-stricken Quasimodo (who can’t speak in the book). Somehow, Quasi survives long enough to crawl into the pauper’s grave they dug for Esmeralda, and their skeletons are found in embrace years later.
Not to do an “um, actually!” it’s just an ending that’s stuck with me since i read the book as a kid, thinking it would be like the movie
I don’t know if anyone has mentioned this but I read a comment on a different reaction where during hellfire when the soldier tells frollo Esmeralda is gone he’s shown in a blue light and that represents heaven giving frollo one last chance to turn back from his vendetta and frollo turns back to the red light of the fire which represents hellfire.
Hellfire is so Dark and great Villain Songs!
33:19 that’s my favorite Disney villain song.
That last "she will burn" in hellfire is so epic, what an absolutely amazing voice he had. R.I.P Tony Jay
Judge Claude Frollo is still to this day the most terrifying of all the Disney Villains. And as for his death scene, I always viewed the gargoyle breaking being God and the gargoyle coming to life being Satan coming to take Frollo straight to hell. Notice he lands in a lake of fire.
This was definitely the darkest Disney animated classic, and it still has a happy ending compared to the actual story.
I loved this movie. In fact we had it on laser disc. The first time we watched it as a family my mother was like. " i cant believe this kid's movie is so dark. Maybe letting the kids watch this was a mistake."
I do like that they didn’t overly worry about what kids can handle.
While I did not understand everything as a kid, I still picked up on the important morals and themes and carried them with me to this day. But it also helped that my mom taught me them as well.
@@gabrielleduplessis7388 i had the same experience as you. It is such a shame that we are in such a PC society now that is too afraid of scaring and offending children.
@@entertainmentlife430 it’s not children, it’s parents
kids do not get offended by movies, parents do. Way too many people would look at this film today and condemn it for daring to show religion in any bad light
despite the fact the film balances between proper following of religion (the Arch deacon, themes of self sacrifice, caring for the poor and downtrodden)
and those like Frollo, who use religion to shield or justify their own immorality, hatred and bigotry
@@mckenzie.latham91 fine
As a kid I watched a lot of classic Disney movies and I even watched this. And tbh the fake themes with religion didn’t surprise me.
As a kid I had a bad experience with religion and slightly off topic I almost stopped believing in God cuz of my experiences. And what’s worse…. My parents had no idea what I went thru cuz I limited what I told them at a young age.
Great reaction to this! I will echo what others have said in support of Phoebus being the BEST and really only choice for Esmeralda to end up with. Frollo saw her as a temptress, witch, and demon. Quasimodo saw her as a perfect angelic being. Phoebus saw Esmeralda for who she actually was. A woman. He saw her as an actual person and not an idea or symbol. I can see the point that a romance wasn't needed, but with it in the movie I think this is the best option.
I think a romance was definitely needed in order for the themes of the story to work.
In the old 2D Disney animations the artists would use drawings from previous movies as templates to assist in storyboarding. I can see bits of Beauty and the Beast, the Little Mermaid, and Aladdin in this one.
The actor who voices Frollo is the late Tony Jay who has history of stage, television and radio. He had a semi recurring role on Twin Peaks and even voiced Disney's Shere Khan after his og actor, George Sanders, died. The guy had a very interesting career.
i never noticed the metaphor that the gargoyles have wings but cant fly because they are made of stone, while quasimodo is the same he is mobile full of energy and agility but cant leave because he is weighed down
This story regained popularity when the Broadway musical came out because the kids who semi remembered it were able to see it and appreciate it more.
Maybe what Frollo meant with the "Gypsies don't do well inside stone walls" is because in the dungeon, which is made of stones, they get tortured or even killed?
The lyrics to Hellfire is even better when you have the translation of the Latin the chorus is singing! Basically, while Frollo is singing that it’s the fault of anybody but him, the chorus sings about how it’s their fault.
Here’s the lyrics (the Latin translation in these parenthesis)
Beata Maria, (Blessed Mary)
You know I am a righteous man
Of my virtue I am justly proud (And to you, Father)
Beata Maria
You know I'm so much purer than
The common, vulgar, weak, licentious crowd (That I have sinned)
Then tell me, Maria
Why I see her dancing there
Why her smoldering eyes still scorch my soul (In thought)
I feel her, I see her
The sun caught in her raven hair
Is blazing in me out of all control (In word and deed)
Like fire
Hellfire
This fire in my skin
This burning
Desire
Is turning me to sin
It's not my fault (My fault)
I'm not to blame (My fault)
It is the gypsy girl
The witch who set this flame (My greatest fault)
It's not my fault (My fault)
If in God's plan (My fault)
He made the devil so much stronger than a man
Protect me, Maria
Don't let the siren cast her spell
Don't let her fire sear my flesh and bone
Destroy Esmeralda
And let her taste the fires of Hell!
