The Hunchback of Notre Dame

[Mrs Vindecco]

I recorded this during christmas and just managed to watch it. It had been a years since I had viewed this, about twenty five years. However I wanted to watch it again because I've always liked Charles Laughton and I seem to be have been watching a lot of Victor Hugo adaptions (okay, I admit Victor Hugo adaptions through a Hollywood, saccharine-tinted lens).

As expected, Charles Laughton was excellent, an almost cuddly Quasimodo. Maureen O'Hara was also very good as Esmerelda, I can't believe she was only 19 when she made this. I'm not sure there are many teenagers that could give the mature she gave. I have to also say I enjoyed Sir Cedrick Hardwick in this. This came as a surprise as I'm not really a fan of his. I always think he comes across slightly bored on film. I presume his knighthood came from theatrical work and like a lot of the "Sirs" from 1930's Hollywood, he just fancied retiring to America's west coast.

[woofy]

Have you ever seen the edition of TIYL that featured Maureen O'Hara?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Nf3SA01V9g

[Mrs Vindecco]

Fantastic find Woofy! I'm unfamiliar with the original This Is Your Life series, so I shall watch this with interest. ;D

[Mrs Vindecco]

Just watched the This is Your Life episode Woofy and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved her easy going nature and the way she tried to "escape" when she entered the studio. I also think it great that she is proud of her Irish upbringing. Great watch Woofy, thanks so much.

[woofy]

When she was with her family, she was having a hard time keeping her accent under control. Ordinarily, the only time you can hear her accent is when she is playing an Irish character, as in The Quiet Man. Otherwise, she sounds pretty much like a corn-fed Iowa farmer's wife. :-)

[Mrs Vindecco]

It's funny you mentioned her accent because she was in a documentary about Pan-Am last year and I could still here a very strong hint of Irish there.

Just found it on youtube, I think Maureen O'Hara is about 32 mins in.

[woofy]

Yes, when she's just being herself, there's no need for her to repress her accent. But I knew here only through her film roles. In films like Miracle on 34th Street, The Wings of Eagles, etc., she sounds very American. But in films like McLintock, The Quiet Man, etc., where she was playing an Irish character, it was a different story. (BTW, I really like the part in The Quiet Man where she speaks Gaelic with Ward Bond. I know a few Irish curses, but that's it for me. Being half Irish, I should be ashamed.)