
According to Jason Alexander, "Hunchback" boasts "the singularly most sophisticated score of most of the animated films of that era." I have so many people telling me it's their favorite Disney film." Their collaborators agree. "I think, as a lyricist, I was working at pretty much the top of my form. "I think the music is just unbelievably good," he said. Out of the ocean of culture-shaping music he's created, Menken is most proud of the work he did on "Hunchback." As he told Slash Film, "It's the most ambitious score I've ever written." Schwartz agreed that it's Menken's "best score" - and one of his own. Although less established at Disney than Menken, Schwartz went on to earn major acclaim for the lyrics to DreamWorks' 1998 musical, "The Prince of Egypt." Menken won various Oscars for the first four of those movies (and was nominated for the others), including Best Original Musical Score for "Pocahontas" and Best Original Song for "Colors of the Wind." He shares both trophies with "Hunchback" lyricist Stephen Schwartz. Disney and Michael Eisner told him, "You write the story you want to tell, and let us worry about our brand." Screenwriter Tom Murphy even recalled that Roy E. Years later, his skeleton is found clutching hers in a mass pauper's grave.Īdding singing gargoyles was not going to be enough to make this palatable for children. Fortunately (and somewhat surprisingly), the "Hunchback" team had the full support of Disney executives. Filled with rage and grief, he hurls Frollo to his death, then vanishes. Powerless, Quasimodo can only watch as she is hanged. After Esmeralda refuses his advances, Frollo hands her over to the authorities.

In time, Esmeralda falls in love with Phoebus, who is considerably less charming than he is the movie. Frollo makes an attempt on his life, for which Esmeralda is blamed. This plan is thwarted, and Quasimodo is arrested.

But in the book, Frollo orders Quasimodo to kidnap her. Archdeacon Frollo and Quasimodo fall in love with Esmeralda, as they do in the movie. Hugo's tome is a chronicle of human tragedy.
