The Hunchcast of Notre Dame

1482 Media
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Film Reviews
  • Biweekly

The podcast about Victor Hugo’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (“Notre-Dame de Paris”) and its many adaptations! Reviews, interviews, commentaries, and more. Contact us: thehunchcast@gmail.com

  1. 3d ago

    How to Direct “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (ft. the Alchemy Theatre Company)

    How do you direct Victor Hugo’s classic story for the stage? Jeff Lowe, director of the Alchemy Theatre Company’s production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” joined us to explain just that! What special rules need to be followed when licensing a musical from the Walt Disney Company? Can “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” be produced on a shoestring budget? How do you create an inclusive rehearsal space? Listen along to hear a seasoned director answer these questions and more! The Alchemy Theatre Company’s production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” is running at the Yorba Linda Cultural Arts Center in Yorba Linda, California, from November 13–29. Purchase tickets here: https://www.purplepass.com/events/387323-the-hunchback-of-notre-dame-presented-by-alchemy-theatre-company-nov-13th-2026 RING THE NOTIFICATION BELL to be automatically updated when new episodes are released! GET FREE BONUS CONTENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: @TheHunchcast (https://www.instagram.com/thehunchcast/)Tumblr: @TheHunchcast (https://www.tumblr.com/thehunchcast)TikTok: @TheHunchcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@thehunchcast)GET IN TOUCH: thehunchcast@gmail.com CHAPTERS: (00:00) Intro (02:34) Meet Jeff Lowe and the Alchemy Theatre Company (03:49) Why This Musical? (05:38) Dividing Directing Responsibilities (10:42) Licensing from the Walt Disney Company (18:20) Creating an Inclusive Rehearsal Space (23:22) Encouraging the Cast to Prepare (26:38) Tackling Challenging Scenes Safely (31:15) Producing “Hunchback” on a Budget (36:42) Digging Into the Subtext (40:23) Outro Podcast logo by Ryan Grimm (Instagram: @grimmstar2002). “The Hunchcast of Notre Dame” is a production of 1482 Media. All rights reserved.

    How to Direct “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (ft. the Alchemy Theatre Company)

  2. Oct 21

    “Mad Monster Party?” (1967)

    Happy Halloween! We’re celebrating the climax of spooky season by discussing Rankin/Bass Productions’ stop-motion film “Mad Monster Party?” (1967), which features the Hunchback of Notre Dame in a supporting role! Did you know animation legends Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass once released a feature-length Halloween film in theaters? “Mad Monster Party?” sees classic horror icons, including Dracula, the Invisible Man, and, yes, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, gathering at Dr. Frankenstein’s castle for a celebration. Hijinks, catfights, and nuclear destruction ensue. Is the Hunchback of Notre Dame the real victim of this movie? Why is this version of Dr. Frankenstein named Boris rather than Victor? Are the Hunchback and the Mummy friends, roommates, or something more? Listen along to hear us grapple with these questions and more! RING THE NOTIFICATION BELL to be automatically updated when new episodes are released! GET FREE BONUS CONTENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: @TheHunchcast (https://www.instagram.com/thehunchcast/)Tumblr: @TheHunchcast (https://www.tumblr.com/thehunchcast)TikTok: @TheHunchcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@thehunchcast)GET IN TOUCH: thehunchcast@gmail.com SOURCES: “Mad Monster Party?” Making-Of Documentary (1998)“Like a Lampshade in a Whorehouse: My Life in Comedy” by Phyllis Diller (2005)Robert Louis Stevenson’s introduction to “Notre-Dame de Paris”Rankin/Bass Productions’ “Mad, Mad, Mad Monsters” (1972)CHAPTERS: (00:00) Intro (01:21) Quasimodo’s Role as a Horror Movie Icon (08:15) Minute of History: How Did This Get Made? (14:47) Plot Synopsis (19:32) The Ending (21:46) The Hunchback of Notre Dame’s Role (22:42) Ranking the Songs (32:33) Felix’s Role (35:44) An Alternate Plot Synopsis (42:58) Mafia Machiavelli’s Role (45:21) The Stop-Motion Animation (46:51) The Monster’s Mate (52:21) The Prequel/Remake “Mad, Mad, Mad Monsters” (1972) (55:36) Final Thoughts + Inn, Dust, Throw (01:06:52) Next Episode Teaser + Outro Podcast logo by Ryan Grimm (Instagram: @grimmstar2002). “The Hunchcast of Notre Dame” is a production of 1482 Media. All rights reserved.

