The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1923)

Set in 1482 Paris, the bell ringer (Lon Chaney) of Notre Dame is a deformed hunchback who serves the wicked brother (Brandon Hurst) of the cathedral's archdeacon (Nigel De Brulier). Prodded by the evil brother, he attempts to kidnap a pretty Gypsy girl (Patsy Ruth Miller) but when he is caught, he is betrayed by his master. Based on the classic novel by Victor Hugo and directed by Wallace Worsley. The film is acclaimed for Chaney's simian performance as Quasimodo, it's a physical performance mostly but Chaney is able to convey the lonely and tortured soul even under his thick layers of make up. The spectacular art direction and recreation of 15th century Paris and Notre Dame is impressive. As with many of the film adaptations of the Hugo novel, the ending has been changed to a "happier" one than the book's. Despite Chaney's iconic performance, it's still not the definitive version of the Hugo novel. The transfer I saw had a superb underscore by Nora Kroll Rosenbaum and Laura Karpman. With Norman Kerry and Ernest Torrence.