The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)

My latest 5-star film discovery of 2013 is an early work of beautiful star of the month, Miss Maureen O'Hara. That film is 1939's The Hunchback of Notre Dame.  Based on Victor Hugo's classic novel, this masterpiece of a film also stars Charles Laughton and Sir Cedric Hardwicke, with Thomas Mitchell, Edmond O'Brien, Alan Marshal, and Harry Davenport among the supporting players. Nominated for two Academy Awards, this lavish production was directed by William Dieterle.

Set in 15th century France, during the reign of Louis XI (Harry Davenport), Hunchback is the story of the beautiful Gypsy girl, Esmeralda (Maureen O'Hara), who has danced in the streets and attracted the attention of many, including the Chief Justice, Frollo (Sir Cedric Hardwicke).  Lusting after the ravishing beauty, yet despising himself for doing so, Frollo brings Esmeralda before the court on a trumped-up charge of murder.  Convicted, Esmeralda is sentenced to hang, but is saved from that fate by Quasimodo (Charles Laughton), the deaf, nearly mute, deformed bell ringer of Notre Dame, who is hopelessly in love with her.  Some of the themes tackled in this timeless story are:


Superstition:  Because Quasimodo is deformed, the people fear him and believe him to be possessed.

Handicaps:  Not only is Quasimodo deformed, but he is deaf and barely speaks.

Prejudice:  Chief Justice Frollo despises all Gypsies and deems them unfit to enter France.

Fear:  The printing press has been invented, and Frollo fears what will happen if the people are able to read certain truths for themselves.

Places of refuge:  The Cathedral of Notre Dame is a safe refuge for all.  Once within its walls, those being sought have sanctuary.

Love:  Esmeralda's love for her people and for the soldier, Phoebus (Alan Marshal); poet Gringoire's (Edmond O'Brien) love for Esmeralda; Quasimodo's love for the bells; and, of course, his heartbreaking love for the beautiful Esmeralda, which culminates in one of the most memorable lines I have ever heard, "Why was I not made of stone like thee?"

Hypocrisy:  Though Frollo disapproves of Esmeralda and claims her dancing to be evil, he secretly lusts after her.  He gives the appearance of righteousness and purity, all the while longing for the very thing he claims must be destroyed.  Blaming Esmeralda for inciting the sinful thoughts in him, he is determined to punish her, and he does so by convicting her of crimes she did not commit.

Self-loathing:  Frollo is not all bad, as evidenced by the fact that he has been Quasimodo's protector and benefactor ever since rescuing him as an abandoned infant years earlier; Esmeralda herself believed there was love in him. It is not wickedness---but rather shame over his fall into lust---which drives the Chief Justice to persecute Esmeralda.

Mercy and kindness:  Posssessed with a good and kind heart, Esmeralda desires to help her people---the Gypsies---find freedom from persecution, and when Quasimodo is publicly flogged and left in the pillory, Esmeralda takes pity on him and satisfies his cries for water.



To be honest, though The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a classic and very well-known piece of literature, I haven't ever read it.  I struggled greatly with Mr. Hugo's Les Miserables, so I was never keen on reading another of his works.  Thus, I have no idea how close this film is to the novel.  As I've stated before, though, whether a film is true to its book counterpart or not rarely matters to me.  I think both have merit of their own---and this film version has incredible merit.

Quite honestly, I think this production is nothing short of spectacular.  While it came away with an Academy Award nomination for its Alfred Newman score, as well as a Best Sound, Recording nomination, I can't believe it didn't receive many more nominations.  For sure, I think it ought to have received a Best Picture nomination, as well as a Best Director, a Best Costume Design, and last but not least, a Lead Actor nomination for Mr. Laughton.  I haven't seen Laughton's entire filmography, of course, but I can't help but believe his work in Hunchback was the performance of his career. He is beyond brilliant in this role.  The way he brings the deformed Quasimodo to life is absolutely breathtaking . . . and heartbreaking. Yes, 1939 was the year Clark Gable and James Stewart gave terrific ("should have won an Oscar") performances in Gone with the Wind and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, but Mr. Laughton was right there with them.  Not nominating him for a Lead Actor award was a gross oversight on the part of the Academy.

In addition to Mr. Laughton, I believe the costume designer and makeup artists ought to have received Oscar nominations.  (Of course, that wasn't go to happen, because those categories didn't become part of the Academy Awards until 1948 and 1981.)  Whether acknowledged with an award or not, however, the people responsible for transforming Mr. Laughton into a grotesque "hunchback" did a phenomenal job   Though made in 1939, the artistry of this film was very ahead of its time.

Nineteen years old and incredibly beautiful here, Maureen O'Hara plays the part of the kind-hearted Esmeralda perfectly.  This is her 4th film, and its easy to see why she would go on to be a major Hollywood star.  Harry Davenport is his usual, fairly-lovable self (not at all in keeping with other film portrayals of King Louis XI).  Edmond O'Brien, in his film debut at age 24, is incredibly handsome (and thinner than I have ever seen him).  What fun seeing him at such a young age.

