The Hunchcast of Notre Dame

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

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

  1. Jean Delannoy’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1956)

    2h ago

    Jean Delannoy’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1956)

    On this episode of the definitive “Hunchback of Notre Dame” podcast, we discuss Jean Delannoy’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1956)! This Technicolor film, which Guillermo del Toro regarded as “one of the most misguided adaptations of the Victor Hugo classic,” was famously shot in both French and English simultaneously. Director Jean Delannoy and producers Robert and Raymond Hakim sought to create the most “human” Quasimodo, adapt Victor Hugo’s novel more faithfully than any studio had, and outdo Hollywood. Did the filmmakers achieve their goals? Was smuggling the leading actor into France worth the effort? Why did this movie’s publicity materials include the leading actress’s bra size? Is this movie’s Claude Frollo too handsome? Join us 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: “A Propos de Notre Dame de Paris,” a making-of documentary featurette directed by Pierre Unia“One Man Tango” by Anthony Quinn (1995)“Imperial Gina: The Strictly Unauthorized Biography of Gina Lollobrigida” by Luis Canales (1990)Jean Delannoy’s appearance on “Cinépanorama” (April 28, 1956)New York Times film review by Bosley Crowther (Dec. 12, 1957)Variety Movie Guide, Prentice Hall General Reference. 1992, 284.Trailers From Hell: “Guillermo del Toro on THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1957)” (Feb. 14, 2014)CHAPTERS: (00:00) Intro (02:30) Minute of History: Two Movies, Two Languages (20:38) Plot Synopsis (27:41) Plot vs. Story (38:38) Quasimodo’s Role (44:37) Claude Frollo’s Role (55:01) Jehan’s Role (01:00:20) Pierre Gringoire’s Role (01:01:54) Esmeralda’s Role (01:12:56) Phoebus’s Role (01:17:05) Fleur-de-Lys’ Role (01:19:18) The Ending + An Abundance of Jacqueses (01:27:50) Overall Thoughts + Inn, Dust, Throw (01:39:39) 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.

    1h 41m
  2. Interview with Gary Trousdale, Co-Director of Disney’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”

    3d ago ·  Bonus

    Interview with Gary Trousdale, Co-Director of Disney’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”

    Hosted on Saturday, June 20, 2026, The Official Unofficial Fan Celebration for the 30th Anniversary of Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame invited fans to commemorate the film's three-decade legacy! This livestreamed celebration reunited Don Hahn (Producer), Kirk Wise (Director), Gary Trousdale (Director)*, Tab Murphy (Screenwriter), Stephen Schwartz (Lyricist) and Kathy Zielinski (Supervising Animator, Frollo) to discuss behind-the-scenes stories and reminisce about the film’s production. The complete recording of the livestream is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MAKdmA_Slk. *Gary Trousdale was unavailable to attend the livestream, but he graciously sat down for a pre-recorded interview. The full recording is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTyMAU6ZuL8. Throughout the interviews, we learned how the filmmakers got away with the Hellfire sequence, what changes were made to ensure the film’s G rating, if the gargoyles are real or only figments of Quasimodo’s imagination, an update on the previously announced live-action adaptation, the future of the stage musical, and more! ABOUT THE HOSTS: PATRICK DONOHUE is an educator from Western New York who holds a Master of Arts in History. He hosts The Hunchcast of Notre Dame, the definitive podcast about Victor Hugo’s classic story Notre-Dame de Paris and its many adaptations, with co-host Leslie Sattler. New episodes are released every other Tuesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. A dedicated historian, Patrick is committed to archiving, contextualizing, and preserving material related to The Hunchback of Notre Dame, including photographs, articles, recordings, scripts and unproduced screenplays. He is currently working on a nonfiction book about the rich history and cultural impact of Victor Hugo’s novel Notre-Dame de Paris. Follow Patrick on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehunchcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehunchcast Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/thehunchcast EMILY MACKINNON lives in Paris, France where she operates her own tour business (Quasimodo & His Cathedral Tours) giving private tours of Notre-Dame de Paris. She spends her life attending special events, seeing numerous stage adaptations in multiple different countries, cosplaying as Esmeralda, amassing a collection of memorabilia that could fill a museum, and everything else in between! Having appeared on television broadcasts, radio segments, and news websites around the world, Emily has gained international recognition for her unmatched passion for all things Notre Dame de Paris and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. She loves connecting with other fans and runs the largest Hunchback of Notre Dame Discord Server, along with the correlating Subreddit. Follow Emily on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyofnotredame Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/Quasimodaaa