Or else let her be mine and mine alone
Hellfire
Dark fire
Now gypsy, it's your turn
Choose me or
Your pyre
Be mine or you will burn (Lord have mercy)
God have mercy on her (Lord have mercy)
God have mercy on me (Lord have mercy)
But she will be mine
Or she will burn!
Also, while Esmeralda survives in this movie, in the original story AND the musical adaptation made by Disney, Esmeralda does die. It’s heartbreaking and beautiful. If you are interested in musicals and are okay with bootlegs, I know they have it here on YT.
It also cultivates the relationship between Phoebus and Esmeralda better.
5 years ago On April 15,2019 Notre Dame was burning ❤️🖤💜🔥
The priest was sooooo creepy when I saw this. Even as a child I got his evil
Part of Your World and Out There are both 'I want' songs. Most Disney movies and musicals have them.
someone: are you high?
me: had a little trouble with the fire place
The Secret Handshake 😂
I never watched this movie as a child but I had a Disney CD that I would fall asleep to that had a couple of the songs.
When I watched it for the first time last year I could feel the songs in my chest, it was the surrealist nostalgic feeling ever
Pheobus actually is the right person for Esmeralda, not bcs he's the typical choice but bcs he was the only one who saw her for her, as a person. Quasimodo saw her nearly like an angel, idolizing her, opposite side but the same coin as Frollo
Clearly you haven't read the original novel, if you think he was a good guy....
You think this is dark? Trust me, it's a glittery color fest compared to the original novel. For starters, Esmeralda was 16, which makes Frollo's obsession all the creepier. Victor Hugo did not hold back.
I have read the novel and I do think this is dark for a Disney movie of the time. He sure didn't - Maria
This is the kid's movie version. It's kids' movie dark, not dark dark
@@breezy3392 48:49 exactly
Didn't Quasimodo and Esmeralda die in the book? It's been a long time since I read it
In the novel, Frollo is also the archdeacon of Notre Dame. And Phoebus is also not a good guy. He just wants to sleep with Esmeralda. Quasimodo actually was abandoned by a Romani couple who then abducted and raised Esmeralda.
Frollo is & will always be the scariest villain Disney has ever created. The kind of men that Frollo was written after have always & will always exist, using their position of authority or even religious influence to hold power over people, or even worse, claim their actions are holy. I saw the Off-Broadway production of Hunchback at the Paper Mill Playhouse a long time ago & it was so good. I'm still sad it never got a proper Broadway run.
One thing I hope they bring to the live action version, don't @ me, is the fact that Frollo took Quasimodo in when no one else wanted him, (yes thats right, Frollo wasnt making that up) and raised him as his own, even taught him sign language when he went deaf from constant exposure to the ringing bells.
Literally the only reason he becomes as cruel as he is here is because the public turned against him, calling him a sorcerer.
What live-action version? Did Disney recently announce that this movie is their next live-action remake?
Disney Frollo was, of course, making it up.
"I'm NoT tAlKiNg aBoUt DiSnEy FrOlO"
Yes, you are, since he is the one who made the claim.
Also, book Frollo didn't turn evil because of public opinion. That's some simplistic tumblr shit.
Heidi Mollenhauer is the singing voice of Esmeralda.
Fun fact: in the Italian version of this movie, pop singer Mietta, who was hired to sing the rôle, ended up doing all the talking, too.
This was such a amazing movie. Little fact I don't know if you saw Belle from Beautu and the Beast in the end walking down the street. It's just for a couple of seconds but you can clearly see her reading a book. Love you guys😊
Tony Jay, one of the most well renowned voice actors in history voiced Frollo.
32:18. In case it hasn't been said yet, Frollo is voiced and sung by Tony Jay. He also was the voice of the asylum director from Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
Actually Judge Frollo Is Better
I keep seeing people and hearing ppl speculate that the gargoyles are a figment of qausi’s imagination, yeah hey freeze up with anyone else but quasi but they *move* around, and they helped in the final scene so idk why people think that just bc frollo told quasi that stone cant talk
There's villains like Ursula and Dr. Facilier, who achieve their evil through magic. There's villains like Scar who are power-hungry usurpers. Well-written villains, but not entirely relatable.
