The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (Delta)

"The Man of a Thousand Faces," Lon Chaney, again stars as an anguished and ugly outcast, this time donning a 50-pound hairy hump to become Quasimodo - the hunchback with a heart of gold in the film version of Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Set in 16th Century Paris, the story unfolds when the downtrodden hunchback is forced into a sinister plot to kidnap the young gypsy beauty, Esmeralda (Patsy Ruth Miller), by the lustful Jehan (Brandon Hurst). Unsuccessful in his attempts, Quasimodo is captured and publicly whipped. While all the others enjoy his humiliation and pain, it is only Esmeralda who shows him pity and kindness. She offers him water, and in return wins the gratitude and the heart of Quasimodo. When she finds herself imprisoned after being falsely accused of murder by the spiteful Jehan, the hunchback swings into action, rescuing her from the gallows and doggedly fighting off her pursuers. Filmed at the height of the silent film era, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a spectacular production with gargantuan sets, lavish costumes, and brilliant performances.