The Hunchback of Notre Dame Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Hunchback of Notre Dame Blu-ray Movie Review

Paris in L.A.

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 3, 2014

Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” has been adapted countless times for television and cinema, with its gothic tale of deception and protection ideal fodder for visual mediums. Arguably the most famous incarnation of the story is this 1923 film, a colossal epic produced by Universal Studios with intention to sell the picture as their “Super Jewel” production of the year. And the feature lives up to its epic reputation, with glorious sets (amazingly, the effort was shot at Universal City in California, but the illusion of Paris remains intact), costuming, and performances contributing to this vivid retelling of Quasimodo and his dealings with destructive acts of obsession.

There are towering production achievements on view in “Hunchback,” but little compares to the lead performance by Lon Chaney, who bravely slips into Quasimodo’s skin, becoming the deformed but determined character, communicating emotion that registers boldly during this silent picture. It’s a total physical transformation that’s often stunning to behold, selling effective make-up effects and behavior extremes with real gusto.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation likely represents the best possible condition "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" could be in at this time. As reported elsewhere, original 35mm prints have either been destroyed or deteriorated, leaving restorers with a 16mm "show-at-home" print to use as source material. As with anything of this age (we're not far from the 100th anniversary of its release), wear and tear is considerable, displaying a rough quality with scratches, debris, and wobble. The intensity of the damage isn't overwhelming, but it's noticeable, carrying on throughout the entire movie, and such deterioration is perfectly understandable. Without a DVD to compare, the HD "Hunchback" still puts forth an adequate amount of detail (it's far from pin-sharp), with make-up achievements and costuming still retaining distinction. Tinting for evening and daylight sequences brings some minor color changes. Contrast isn't troublesome, working with limited resources.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 Dolby Digital sound mix allows for an adequate orchestral mood, which comes across crisply, offering identifiable instrumentation. It's an undated score, but it sounds relatively new, with slightly inappropriate music for darker scenes. Still, distortion isn't problem, with balance intact and the musical mood secured.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet contains 12 pages that explores the history of the film and star Lon Chaney's involvement with the production, sharing a fair amount of BTS information.

• Commentary with "Chaney scholar" Michael F. Blake is included.

• Behind-the-Scenes Footage (1:40, SD) is a brief glimpse of Chaney inspecting the cathedral set.

• "Alas and Alack" (13:18, SD) is a 1915 silent short that features a Chaney in a supporting part.

• Photo Gallery (14:02, HD) is an extensive collection of images from the film and its massive production at Universal City.

• "Souvenir Book" (15:28, HD) is a reproduction of the original memento.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Emotions (often sold with expressionist fury) are volatile here, while scope is also successfully executed, watching a marauding band of extras stomp around immense sets and locations. "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" has achieved classic status due to Chaney's transformation, but the entire picture retains a thunderous quality that services the dramatic interests of the story and its thematic power, preserving spectacle while carefully observing the unfolding tragedy.