Comments | frollophiles: More film versions

silverwhistle in frollophiles

More film versions

Jan 08, 2010 21:31

Today, I was lucky enough to get Kevin J Harty's The Reel Middle Ages secondhand. It's a compendium of films on mediæval themes, and includes several versions of NDdP.

I was interested to note that in the French silents, La Esméralda (1905) and NDdP (1911), Claude's profession and the tragic ending are retained. It's Hollywood that changes things ( Read more... )

films

Comments 2

iamhottt23 January 8 2010, 21:53:09 UTC

I haven't seen many film adaptations of Notre Dame, I have only read the book and seen the Disney interpretation.
But I have heard good things about the 1956 version and I should probably watch it. The thing is, is that a good film isn't always the most faithful to the book - I mean ... a film is a film.. if it is going to be exactly like the book, why not just read the book? So maybe it's a good film, despite not being so faithful.
Notre Dame is such a complex book.. I mean.. it's such a BOOK. I say I haven't watched many films of it because I have never really felt the inclination because it worked so well as a book and I can hardly imagine in it as a film in the same way. I mean. It doesn't seem to me like it makes a good film.
But then I haven't seen any - maybe when I have I will update the comment!

silverwhistle January 8 2010, 22:21:44 UTC

I haven't seen many film adaptations of Notre Dame, I have only read the book and seen the Disney interpretation.

Re: the Disney, you have my deepest sympathies.

The first adaptations I saw, before reading the book in 1981, were the 1976 BBC version (excellent - studio-bound, but with inventive set reminiscent of the architectural forms you see in mediæval manuscripts, and it has the best ever Pierre and Jehan) and the 1956 film, which used to be on TV a great deal when I was young. I then saw the 1939 and 1982 versions on TV. I saw the 1923 and Disney versions and 2 ballets and the musical for the first time in 2009. I love the musical and the French ballet by Roland Petit. I refuse to watch the 1997 US TV version on principle, as it sounds even worse than the Disney version.

But I have heard good things about the 1956 version and I should probably watch it. The thing is, is that a good film isn't always the most faithful to the book - I mean ... a film is a film.. if it is going to be exactly like the book, why not just read the ( ... )