Synopsis
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) is Wallace Worsley's silent drama from Victor Hugo's novel, and you can watch online on iFILM. At its heart is Quasimodo, the deaf bell-ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral, played by Lon Chaney.
Set in 15th-century Paris, the story follows the gypsy dancer Esmeralda, framed for a crime she didn't commit. The only soul willing to save her is the disfigured outcast who rings the cathedral bells, a man the crowd treats as a monster. Chaney, the 'man of a thousand faces,' designed and wore his own punishing makeup and a hump weighing tens of pounds; his Quasimodo earns pity rather than disgust.
It was one of the costliest silent films of its day — Universal built a vast replica of the cathedral and hired thousands of extras. The picture turned Chaney into a major star and still stands as a benchmark for makeup and physical performance. For fans of silent cinema and gothic classics, it's essential. Stream The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) online on iFILM.
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