Finally, Sir Cedric Hardwicke gives a superb performance as well.  Frollo is a complex character---not completely evil, just power hungry, controlling, and disgusted by the awakening of desires from which he had pledged to abstain.  Hardwicke does a fantastic job bringing all the nuances of the troubled Frollo to life.  He, too, ought to have received an Academy Award nomination.

Out on DVD, this 1939 version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame ought to be fairly easy to track down.  I highly recommend seeing it.  It is a spectacular work of art.

Happy viewing!

By the way, Hunchback is one of the films being screened at Boise's Egyptian Theatre this coming Saturday (August 17th), for Maureen's 93rd birthday bash.  Much as I love it and would be thrilled to catch it on the big screen, I won't be doing so.  I have tickets for The Quiet Man, The Black Swan, and How Green Was My Valley, which run consecutively, so I'll already be sitting through over 6 hours of movies.  Hunchback follows How Green Was My Valley, so that would be pretty much 8+ solid hours of sitting.  The 6 hours is pushing it, so I know I wouldn't make it through 8.
 

NOTE:  All photos obtained from Doctor Macro  (HERE)

An Act of Murder (4 stars)

An Act of Murder, from 1948, is a controversial-themed drama starring Fredric March, his wife Florence Eldridge, and Edmond O'Brien.  Featuring Geraldine Brooks in a supporting role, this little-known gem takes a look at the issue of mercy killing.

Hard-nosed judge Calvin Cooke (Fredric March) sits on the bench, having little tolerance for defendants or defense attorneys.  Because of his notoriously unsympathetic attitude towards those convicted of crimes, he has earned the nickname Old Maximum.  Even his daughter, Elly (Geraldine Brooks), feels that he stops being human as soon as he puts on his robe.

Just as Calvin and his wife Kathy (Florence Eldridge, Mr. March's real-life wife of 45+ years) prepare to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary, Kathy finds herself having severe headaches, coupled with visual and hearing disturbances and loss of feeling on one side.  Though she has ignored the symptoms for close to a year, she makes an appointment with the family doctor, and in short order, Kathy is diagnosed as having terminal brain cancer.  Several physicians concur that the situation is completely hopeless.

The doctor informs Calvin of Kathy's prognosis; however, he lies to Kathy that she is fine---and he requests that Calvin, also, not tell her the truth of her impending death.  Though the disease will progress rapidly and Kathy will be in a great deal of pain, Calvin arranges the second honeymoon which his wife had been requesting.  On the trip, Kathy takes a dramatic turn for the worse, and Calvin, unable to bear seeing his beloved wife in agony, decides to perform a mercy killing, an action which makes him a lawbreaker and exactly the kind of man for whom he has no tolerance in the courtroom.  Defending him is none other than Dave Douglas (Edmond O'Brien), a defense attorney with whom he often clashes.  How it all plays out is the balance of the film.



An Act of Murder is a really great, well-acted film, and it handles this controversial issue very well---a bit safely, but very well nonetheless.  Fredric March gives his usual terrific performance.  I really loved his character, and I loved seeing him evolve from a "black and white only" kind of guy to one who realizes that there are sometimes gray areas.  As one who has previously held tenaciously to "black and white only," but who has found that there are, indeed, gray areas, I could really empathize with and relate to Mr. March's character.   I was moved by this film and found myself getting teary-eyed on more than one occasion.   I think the fact that the real-life Mrs. Fredric March was the wife in this film probably made the situation that much more personal and real, as I felt like I was witnessing Mr. March's actual response to the terminal illness of the woman he loved.  Edmond O'Brien was very solid and capable in his role---actually, I've never seen him give anything but a quality performance.  Finally, since An Act of Murder deals with a very controversial subject---which is still greatly debated today---it makes a great discussion piece kind of film.  I think it's a definite must-see!

The film is not out on DVD, nor is it on the TCM schedule; however, it is available on YouTube.  Try to catch it there if you can.

Happy viewing!!

The Turning Point (3 stars)

Still in the midst of my William Holden viewing month (as if I need the excuse of his 30 year death anniversary to OD on his films!), I discovered The Turning Point on Net Flix instant viewing.  This 1952 crime drama also stars Edmond O'Brien and Alexis Smith, with Tom Tully and Ed Begley taking on supporting roles.  Though I don't see this film as noir, Net Flix classifies it that way.

Prosecutor Johnny Conroy (O'Brien) is out to break up the criminal gangs in his city.  The son of police officer Matt Conroy (Tom Tully), Johnny has no political ambitions...just a desire to bring down the Eichelberger syndicate.  Telling his dad that he wants an honest cop---one he can trust---on his team, Johnny asks Matt to be his special investigator...an assignment the older man refuses.

Jerry McKibben (William Holden), a news reporter and longtime friend of Johnny's, wonders about Matt's refusal to help his son investigate the criminal gang, and after following him on a hunch, Jerry begins to believe that Matt is a crooked cop.  Eventually, Jerry is certain that Matt is on the syndicate's payroll, and, confronting him, Jerry makes clear that unless Matt breaks free, he will expose him in the newspaper.   Not wanting to embarrass his son that way, Matt comes clean to Jerry, explaining how he got involved in corrupt activities and asking for advice about how to get out.