    “Mad Monster Party?” (1967)

  3. Oct 6

    “Courage the Cowardly Dog: The Hunchback of Nowhere” (2000) ft. Mary Jo of “Poitcast”

    Spooky season is upon us! We’re getting into the Halloween spirit by discussing “The Hunchback of Nowhere,” an episode of Cartoon Network’s “Courage the Cowardly Dog,” with Mary Jo Herlihy from “Poitcast: A Pinky and the Brain Podcast.” This monster-of-the-week show, which premiered in 1999, follows Courage, a skittish dog who protects his owners from supernatural forces. In “The Hunchback of Nowhere,” a kindhearted, handbell-playing hunchback (who may or may not be named Quasimodo) takes shelter in Courage’s barn during a storm. Are handbells underrated? How much childhood trauma is Cartoon Network responsible for? Which is the superior human/dog duo: Muriel and Courage, or Charlie Brown and Snoopy? Listen along to hear us grapple with these questions and more! Check out Mary Jo’s podcast “Poitcast: A Pinky and the Brain Podcast” here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1812600 RING THE NOTIFICATION BELL to be automatically updated when new episodes are released! GET FREE BONUS CONTENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: @TheHunchcast (https://www.instagram.com/thehunchcast/)Tumblr: @TheHunchcast (https://www.tumblr.com/thehunchcast)TikTok: @TheHunchcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@thehunchcast)GET IN TOUCH: thehunchcast@gmail.com SOURCES: “107 Courage the Cowardly Dog Facts You Should Know!” by ChannelFrederatorJohn R. Dilworth interview with RebelTaxiCHAPTERS: (00:00) Intro (01:07) Introducing Mary Jo from “Poitcast” (14:02) Minute of History: How Did This Get Made? (24:30) Plot Synopsis (26:21) Quasimodo’s Conception as a Monster (31:49) Presence of “Hunchback” Iconography (33:52) Courage’s Family (Muriel and Eustace) (42:47) The Hunchback’s Character Design (46:58) “Hunchback” Character/Plot Stand-Ins (49:51) The Music (52:52) Overall Thoughts + Inn, Dust, Throw (01:07:39) Next Episode Preview + Outro Podcast logo by Ryan Grimm (Instagram: @grimmstar2002). “The Hunchcast of Notre Dame” is a production of 1482 Media. All rights reserved.

    “Courage the Cowardly Dog: The Hunchback of Nowhere” (2000) ft. Mary Jo of “Poitcast”

  4. Sep 22

    Lost and Unmade “Hunchback of Notre Dame” Adaptations (ft. director Christopher Gomez)

    We’re discussing LOST and UNMADE adaptations of Victor Hugo’s “Notre-Dame de Paris” (“The Hunchback of Notre Dame”)! Just because a film studio announces they’re making a movie doesn’t mean any living person will ever see that movie, and we’re breaking down Hunchback of Notre Dame-related projects that were lost to time or never saw the light of day. Why haven’t we had a theatrically-released straight Hunchback adaptation since 1996? Is there any hope of recovering the four lost Hunchback movies/TV broadcasts? What do Josh Brolin, Idris Elba, Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad, and Boris Karloff have in common? (Spoiler: They all nearly played Quasimodo!) Listen along as we answer these questions and more! Special thanks to director Christopher Gomez for joining us for an interview! Watch the “Our Lady of Paris” trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGiBgwKoc4g Connect with Christopher on social media: https://www.instagram.com/christopher_gomez81/, https://www.facebook.com/christopher.b.gomez.1/ RING THE NOTIFICATION BELL to be automatically updated when new episodes are released! GET FREE BONUS CONTENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: @TheHunchcast (https://www.instagram.com/thehunchcast/)Tumblr: @TheHunchcast (https://www.tumblr.com/thehunchcast)TikTok: @TheHunchcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@thehunchcast)GET IN TOUCH: thehunchcast@gmail.com VIEW ALL THIS EPISODE’S SOURCES HERE: https://docs.google.com/document/d/111kp5PSryFmah-ENVXnaLn4hiyKuMmhD8XZAe0EpiR0/edit?tab=t.0 CHAPTERS: (00:00) Intro (01:33) Found Movies: “Esmeralda” (1905) & “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1911) (07:30) “The Darling of Paris” (1917) (14:25) “Esmeralda” (1922) (16:16) Two-Part “Robert Montgomery Presents” Broadcast (1954) (18:54) BBC Miniseries (1966) (21:43) Victor Hugo’s Sequels to “Notre-Dame de Paris” (28:29) John Huston’s Script for Universal (1932) (30:10) Michael Frost Beckner’s Script (1992) (33:57) Josh Brolin & Tim Burton’s Warner Brothers Movie (2011) (35:54) “Esmeralda” ABC Series (2013) (37:13) Peter Dinklage & Charles Dance’s “Quasimodo” Series (2017) (38:25) Idris Elba’s Modern-Day Netflix Movie (2018) (40:00) Disney’s Live-Action Remake (2019) (46:57) “Our Lady of Paris” Microbudget Film (Interview With Director Christopher Gomez) (01:20:46) Final Thoughts + Inn, Dust, Throw (01:29:35) Next Episode Teaser + Outro Podcast logo by Ryan Grimm (Instagram: @grimmstar2002). “The Hunchcast of Notre Dame” is a production of 1482 Media. All rights reserved.