Then there's Frollo; an overly religious political leader who uses his power to persecute the innocent based on his beliefs, while using those beliefs as a crutch to justify his actions, deflecting any and all accountability, literally believing that he is working for the greater good; an old pervert who lusts after a much younger woman and blames her for his feelings, and is willing to go to any lengths he deems necessary to have her. He's the kind of monster that many of us have actually seen and/or dealt with.
It's been said hundreds of times already, but I'll say it again; Frollo is such a terrifying villain because he's so painstakingly REALISTIC. There are many people out there just like him.
I Think Dr.Facilier He Does Have Some Of Judge Frollo and Jafar in him. ❤️🖤💜🔥🃏🧞♂️
The soundtrack for this movie and the prince of Egypt are the most iconic animated soundtracks imo
THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME's lyricist, Stephen Schwartz, wrote the music and lyrics for PRINCE OF EGYPT.
23:37 Oh My God! How Dark Is This Disney Movie Man!
I have already said a lot about this film on Patreon and during the premiere, but I am incredibly pleased at the love this film is getting. I preferred other Disney films as a child, but it is now one of my favorites.
Me too.
Frollo: " I am a righteous man of God"
Also Frollo: Shows that he is guilty of all Seven Deadly Sins throughout the movie.
If You want to see more heartbreaking phenomenal movies, with stunning soundtrack and animation, I definitely recommend Prince of Egypt, released in 1998 by Dreamworks. It is about Moses’s story but both religious and non religious people can enjoy it. Humane characters, beautiful and terryfing messages, amazing animation, songs and soundtrack… a masterpiece.
By the way, in Frollo’s song, the line that the people who wear red says “Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa”, which means “my fault”.
Mea maxima culpa = my grievous fault
Claude Frollo is The Best Disney Villain Tony jay voices him is a Chef Kiss!
Yeah, he does a great job! - Maria
4:29 🎶Even This Foul Creature May Yet Prove One Day To Be...🎶 Whoa! Judge Frollo Has A Great Singing Voice
Judge Frollo Holy Hellfire! ❤️🖤💜🔥
Despite this movie being a bit hit (like everything else Disney made back then), the company has never really tried to revisit these characters outside of that one direct-to-video sequel. All the other big Disney hits get re-trod all the time, but this one they leave alone. Probably for the best. Never mess with what works 😊
One of the best opening song in animation. In par with the Prince of Egypt (in my opinion).
This is the best Disney movie ever made, lion king, beauty and the beast, Tarzan and etc quickly follow
but you will never have a movie like hunchback in how it is able to make it’s message, combined with Alan Menkin’s OST which is his magnum opus, and carried by the unique and colourful voice cast
The themes, power and majesty of the film cannot be replicated.
47:32 Choose Him Or The Fire Judge Frollo's Ultimatum To Esmeralda ❤️🖤💜🔥
Speaking of tom hulce: the voice of Quasimodo, I highly recommend the movie Amadeus where Hulce plays Mozart.
The script, the storytelling, acting, and just about everything was fantastic.
Keep in mind, it is a dark and sad story, but is well worth the watch.
So, the original story is a bit different. Phoebus, the blond knight is actually engaged to a noble lady, he cheats on her with Esmeralda, in the end, they execute Esmeralda and Phoebus does nothing, later on I believe Quasimodo kills Frollo and goes to Esmeralda's dead body and they find their bones next to each other years later...
I remember something about Esmeralda being switched at birth as well? Like, she wasn’t born Romani but was switched and raised as one
One of my favourite movies. The music is stunning and the story is so compelling and dark. It also teaches an important message about the abuse of authority, twisting of religion and bigotry.
The scene where Quasi gets humiliated at the Festival still makes me so uncomfortable. As it should.
Fun detail - in the song "Hellfire," Frollo spends the entire song denying responsibility for his sins, blaming Esmeralda, the devil, etc. Meanwhile, the chorus is singing in response the lines from the Confiteor, a prayer during the Catholic Mass in which you acknowledge your sins. As Frollo sings "It's not my fault / I'm not to blame," the response from the chorus is "Mea culpa / Mea culpa / Mea maxima culpa," which translates to "through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault." The film and its score are absolutely bursting with extra meaning if you either know Latin or, more particularly, are familiar with Catholicism. The recurring motif of "Kyrie eleison," which appears throughout the musical score, means "Lord have mercy" in Greek and is part of the Catholic Mass. Also a cool detail is that during the end of hellfire, the solder who told Frollo that Esmeralda had escaped was basked in an heavenly blue and white light while Frollo was in the hellish red and orange light.
