Other Releases Available:

Releases Reviewed:

A lot of the old silent horror movies get much better treatment than other old public domain films. The Hunchback of Notre Dame doesn't seem to have gotten as grand a treatment as some others, but it still has something to offer for those interested in owning it.

Most notably is an “Ultimate Edition” DVD with some effort put into cleaning up the film and a few extras. That one is by Image who also put out an earlier version with less to offer but still more than most of the other releases. This is frequently included in multi-movie packs the most notable of which is a “Collector's Edition” 2 pack with Phantom of the Opera.

I got mine in the “Horror Classics” 50 pack.

Video:

1.33: There is no widescreen available. The quality gets extremely bad at times; it’s very scratchy and washed out. It’s also jerky with weird frame rates.

Audio:

1.0 mono: A lot of pops mar the audio in addition to the usual white noise.

Packaging:

This disc is housed in a cardboard sleeve contained in a Velcro-fastened box. You can read about the set as a whole in great detail in the Horror Classics (50 pack) guide.

Extras:

There are no extras of any kind.

Other Editions:

The Ultimate Edition boasts a high-def mastering from an “original multi-tinted print.” Several comments praise the sharpness of this version compared to others but point out that it still contains a lot of scratches. The speed has been corrected which is reportedly a noticeable improvement over other presentations. The score is a newer orchestral composition, but reviews say that the tone doesn't fit the movie's atmosphere very well. Extras include a commentary by a Lon Chaney expert, an essay, a reproduction of the souvenir program, a gallery of 3D images (glasses included), a large gallery of 2D images, and some behind-the-scenes footage of Chaney.

The older Image DVD sounds like it is the same cleaned-up print. I'm not sure if the soundtrack is the same or not. Extras include an essay and behind-the-scenes footage.

The Collector's Edition 2 pack offers no extras but says it is digitally resorted. Reviews I read do not mention the quality.

Most product descriptions do not mention what soundtrack they offer. All list 1.33 as the aspect ratio. Run times vary, but this appears to be because of the film being presented at different speeds rather than because of any difference in footage that is included.

None others that I saw mentioned any extras.

Final Thoughts:

If you just want exposure to this film then a budget pack like the 50 Horror Classics might be a fair option although you get what you pay for with the unrestored quality. One or the other of the Image releases is going to be your best bet for quality and extras with the “Ultimate Edition” having the most to offer. Maybe someone one day will work on a Blu edition for us.