    Lost and Unmade “Hunchback of Notre Dame” Adaptations (ft. director Christopher Gomez)

  5. Sep 8

    “Big Man on Campus” (1989) ft. screenwriter and star Allan Katz

    We’re going back to school with the fish-out-of-water comedy “Big Man on Campus,” a loose retelling of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” set at UCLA! Written by and starring renowned television writer Allan Katz (who joins us for an EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW about his experience working on the film), this movie follows Bob Maloogaloogaloogaloogalooga (one Malooga, four Loogas), a feral hunchback living in UCLA’s abandoned clocktower. When the psychology department seeks to educate and civilize Bob, wacky hijinks ensue. How much does this movie deviate from the classic Hunchback of Notre Dame story? Why is this movie set at UCLA (and not the University of Notre Dame in Indiana)? How does Big Man on Campus stack up against other quintessential college flicks? Join us as we answer these questions and more! RING THE NOTIFICATION BELL to be automatically updated when new episodes are released! GET FREE BONUS CONTENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: @TheHunchcast (https://www.instagram.com/thehunchcast/)Tumblr: @TheHunchcast (https://www.tumblr.com/thehunchcast)TikTok: @TheHunchcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@thehunchcast)GET IN TOUCH: thehunchcast@gmail.com SOURCES: “Big Man on Campus” Blu-Ray Special Features: “What About Bob?” Featurette, Original Ending“Screaming Yellow Zonkers” hunchback commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hky77ffF2RcMelora Hardin on The Joe Vulpis Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBrWCkFVUGgCHAPTERS: (00:00) Intro (01:12) Minute of History: How Did This Get Made? (06:48) Plot Synopsis (13:51) One Movie, Two Endings (19:25) Interview With Screenwriter and Star Allan Katz (39:32) Is This an Adaptation or an Homage? (41:26) The College Movie Genre (44:09) Bob’s (Quasimodo’s) Role (48:34) Corey Parker’s Performance (50:46) Dr. Fisk’s (Frollo’s?) Role (53:34) The Explicit Humor (55:08) Overall Thoughts + Inn, Dust, Throw (01:02:24) Next Episode Teaser + Outro Podcast logo by Ryan Grimm (Instagram: @grimmstar2002). “The Hunchcast of Notre Dame” is a production of 1482 Media. All rights reserved.

    “Big Man on Campus” (1989) ft. screenwriter and star Allan Katz

  6. Aug 25

    “The Hunchback” (1997)

    This episode, we’re discussing “The Hunchback,” which premiered on TNT in 1997! Filmed in Eastern Europe after the end of the Cold War, this movie, starring Mandy Patinkin and then-rising star Salma Hayek, borrows dialogue and plot points from RKO’s 1939 adaptation to grapple with themes of censorship and freedom of expression. Why is this movie set in 1505? What are the implications of reducing Phoebus’s role? What the heck happened to the south belltower? Join us as we reckon with these questions and more! RING THE NOTIFICATION BELL to be automatically updated when new episodes are released! GET FREE BONUS CONTENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: @TheHunchcast (https://www.instagram.com/thehunchcast/)Tumblr: @TheHunchcast (https://www.tumblr.com/thehunchcast)TikTok: @TheHunchcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@thehunchcast)GET IN TOUCH: thehunchcast@gmail.com SOURCES: Official Press Kit for “The Hunchback”“Victor Hugo: A Biography” by Graham Robb (1997)“My Name is Barbra” by Barbra Streisand (2023)“Elements” by Euclid (300 BC)“Inside Mandy Patinkin’s Disastrous Hunchback of Notre Dame Audition” by Drew Taylor for Collider (2020)CHAPTERS: (00:00) Intro (01:20) Minute of History: How Did This Get Made? (16:14) Plot Synopsis (24:06) Why 1505? (32:15) Quasimodo’s Role (44:27) Gringoire’s Role (46:33) Esmeralda’s Role (52:00) Frollo’s Anti-Printing Press Argument (56:51) Frollo’s Religiosity (01:00:45) Clopin’s Role (01:05:48) Quasimodo and Esmeralda’s Friendship (01:07:31) Overall Thoughts + Inn, Dust, Throw (01:21:59) Next Episode Preview + Outro Podcast logo by Ryan Grimm (Instagram: @grimmstar2002). “The Hunchcast of Notre Dame” is a production of 1482 Media. All rights reserved.