    1h 21m
  3. Disney’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” LIVE Filmmakers’ Roundtable, ft. Stephen Schwartz, Don Hahn, Kirk Wise, Tab Murphy, and Kathy Zielinski

    3d ago ·  Bonus

    Disney’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” LIVE Filmmakers’ Roundtable, ft. Stephen Schwartz, Don Hahn, Kirk Wise, Tab Murphy, and Kathy Zielinski

    Hosted on Saturday, June 20, 2026, The Official Unofficial Fan Celebration for the 30th Anniversary of Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame invited fans to commemorate the film's 30-year legacy! This livestreamed celebration reunited Don Hahn (Producer), Kirk Wise (Director), Gary Trousdale (Director)*, Tab Murphy (Screenwriter), Stephen Schwartz (Lyricist) and Kathy Zielinski (Supervising Animator, Frollo) to discuss behind-the-scenes stories and reminisce about the film’s production. The complete recording of the livestream is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MAKdmA_Slk (*Gary Trousdale was unavailable to attend the livestream, but a pre-recorded interview with him is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTyMAU6ZuL8) Throughout the livestream, we learned how the filmmakers got away with the Hellfire sequence, what changes were made to ensure the film’s G rating, if the gargoyles are real or only figments of Quasimodo’s imagination, an update on the previously announced live-action adaptation, the future of the stage musical, and more! ABOUT THE EVENT HOSTS: Emily MacKinnon lives in Paris, France where she operates her own tour business (Quasimodo & His Cathedral Tours) giving private tours of Notre-Dame de Paris. She spends her life attending special events, seeing numerous stage adaptations in multiple different countries, cosplaying as Esmeralda, amassing a collection of memorabilia that could fill a museum, and everything else in between! Having appeared on television broadcasts, radio segments, and news websites around the world, Emily has gained international recognition for her unmatched passion for all things Notre Dame de Paris and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. She loves connecting with other fans and runs the largest Hunchback of Notre Dame Discord Server, along with the correlating Subreddit. Follow Emily on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyofnotredame Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/Quasimodaaa Patrick Donohue is an educator from Western New York who holds a Master of Arts in History. He is currently working on a nonfiction book about the rich history and cultural impact of Victor Hugo’s novel Notre-Dame de Paris. A dedicated historian, Patrick is committed to archiving, contextualizing, and preserving material related to The Hunchback of Notre Dame, including photographs, articles, recordings, scripts and unproduced screenplays. Patrick hosts The Hunchcast, the definitive podcast about Victor Hugo’s classic story Notre-Dame de Paris and its many adaptations, with co-host Leslie Sattler. New episodes are released every other Tuesday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Follow Patrick on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehunchcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehunchcast Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/thehunchcast

    2h 36m
  4. “Wishbone: The Hunchdog of Notre Dame” (1995)

    Jun 30

    “Wishbone: The Hunchdog of Notre Dame” (1995)

    Watch “The Hunchdog of Notre Dame” for FREE on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejCRJQ3TO7s On this episode of the definitive “Hunchback of Notre Dame” podcast, we discuss “The Hunchdog of Notre Dame,” the fourteenth episode of the show “Wishbone,” which aired on PBS in 1995. “Wishbone” follows a Jack Russell Terrier who imagines himself as the hero of classic novels. In “The Hunchdog of Notre Dame,” a roller hockey game inspires Wishbone to see himself as Quasimodo in Victor Hugo’s “Notre-Dame de Paris” (“The Hunchback of Notre Dame”). Is this dog the best actor who ever portrayed Quasimodo? Has anyone played roller hockey in the 21st century? Who the heck is Dam Cloud Froyo? Plus, cultural literacy! Hair ribbons! Texas! Taxpayer funding! Join us to learn about all these topics 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: “What’s the Story, Wishbone?” (2026)“The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy” by Dr. E.D. Hirsch (1988)CHAPTERS: (00:00) Intro (02:58) Minute of History: The Canon Wars (11:06) Plot Synopsis (14:45) How “Wishbone” Was Produced (18:08) How Faithful Is This Adaptation? (22:10) Comparison to Other “Wishbone” Episodes (26:54) Soccer the Dog & Larry Brantley (voice) (31:03) Esmeralda’s Role (33:26) Dam Cloud Froyo’s Role (35:44) The Hunchdog’s Role (37:40) Overall Thoughts & Inn, Dust, Throw (43:48) 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.