Hoping to keep from Johnny the fact that his father is a cop on the take, Jerry doesn't go to Johnny with the information; instead, he counsels Matt to double-cross Eichelberger (Ed Begley).  However, Eichelberger has people planted everywhere, so he knows of Matt's intent to double-cross.  How will he respond?  Will Matt be able to break free?  Will he be able to keep his corrupt activities from his son?  Or will the prosecutor find out that his trusted father is a crooked cop?  And what does Eichelberger intend to do to keep newsman McKibbin from finding out anything more?

In the midst of all these questions being resolved, Jerry is finding himself drawn to Johnny's girlfriend, Mandy (Alexis Smith), and she is finding herself drawn to Jerry as well.  How will Johnny react if he discovers that not only is his dad a dirty cop, but his girlfriend and best friend have fallen in love?

The Turning Point actually started out as a 4-star film; however, somewhere in the middle, it deteriorated slightly for me.  A courtroom scene that was a bit tedious...trying to wrap everything up a bit too quickly, so that it seemed a bit contrived...a scene toward the end (with Neville Brand, at the boxing arena) that was too drawn out...for those reasons I went with 3 rather than 4 stars.  Still, though, this is a very solid 3-star film, with an interesting storyline and good acting by all.  Edmond O'Brien was super---and every believable---in his role.  And Bill Holden gave his usual fantastic performance.  Plus, he was beyond handsome at this point in his career, so this film is worth watching just to look at him!  I feel sure William Holden and Edmond O'Brien fans will enjoy this movie.

I don't believe the film is out on DVD, but I know it is available through Net Flix instant viewing, and it is available in its entirety on YouTube (above video).

Happy viewing!!

The Bigamist (4 stars)

With this month being the 30th anniversary of the death of one of my #1's (William Holden) and the 102nd birthday of my other #1 (Robert Ryan), it has been mostly their films I've been watching lately.  However, my friend Victoria recently recommended The Bigamist, so I took a short break from the #1's in order to watch it, and I am so glad I did.  Always drawn to a deep, meaty drama and powerful acting, I thoroughly enjoyed this film.

From 1953, The Bigamist stars Joan Fontaine, Ida Lupino, and Edmond O'Brien, with Edmund Gwenn taking on a supporting role.  Lupino also had directorial duties in this film, which begins with Eve and Harry Graham (Fontaine and O'Brien) seeking to adopt a child.  When the adoption case worker, Mr. Jordan (Gwenn), mentions that their backgrounds will need to be fully investigated, Harry seems troubled and anxious, an attitude which greatly concerns Mr. Jordan.  Though he can't put his finger on exactly what it is, something about Mr. Graham troubles him, so Mr. Jordan begins his investigation in earnest.

Since Harry is a traveling salesman and spends much of his time in Los Angeles, Mr. Jordan travels there, to talk to Harry's coworkers in that office.  None of them have anything negative to say about Harry; in fact, they don't know anything about him outside of the office.  Somewhat like an invisible man, Harry just isn't a part of the social scene there in LA.  After the day's work is done, he just seems to vanish, something Mr. Jordan finds a bit peculiar. 

After learning that none of the local hotels have had a Harry Graham registered for months, Mr. Jordan is even more puzzled.   Then, while sitting at Harry's Los Angeles desk, he discovers a letter opener engraved with the name Harrison Graham.  Wondering if Harry and Harrison might be one and the same man, Mr. Jordan searches the phone book for that name and, after finding it, makes a visit to that address.  Lo and behold, it is none other than Harry Graham who answers the door.  Though Harry tries to get rid of Mr. Jordan, before the man leaves, a baby cries, and Harry goes to comfort him.  At that point, Harry's secret is out; no longer able to continue living his double life, he comes clean to Mr. Jordan about how he not only has a child, but also a second wife (Ida Lupino). 

How Harry found himself in this situation, as well as how it is resolved, is the basis of this tragic, touching film.  I found myself really feeling for all three members of this little triangle.  Edmond O'Brien's character isn't a horrible monster, and Ida Lupino's character isn't a trampy homewrecker.  Both characters are played sympathetically and sensitively.  It's a tragic story, in that you know it's a no-win situation.  No matter the outcome, characters you have come to care about are going to get hurt.

I thought the acting of all three leads was very good.  I have come to really like Ida Lupino...while she used to hover at about 15 on my favorite actress list, in recent weeks, she has moved up above 10.  She always puts in a good performance.  Edmond O'Brien played the part of the bigamist with great sensitivity and believability.  I really felt his pain.

Anyhow, I highly recommend The Bigamist.  I've seen it listed on Amazon in DVD Digitally Remastered format, and I know it is also available on VHS.  Plus, it is available in its entirety on YouTube.  Try to catch it if you can.  Happy viewing!!