    “The Hunchback” (1997)

  7. Aug 11

    “The Secret of the Hunchback” (1996) ft. Emily of Notre Dame

    On this episode of the world’s first “Hunchback of Notre Dame” podcast, we’re diving into the wide, wide world of mockbusters with UAV Entertainment’s “The Secret of the Hunchback” (1996)! Acclaimed Notre-Dame cathedral tour guide Emily MacKinnon joins us from Paris, France to discuss another animated musical, this time featuring a Gaston knock-off, jazzy grotesques, angels in disguise, and a good old-fashioned drag show. Why aren’t the voice actors credited? What is the secret of the hunchback? Why does this film’s soundtrack feature so many extra songs? (And are they any good?) Listen along as we grapple with these questions and more! RING THE NOTIFICATION BELL to be automatically updated when new episodes are released! GET FREE BONUS CONTENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: @TheHunchcast (https://www.instagram.com/thehunchcast/)Tumblr: @TheHunchcast (https://www.tumblr.com/thehunchcast)TikTok: @TheHunchcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@thehunchcast)GET IN TOUCH: thehunchcast@gmail.com SOURCES: Walt Disney Co. v. Goodtimes Home Video Corp: https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/830/762/2292104/Background on Benjamin Franklin: Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th EditionPeter Pan-related injuries: https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2014/nov/25/top-10-things-peter-pan-facts-jm-barrie CHAPTERS: (00:00) Intro (03:05) Minute of History: Disney Mockbusters (09:35) Plot Synopsis (14:53) Esmeralda’s Role (17:49) The Humor + the Production Value (22:35) Pierre Gringoire’s Role (25:47) What is the Secret of the Hunchback? (30:30) Frollo’s Role (33:18) Is This Appropriate for Kids? (37:37) Live Reaction to “Hootchie Kootchie Cutie Poo” (44:01) Quasimodo’s Role (46:02) The Christian Messaging (48:44) The Grotesques + Notre Dame Accuracy (52:04) Overall Thoughts + Inn, Dust, Throw (1:02:55) Next Episode Teaser + Outro Podcast logo by Ryan Grimm (Instagram: @grimmstar2002). “The Hunchcast of Notre Dame” is a production of 1482 Media. All rights reserved.

    “The Secret of the Hunchback” (1996) ft. Emily of Notre Dame

  8. Jul 28

    “Crossed” by Emily McIntire (2023)

    On this episode of the definitive “Hunchback of Notre Dame” podcast, we’re discussing the dark romance novel “Crossed” by New York Times-bestselling author Emily McIntire! This reimagining of Victor Hugo’s novel set in 21st-century Vermont portrays Claude Frollo as a serial killer, Esmeralda as a sex worker, and Quasimodo as an iPad kid. Has trope marketing gone too far? Why is this novel set in Vermont? Is this good neurodivergent representation? Can a book truly be so bad it’s good? Listen along as we grapple with these questions and more! RING THE NOTIFICATION BELL to be automatically updated when new episodes are released! GET FREE BONUS CONTENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: @TheHunchcast (https://www.instagram.com/thehunchcast/)Tumblr: @TheHunchcast (https://www.tumblr.com/thehunchcast)TikTok: @TheHunchcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@thehunchcast)GET IN TOUCH: thehunchcast@gmail.com SOURCES: How Emily McIntire defines retellings vs. reimaginings: emilymcintire.com/faq Emily McIntire’s Goodreads Q&A: goodreads.com/author/20245445.Emily_McIntire/questions Literary critic Harold Bloom’s interview on “Charlie Rose,” broadcast July 11, 2000CHAPTERS: (00:00) Intro (00:51) Minute of History (04:02) Plot Synopsis (09:17) Harold Bloom + Contradicting Popular Opinion (10:18) Has Trope Marketing Gone Too Far? (16:57) Why So Much Violence + Gore? (27:36) Quasimodo/Quentin and ASD Representation (38:15) The Setting (Festivalé, Vermont) (43:12) The Writing Itself (55:37) The Epigraph (59:02) “Notre-Dame Cathedral” (1:04:31) Overall Thoughts + Inn, Dust, Throw (1:13:29) Next Episode Teaser + Outro Podcast logo by Ryan Grimm (Instagram: @grimmstar2002). “The Hunchcast of Notre Dame” is a production of 1482 Media. All rights reserved.

    “Crossed” by Emily McIntire (2023)
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The podcast about Victor Hugo’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (“Notre-Dame de Paris”) and its many adaptations! Reviews, interviews, commentaries, and more. Contact us: thehunchcast@gmail.com

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