    45 min
  5. Disney’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1996) ft. Emily of Notre Dame

    Jun 16

    Disney’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1996) ft. Emily of Notre Dame

    Acclaimed Notre Dame tour guide Emily MacKinnon joins us to discuss Disney’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” which celebrates its 30th birthday this month! Often called Disney's darkest animated movie, this black sheep of the Disney renaissance spawned a multi-million-dollar merchandising campaign, a direct-to-video sequel, a live show at the Disney parks, two stage musicals, and an announced but quietly canceled live-action remake. Whose idea was it to turn “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” by Victor Hugo into a Disney movie? Why didn’t Quasimodo and Esmeralda end up together? Are we ever getting a live-action remake of this film, and should we? Listen along to learn the answers to these questions and more! Watch our LIVE Q&A with lyricist Stephen Schwartz, producer Don Hahn, directors Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, story writer Tab Murphy, and supervising animator Kathy Zielenski on SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET on https://www.YouTube.com/@Hunchback30thAnniversary! RING THE NOTIFICATION BELL to be automatically updated when new episodes are released! BOOK A TOUR WITH EMILY: https://www.quasimodoandhiscathedraltours.com/ JOIN THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME SUBREDDIT: https://www.reddit.com/r/HunchbackOfNotreDame/ JOIN THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME DISCORD SERVER: https://discord.gg/uRa88pfFTF FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehunchcast/Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/thehunchcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehunchcastEPISODE SOURCES: “'The Hunchback Of Notre Dame' At 25: An Oral History Of Disney's Darkest Animated Classic” by Josh SpiegelAlan Menken Interviews with ComicBook.com (May 11, 2023) and The Standard (Feb 24, 2025)Audio Commentary by Don Hahn, Gary Trousdale, and Kirk Wise“The Art of The Hunchback of Notre Dame” by Stephen RebelloCinefantastique, Vol. 27, Issue 10EPISODE CHAPTERS: (00:00) Special Announcement (01:00) Intro (02:07) Emily’s Story (17:16) How Did This Movie Get Made? (25:25) Plot Synopsis (29:45) How Loose Is This Adaptation? (33:33) Quasimodo’s Role (43:02) Claude Frollo’s Role (49:45) Box Office Performance + Controversies (52:52) The Gargoyles (57:38) History of the Announced Live-Action Remake + Our Thoughts (01:12:29) Clopin’s Role (01:18:40) Phoebus’s Role (01:25:31) Should Quasimodo and Esmeralda Have Ended Up Together? (01:35:55) Duets Between Phoebus and Esmeralda (01:37:59) Esmeralda’s Role (01:46:02) Ranking the Songs (02:09:04) Historical Inaccuracies (02:12:51) Overall Thoughts + Inn, Dust, Throw (02:25:32) Outro Podcast logo by Ryan Grimm (Instagram: @grimmstar2002).

    2h 28m
  6. RKO’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1939)

    Jun 2

    RKO’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1939)

    On this episode of the world’s first podcast about “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (“Notre-Dame de Paris”), we discuss RKO’s feature film of the same name, released in 1939! Made during the Holocaust and the Great Depression, this remake of Universal’s feature film speaks to the difficult state of the world in the 1930s by refocusing Victor Hugo’s story on themes of social justice. Academy Award winner Charles Laughton and then-eighteen-year-old Maureen O’Hara turn in career-best performances. Does this movie contain the best version of the character Pierre Gringoire? Why did RKO purchase the rights to make a movie based on a public-domain book? Is Charles Laughton God? Plus, Coldplay! Yo mama! Progresso soup! Aldi! The seven liberal arts! Join us as we discuss these topics 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 CHAPTERS FOR THIS EPISODE: (00:00) Intro (00:27) How Did This Get Made? (19:48) Plot Synopsis (29:27) The Ending (33:40) Writers Bruno Frank and Sonya Levien (40:38) Clopin and the Bonus Army Incident (45:33) King Louis XI’s Role (48:53) Pierre Gringoire’s Role (52:54) Esmeralda's Role (57:04) Quasimodo's Role (01:02:21) Jehan Frollo's Role (01:16:52) The Screenplay (01:20:17) The Bells of Notre Dame (01:21:48) Overall Thoughts (01:25:54) Inn, Dust, Throw (01:31:36) Outro SOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE: “Charles Laughton: An Intimate Biography” by Charles Higham (1976)“’Tis Herself: An Autobiography” by Maureen O’Hara (2004)“A Man Called Cervantes” by Bruno Frank (1935)“RKO Radio Pictures: A Titan Is Born” by Richard B. Jewell (2012)“Thalberg: The Last Tycoon and the World of M-G-M” by Roland Flamini (1994)“Lon Chaney, Jr.: Horror Film Star, 1906–1973” by Don G. Smith (2004)“A Great Lady: A Life of the Screenwriter Sonya Levien” by Larry Ceplair (1996)Variety’s July 1932, August 1932, and March 1934 issues“RKO Buys From MGM Screen Rights to ‘Hunchback of Notre Dame.’” New York Times, January 24, 1939“RKO Negotiates With Orson Welles for ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame.’” New York Times, March 30, 1939“The Making of The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” Turner Home Entertainment (1996)Podcast logo by Ryan Grimm (Instagram: @grimmstar2002). “The Hunchcast of Notre Dame” is a production of 1482 Media. All rights reserved.

