Kirk Wise

Substance: Quasimodo the Hunchback is a very sympathetic and heroic character in this adaptation. The script makes a total hash of the book, of course, and totally "rewrites" the relationship between Esmerelda and Phoebus, her "true love." However, if you have never read the book, the story is great for the intended audience, and okay for adults.
At least this version kept the goat, although not quite in the same "role" as in the book.

I wish there had been more clarity that the bad guy, show more Frollo, was falsifying his alleged religious principles, but at least the nearly-irrelevant priest was a good guy.

Style: The girl-figure seems to be the same one who has been doing all the movies lately (in that era); they ought to give her a raise.

Rewatched ten years later: it's actually pretty good (again, on its own merits, not as an expression of Hugo's novel).
Note: Disney (and most animation houses) seem to settle on a set of "persona profiles" for each round of movie-making, and all the "actresses" and "actors" have to fit that mold. show less

This re-imagining of the fairy tale was very well done, and I liked it.
The music is excellent, the animation perfect, and the characters NOT found in Mme Leprince de Beaumont's original story are enchanting.

Some parts of this movie haven't aged well, but at least Quasimodo and Esmeralda got better/happier endings than they did in the novel. 3.5/5 stars.

A Disney classic, and one that certainly deserved accolades for the beautiful animation of its time, but I do prefer the remake to this because the newer version of this movie had more story.