The film opens with narration, detailing the history of the word "Anaykh," which the filmmakers claim to mean "evil destiny," and how Victor Hugo himself used this word as the foundation to "one of the greatest of his books," and in turn, this film.
At the Palace of Justice, a mystery play written by Pierre Gringoire is being preformed. But the people are not content with "The Quest For Beauty," and heckle the play, kidnapping the musicians and taking over the stage. In order to calm the people, the Flemish ambassador Jaques Coppenole, suggest that the people "have a king (of fools) to elect."
The people gather in the square to build the throne for the King of Fools, when the alchemist Claude Frollo tells them to "Take that away!" Frollo is mocked, taunted with cries of "Old sour face" and "Master killjoy." The jeerers surround Frollo, causing Quasimodo to come to his aid. Frollo orders him to destroy the throne and Quasimodo obeys, flipping it over.
Frollo is then confronted by Jehan, dressed as a devil, who begs for money. Frollo tells Jehan to "Go to the devil," and Jehan declares that "Henceforth (he) shall steal what (he) needs."
When he arrives at the palace, Gringoire tells Frollo how the people have ruined his play. Then, Esmeralda enters, taking her white goat Djali with her, and in turn the rest of the audience.
Frollo informs Gringoire that Esmeralda is a "gypsy, always dancing in the square." Gringoire gives up, feeling that his play was "already on its last legs," and joins the crowd around Esmeralda. Esmeralda dances and sings, enchanting the audience, particularly Frollo who watches from a nearby window.
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| Esmeralda and Gringoire |
The election of the king of fools, meanwhile, is in full swing. The people decide to elect Guillaume Rosseau, despite protests of him not being "ugly enough." Coppenole brings this choice to Clopin, who then brings it to Mathias, the Duke of Egypt, who feels Rousseau is "ugly enough to be king of anywhere."
Esmeralda brings the attention of the people to Quasimodo, who had been watching the festivities. Rousseau has his crown and robe taken off so it can be placed onto Quasimodo. Quasimodo is given a whistle is delighted that he can hear it "like the thunder, like the bells." He is carried on the same throne he was ordered to destroy earlier, laughing and whistling.
As night falls, Frollo becomes aware of Quasimodo's reign as King of Fools. He puts a stop to the parading of him, much to the dismay of the townspeople. The night watchman passes through the street, ordering people to go to sleep. Gringoire only wishes he could.
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| Frollo stops to listen to Esmeralda's song |
Frollo and Quasimodo stumble across Esmeralda, who is singing a song about life's futility. Frollo despairs and Quasimodo laughs childishly. Frollo tells Quasimodo to kidnap Esmeralda because "she follows (him)...in the street, in (his) dreams," and Quasimodo obeys, though he is reluctant to do so.
Quasimodo approaches Esmeralda, but she flees, screaming for help. Quasimodo is arrested by Captain Phoebus and his soldiers. Quasimodo tries to explain that he "wasn't going to hurt (her)," but his words fall on deaf ears.
Phoebus rides off with Esmeralda, who just wants to ride with him all night. Phoebus tries to convince Esmeralda to sleep with him, but Esmeralda just runs away, laughing.
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| Gringoire on trial |
Gringoire is captured by vagabonds and taken to their hideout, known as the court of miracles. Clopin, Mathias. and Guilloume are the leaders there, and they tell Gringoire that he'll "have a fair trial." He's put up for auction, essentially, if any woman wants to marry him, he'll live. He is offered to some beggar women, who mock his physic and stature. Esmeralda offers to marry Gringoire. Gringoire is delighted, but Esmeralda tells her new husband that "if you touch me, I'll kill you." Gringoire assures her that "that won't be necessary," and is content to be an assistant to Esmeralda.
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| Jacques Charmalou, Claude Frollo, and Louis Xi |
The next day, Louis Xi, the king of France, arrives at Notre Dame. He casually ignores all offers made to him, be it for "old rags" or even simple "charity." He has come, along with his prosecutor Jaques Charmalou, to investigate Claude Frollo and his alchemist practices. Frollo explains to Louis Xi (Who disguises himself under the false name Gossip Torango) that "gold is the only true light," even though he hasn't made it yet. It is clear that Esmeralda is still on Frollo's mind, for, when attempting to divine magical female names, the first he whispers is "Esmeralda."
The three of them stop to watch what is going on in the town Square. Louis Xi inquires who is being tortured and Charmalou informs him that it is, in fact, Quasimodo, whom "Frollo tried to turn into a human being, but to no avail."
Quasimodo is being whipped for his crime the day before. The man who administered the flogging drinks from his pitcher of water. Quasimodo tells the man that he is thirsty, and the man pours out his pitcher of water right in front of him, telling Quasimodo to "help (him)self."
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| Esmeralda takes pity on Quasimodo |
Jehan Frollo, who had just arrived steals the empty pitcher and fills it with water. He places it only inches away from Quasimodo, but, because Quasimodo is tied down to the pillory, he is unable to reach it. This causes the people to laugh wildly. Quasimodo cries out for "water!' but is met with rotten vegetables instead. Esmeralda climbs the pillory and gives the pitcher of water to Quasimodo, simply because "he's thirsty.' Quasimodo shouts "thank you" to Esmeralda.
Quasimodo, after his whipping, returns to Notre Dame, where he smiles at the square below, where Esmeralda is preforming. Gringoire is accosted by Frollo, who believes that Gringoire has 'sunk so low as to embrace a gypsy." Gringoire assures Frollo that he hasn't. He leaves Frollo to assist Esmeralda in preforming a trick with Djali. Djali spells the word 'Phoebus' with wooden blocks, and Frollo pronounces this as "witchcraft."