This symbolizes that God gave Frollo a chance to do the right thing and let Esmeralda go, but Frollo refused and gave into his sins as he turned towards the fire, implying that he’s made his final choice and that he is going to hell.
2 : gargoyles are protectors against demons and evil spirits, and Frollo's soul had been fully corrupted to the point where the gargoyle saw him as a demon.
I love this movie so excited.
You guys should watch Mr. Church. It's a movie based on a true story about friendship and chosen family. It stars Eddie Murphy and Britt Robertson. It's heartfelt. Another movie is saved! From 2004. It's a really funny movie with a good messege. I love your videos. Been watching since first video. Was a huge fan of the movie budzs. Big fan.
Good to hear that! 😊 - Maria
I've seen Mr. Church, a good one. I've heard about Saved, want to check it out at some point. Thanks so much! Glad you're enjoying our videos 😊✨ - Maria
saved is great plays a lot into religion just like this one just funny and less murder. Glad you have seen Mr church it one snuck by people which sucks cause it's a good one.
I usually Watched Disney's The Hunchback Of Notre Dame 1 and 2 in 🇺🇲English and Spanish 🇲🇽
26:31 -
"Aww, he named the bells."
Me - He didn't name the bells. They were named after important figures in the history of the church and the city.
Bells names...
Emmanuel
Marie
Gabriel
Anne-Geneviève
Denis
Marcel
Benoît-Joseph
Maurice
Jean-Marie
The child that approached Wuasi in the ending, was seen in the opening listening to Clopin’s story. Which kind of reflects him telling his audience to question WHO is monster and who is man.
Check out the second part to see how this story continues...and if Quasimodo also finds love...❣️
I also think its interesting that “fools” during at least the tudor era im not sure about this one, were actually likely people with austism/ disabilities. Who were seen as closer to good because they seemingly had the “inability to lie” and just told its how they saw it
This movie lives in my head rent-free. It's one of my favorites growing up. I had the Blu-ray DVD. One of my favorite Easter eggs is that when Quasi sings his song, down in the town, you can see Belle walking by reading a book.
I’m listening to this thru my AirPods while chiseling a sandstone into a block for a retaining wall. Coincidentally, I’m using the tools that my great grandfather used to build a church in my lil town back in the day. We have a lot of sandstone in AZ as well. Some rocks are easily broken, but the last two I’ve worked on were quite a challenge.
Grew up watching it and love it and esmeralda was first dinsey crush love her beautiful eyes and i love the Bells and Hellfire also im an atheist but was sad when 5 years ago Notre Dame burned once again and lost a lot of history and relics to the fire and am glad its now repaired and hope to go see it someday
That is actually Demi Moore singing in fact all the actors do both the speaking and singing in this movie.
Demi Moore only did the speaking voice. Heidi Mollenhauer did the singing voice.
The Lates David Ogden Stiers and Tony Jay They did an outstanding job performing in this movie
A lot people, myself included, think that Frollo would get along well with Mother Gothel from "Tangled" because of their similar views on parenting.
@12:25 Funny you say that cause one of the composers for The Little Mermaid, Alan Menken, actually worked on The Hunchback of Notre Dame's score/songs along with Stephen Schwartz.
my head canon as a kid was that God cast a small miracle for Quasi as a baby and bought the three gargoyles to life, and when he was a baby they would take care of him because Frollo probably only hired a wet-nurse once a day, or maybe the nuns helped too. but then i was a christian kid with wayyy too much time and special interest in these movies haha
I mean, I can see how they could've been the case 😊 - Maria
The Voice of Frollo was provided the late Tony Jay. Just like Phoebus is voiced by Kevin Kline, Quasimodo voiced by Tom Hulse, and Esmerelda voiced by Demi Moore.
I remember thinking this was a very well done animated telling of this story.
For sure, it’s a solid adaptation 😁 - Sam
"...Like limestone or sandstone, or some other weak rock...." LOL!!!!!!!! I don't know why that comment made me laugh so hard!
A full circle ending for Frollo, will always be nice to see.
His “Hellfire” song will always be one of my favorites in Disney, even if he’s one of the most evil villains ever made😅
So...how long did it take you to notice the court of miracles was in the Paris Catacombs?
47:32 Judge Frollo:Choose Me Or The Fire ❤️🖤💜🔥
LMAOO Sam's reaction at 40:22 was exactly like mine 😂😂 it was corny indeed !
I love this movie a lot as it’s one of the darker Disney movies.
