He may not be remembered by the casual filmgoer, but Lon Chaney is an actor known for his very different roles. He gave us sympathetic and frightening characters, long before Boris Karloff gave the world, the Frankenstein monster. His portrayal of Quasimodo, the deformed title character, is amazing. He had to wear an uncomfortable back brace. He also did his own makeup. He created a character whose personality, matches his frightening appearance.
The story takes place in fifteenth century France. We first see Quasimodo looking down on a crowd of people having a festival. He despises the people and climbs down from his bell tower. He comes into the crowd, and they disperse, frightened by his appearance. They decide since this is a festival of fools, they need a king. They crown Quasimodo, and continue their revelry. During this time, Esmeralda, the gypsy girl, (Patsy Ruth), catches the hunchback’s eye.
Esmeralda has other suitors. They are Phoebus de Chateaupers, (Norman Kerry), the captain of the king‘s guard, and Jehan, (Brandon Hurst), the conniving brother of Monsignor Neufchâtel. Phoebus, because of his love for Esmeralda, becomes a changed man. He goes from a self centered ladies man, to a selfless person dedicated to winning Esmeralda’s heart. This can’t be said of Jehan. He remains the same evil selfish person.
Quasimodo is further captivated by the gypsy girl, after he is whipped in the public square. Cheney shows masterful acting conveying Quasimodo’s suffering, in this scene. He says he is thirsty. Esmeralda feeling pity for the bell ringer, gives him water. This singular moment sets Quasimodo on the path to redemption.
Jehan longs to have Esmeralda, but she has fallen for Phoebus. Jehan doesn’t like this, and conspires to have her found guilty of a capital crime. She is placed in front of the cathedral, before her execution, to do final penance. Quasimodo sees her, and takes her into the church, declaring sanctuary. This upsets Jehan, who has also conspired to form a peasant revolt, with Clopin, (Ernest Torrence), the gypsy king, and Esmeralda‘s stepfather. The revolt fails and Clopin is killed.
Jehan manages to get inside the cathedral to Esmeralda. He tries to take her, but he is spotted by Quasimodo, who attacks him. Jehan stabs him, but he {Quasimodo}, manages to push Jehan, from the bell tower, to his death. Quasimodo then dies from his wound. After this Esmeralda and Phoebus are reunited.
The director, Wallace Worsley has captured the misery of the peasants in medieval Paris. The scenes of the peasant revolt are well done. Lon Chaney’s performance steals the show, particularly when showing Quasimodo’s delight in frightening the people. There is Quasimodo’s final scene where Chaney shows anger when Esmeralda is threatened by Jehan; he shows Quasimodo exhibiting heroism, despite his fatal wound. The Hunchback of Notre Dame, is a jewel among silent films.