Fleur de Lys has Phoebus clear the streets to prove his love to her. He does so, while at the same time arranging a date with Esmeralda. Fleur remarks about how much she loves Phoebus.
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| Esmeralda and Phoebus |
That night, after drinking at the
Pomme de Eve with Jehan, Phoebus is confronted by Frollo. Frollo tries to warn Phoebus about Esmeralda, but Phoebus doesn't care to listen. Now with Esmeralda, the two of them begin to kiss. Phoebus tells Esmeralda that he loves her "for a thousand nights." Esmeralda feels that Phoebus lies like "all men lie," but she feels she loves him just the same. Feeling safe, she throws her dagger out of the window, where it found by Frollo, who takes the opportunity to violently
stab captain Phoebus.
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| Esmeralda on trial |
Esmeralda is convicted of the crime and put on trial. She is accused of being a witch, though she persistently
denies all accusations against herself and her goat, also on trial. Frollo, who is presiding over the trial because of his extensive knowledge of demonology, tries to defend her, referring to a man in black (really himself) who is truly guilty. When Esmeralda mentions things like "love" and "life" Frollo turns against her, and
the court has her tortured. She confesses to "whatever (they) want," and is sentenced to die on the gallows.
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| Quasimodo discovers Frollo writing "Anaykh" |
Quasimodo rings her death toll, only knowing that "they're hanging another woman who makes music." After finishing, he discovers Frollo writing "Anaykh"on the wall of the tower. He sees Esmeralda being dragged to the gallows and is alarmed.
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| Quasimodo shows Esmeralda his home |
Quasimodo slides down on a rope, pushes away the executioner, and claims "Sanctuary" for Esmeralda.
In the safety of the church, Quasimodo cuts the rope tied around her neck and her arms. Esmeralda mistakes this for an attack, and despite Quasimodo's efforts to explain himself, he comes up short. She is terrified of him. Quasimodo gives Esmeralda the whistle from earlier in case she needs him, and tells her to "please not step outside or they'll kill you."
Frollo sees Esmeralda and thinks she is a ghost, but upon seeing her goat Djali, his fears are confirmed. Esmeralda tries to hide from Frollo, but he catches up with her. He attempts to force himself on her, but is stopped by Quasimodo. Frollo attempts to order Quasimodo to leave, and he nearly does, until Esmeralda prevents him. appalled, Frollo leaves. Quasimodo informs Esmeralda that Frollo made him try to kidnap her. Esmeralda understands, and is "no longer afraid of (him.)"
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| Esmeralda dances for Quasimodo |
The next day, Quasimodo tries to give Esmeralda a scarf as a present, but she screams at the sight of him, making Quasimodo flee in shame. He runs to the bells for comfort, banging his head and moaning "why?" over and over. Esmeralda apologizes, saying that Quasimodo has only "an unhappy face." Quasimodo explains that people mocking him "didn't hurt" but frightening Esmeralda did. Esmeralda dance for Quasimodo to cheer him up, and to return the favor, Quasimodo rings the bells with all of his might.
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| "Down there, they're bad." |
Quasimodo, as time goes by, tries to make Esmeralda feel more at home. He climbs all over the church in order to get her flowers, but she's more concerned about Captain Phoebus. She tells Quasimodo to bring him to her and he tries to, but Phoebus merely kicks Quasimodo away. Quasimodo returns with flowers, lying that they were a gift from Phoebus. Esmeralda sees through this, and laments that "if only Phoebus has (Quasimodo's) heart, how wonderful everything would be."
Frollo consults Louis xi, trying to encourage him to remove the right of sanctuary in order for Esmeralda to be hanged. Louis xi is uncertain because "the people insist upon it...
they might revolt." Louis and Frollo go to a man who has been locked in a cage under the Bastille for fourteen years to answer the question, and he reveals that, indeed, sanctuary has been suspended in the past, and therefore can be again. Louis xi assures
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| Quasimodo nearly leaves Notre Dame |
him that he "won't be forgotten" and prays to a statue of the Virgin Mary to kill Esmeralda.
People are ordered to leave Notre Dame in order for the "king's justice to be done" Gringoire tries to ask Frollo to help Esmeralda, but Frollo rejects the idea, not even pitying him. Frollo tries to get Quasimodo to leave the cathedral, but Quasimodo refuses, saying "I believed in you once...
never again!" and locking the doors behind him.
The vagabonds from the court of miracles are enraged, and mob to save Esmeralda themselves. On top of that, they also plan to "rip out the insides" of Notre Dame "for good measure." Led by Clopin, Mathias, and Guillame, the vagabonds try to break down the door. Quasimodo thinks they've come to hang Esmeralda, and fights back, throwing beams and stones and molten lead from the tower. Jehan, who became a vagabond after rejecting Frollo, tries to climb into the church with a ladder, but is thrown to his death, singing.
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| Frollo watches the body being dragged |
The kings guards come and fire arrows on all sides at the vagabonds. Esmeralda wakes up from her sleep, and tries to leave the church herself, but is shot by an arrow and killed. Clopin comes to her aid, asking the soldiers to "have mercy on her," and is stabbed in the heart. Frollo separates himself from Charmalou and the hangman, who say that Esmeralda should be taken to the gallows anyway because she was sentenced to hang. Quasimodo searches far and wide for Esmeralda, and eventually finds her dead body being dragged to the gallows. Quasimodo bursts into tears. Frollo enters to watch the body of Esmeralda. Quasimodo realizes that he is responsible, and throws him to his death.
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| The marriage of Quasimodo |
Esmeralda's body is taken from the gallows to the vault of montfocoun, where the corpses of the condemned are put to rest. Quasimodo finds her there, lies by her side until he dies himself. The film concludes with narration, stating that years later two skeletons were found entwined. When someone tried to separate them, they fell to dust.
Next: Differences Between The French and English Versions
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