However I don’t like that Quasimodo is the only Romani character who doesn’t have the darker hair or skin tone, and that they erased his being deaf bc of the bells. (though I understand why it was done this way).
The Part When Judge Frollo Threw The Archdeacon Down The Stairs That Was Very Mean
Claude Frollo was voiced by the late Tony Jay, and his baritone voice was just what they needed to bring to life Disney's most evil villain ever
During Frollo's song, in which he was effectively begging God to save him, the guard bursting into say that Esmeralda escape was meant to represent an angel offering Frollo a chance to avoid damnation i.e. "let it go before you sell your soul"
Tony Jay is the voice actor of Frollo. What a legend!!!
I’m not sure if anyone else mentioned this, but when Esmeralda saves Phoebus from the water, it is the exact scene from Little mermaid, when Ariel saves Prince Eric from the water.
As an adult with more literature knowledge, I'm not shocked that anything based on a work by Victor Hugo is dark & pretty depressing~ The guy responsible for things like Les Mis and The Man Who Laughs (the work whose title character is cited as one of the inspirations for the look of The Joker~) They actually *really* brightened this story up😅 I wonder how people that knew of Victor Hugo's work felt when it was announced that Disney would be doing this movie???
Good point. I read the book when I was 15, and just now watched this. They sure did bring Disney energy to it 😁 come to think of it, curious what was the pitch at the time - Maria
Tony Jay's Legacy Remains in Disney History ❤️🖤💜🔥😭😭😢😢
12:05 Yep it's the 'I want' Song of the movie. In musical structure most Disney movies have them. Belle, Ariel, Hercules. They all have one.
the fact that quasi's mom, an innocent, dies violently ON SCREEN is fucking nuts. the only other cases i can think of a character dying on screen in these movies are villains (e.g. ursula getting stabbed.) the way she falls and hits the stone steps head first and then just lays there in that crooked pose; people don't fall OR lay like that in kids media, they're always on their side or neatly on their back, she was dead on impact. even mufasa, who was fucking trampled to death, was laying neatly on his side
FUN FACT: Esmerelda's design during Hell Fire had to be re-edited due to the imagery being "too provocative" for children because she was *ahem* practically naked. As for the gargoyles, I wish they had made it more clear whether or not they were just figments of Quasi's imagination. I would have loved this movie more than I already do if they had gone that direction, along with cutting down the scenes with the gargoyles, they tend to halt the film occasionally.
My Heart was beating at the end of the movie About Judge Frollo Ultimatum To Esmeralda
Disney's The Hunchback Of Notre Dame is my favorite Disney movie ever Disney's The Hunchback Of Notre Dame an amazing Disney movie about the music and Disney animation 📽🎬🎥🔔🎞
Also, have any of you ever noticed how abusive signals were constantly drawn towards the children of these fairytale films on Disney? Just about every child was locked up in a tower. Quazi was in the belltower, Rapunzel in an abandoned tower, Cinderella in the attic tower, and Snow White, imprisoned in her royal tower. Shoot, even Fiona from Shrek was imprisoned by her own parents and held at dragon-point
41:10 "Just string him up and tie him to the ceiling!"🪢 😂
About Phoebus getting shot with the arrow through his armour; plate armour holds up better against sword strikes and slashes than it does piercing damage. Arrows can be extremely effective against even high quality plate armour, even from long range. And speaking of quality, Phoebus's armour seems to be mostly decorative anyway. Gold is very heavy compared to other metals, but also very soft. Soft enough that small amounts of it can be pressed flat by pinching it between your fingers. Gold plated armour like his would likely have an iron or steel layer underneath, but to balance out the weight of the gold the actual protective layer of hard metal would have to he pretty thin. Design wise I think it was probably an intentional choice to give him flimsy decorative armour. Underneath it all he wears white. It conveys the idea that once you look past the glitzy exterior; the gold, the title, the cocky personality, he's a good, pure hearted man at his core.
Thank you so much for reacting to this. It's my favorite animated Disney film. And I 100% agree. It's not that I wanted Quasimodo and Esmeralda together, but if the 3 of them had just ended up platonic friends I feel like it would have been perfect. It kind of feels like Esmerelda and Phoebus only liked each other because they were both attractive.
No worries! Glad to hear someone agreeing with me on that point 😊 - Sam
I'm guessing the originally script did have her throwing the rock at a knight's head - but you're not allowed immitable violence in a children's movie.
Awesome reaction of my favorite Disney movie!!!!!!!😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
Thanks so much! 😊 - Maria