The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise’s Disney animation rebuilds Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel around Quasimodo’s wish to leave the bell tower. Frollo, a priest in the novel, becomes a judge; screenwriter Tab Murphy said the primary reason was not tying the villain so closely to the church. Hugo’s Quasimodo is deafened by the bells; Disney gave him back his hearing so he could sing. In the book Esmeralda is executed and Quasimodo’s bones are later found embracing hers; the film ends with Paris cheering him. Frollo’s desire for Esmeralda is sung openly in “Hellfire” over a Latin choir. Per a New York Times interview cited by The Hollywood Reporter, ratings board notes led the team to quiet Frollo sniffing her hair and bury “sin” under swooshing robes, earning a G. The gargoyles’ comic “A Guy Like You” comes after Frollo sets houses on fire, a hard tonal swing. At the 69th Academy Awards the film was nominated in Music (Original Musical or Comedy Score) for Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz; Rachel Portman won for Emma. A good fit if you want a Disney villain torn between faith, lust and hatred of the Romani in a full production number. Not for families choosing it for small children because of the G.