    1h 32m
  7. “Man of a Thousand Faces” (1957), the Lon Chaney biopic

    May 19

    “Man of a Thousand Faces” (1957), the Lon Chaney biopic

    On this episode of the definitive podcast about “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (“Notre-Dame de Paris”), we discuss the Lon Chaney biopic “Man of a Thousand Faces” (1957)! While this movie isn’t a direct “Hunchback” adaptation, it contains recreation scenes of Universal’s 1923 movie (the topic of our previous episode) and provides valuable insight into Lon Chaney’s (Quasimodo’s) life at the time of filming. How much of this movie is historically accurate? Why is 58-year-old James Cagney playing a 22-year-old? And why, why, WHY does the Quasimodo makeup look so terrible? 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 CHAPTERS FOR THIS EPISODE: (00:00) Intro (00:57) Why Did This Get Made? (08:10) Plot Synopsis (12:50) Historical Accuracy (18:04) Portrayal of Deafness and Ableism (23:13) James Cagney’s Performance (25:06) The Recreation Scenes (36:58) Chaney’s Wives (45:51) Overall Thoughts (50:42) Inn, Dust, Throw (55:54) Outro SOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE: “Lon Chaney: The Man Behind the Thousand Faces” by Michael F. Blake“A Thousand Faces: Lon Chaney’s Unique Artistry in Motion Pictures” by Michael F. Blake“The Universal Story” (1996)“Orson Welles - Interview with Michael Parkinson” (BBC 1974)“The Kid Stays in the Picture: A Notorious Life,” an autobiography by Robert Evans (1994)Podcast logo by Ryan Grimm (Instagram: @grimmstar2002). “The Hunchcast of Notre Dame” is a production of 1482 Media. All rights reserved.

    57 min
  8. Universal’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1923)

    May 5

    Universal’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1923)

    On this episode of the definitive podcast about “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (“Notre-Dame de Paris”), we’re discussing Universal’s silent film “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” released in 1923! Arguably the most important “Hunchback” adaptation (though not the first), this movie, one of the most expensive ever made during its time, kicked off the Universal Monsters franchise, turned Lon Chaney, the Man of a Thousand Faces, into an internationally-recognized star, and legitimized Universal as a major film studio. But for all its fame, this film is shrouded in mystery. What happened to the scenes and subplots that were cut? Was Quasimodo’s hump actually 70 pounds? Who REALLY directed this movie? Join us as we answer these century-old questions! WATCH UNIVERSAL’S “THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME” FOR FREE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzIEOAUTb-c 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 FOR THIS EPISODE: (00:00) Intro (00:23) Was This the First “Hunchback” Movie? (01:43) How Did This Get Made? (07:40) Plot Synopsis (13:22) The Title Cards (15:36) Jehan/Claude Frollo’s Role (18:39) The Treasure of Notre Dame (21:49) The Sets (24:19) The Film’s Central Conflict (27:51) Portrayal of the Catholic Church (32:59) Quasimodo’s Role (38:50) Esmeralda’s Role (47:53) Phoebus’s Role (53:11) The Sack Woman’s Role (57:23) Clopin’s Role (59:29) Gringoire’s Role (01:04:15) Censorship (01:08:02) Norman Kerry (01:09:32) Overall Thoughts (01:16:06) Inn, Dust, Throw (01:21:42) Outro SOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE: “Lon Chaney: The Man Behind the Thousand Faces” by Michael F. Blake“A Thousand Faces: Lon Chaney’s Unique Artistry in Motion Pictures” by Michael F. Blake“The Hunchback of Notre Dame: An Original Motion Picture Edition” by Perely Poore Shehan“The Universal Story” (1996)“My Hollywood: When Both of Us Were Young” by Patsy Ruth Miller“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” screenplay reprint by Philip J. RileyPodcast logo by Ryan Grimm (Instagram: @grimmstar2002). “The Hunchcast of Notre Dame” is a production of 1482 Media. All rights reserved.

    1h 22m
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Ratings & Reviews

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4 Ratings

About

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

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