THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME
Rating: 
Original Review: A little more darker tone for Disney and Alan Menken with this effort, which doesn't have the zest and energy of his earlier scores, but rates much higher on the maturity scale. Of the songs, which were written with lyricist Stephen Schwartz, 'The Bells of Notre Dame' is a perfect-scene setter for the movie's showstopper 'Out There', a vibrant, heartfelt number which is surprisingly well by actor Tom Hulce. 'Topsy Turvy' and 'The Court of Miracles' are both sung by Paul Kandel and have a sort of 'all the fun of the fair' feel about them which, although the kids will love them, aren't quite to my taste. I do like 'Heaven's Light/Hellfire', however: a dark, passionate song with vocals by Tony Jay, and which has wonderfully suggestive lyrics. The score, I have to say, is uninspiring but works well within the film.
Track Listing:
- The Bells of Notre Dame (song)
- Out There (song)
- Topsy Turvy (song)
- Humiliation (orchestral)
- God Help The Outcasts (song)
- The Bell Tower (orchestral)
- Heaven's Light/Hellfire (song)
- A Guy Like You (song)
- Paris Burning (orchestral)
- The Court of Miracles (song)
- Sanctuary! (orchestral)
- And He Shall Smite the Wicked (orchestral)
- Into The Sunlight (orchestral)
- The Bells of Notre Dame - Reprise (song)
- Someday (performed by Eternal)
- God Help The Outcasts (performed by Bette Midler)
Running Time: 57 minutes 21 seconds
Walt Disney Records WD-771902 (1996)
Voice Cast: Tom Hulce, Heidi Mollenhauet, Tony Jay, Paul Kandel, Jason Alexander, Charles Kimbrough, Mary Wickes, Mary Stout and David Ogden Stiers.
Original music score composed by Alan Menken. Original song score composed by Alan Menken. Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Conducted by Jack Everly. Orchestrations by Michael Starobin and Danny Troob. Vocal arrangements by David Friedman. Recorded by Bruce Botnick and Michael Farrow. Mixed and mastered by Bruce Botnick. Edited by Kathleen Fogarty-Bennett. Score and songs produced by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. Special additional songs produced by Simon Climie and Arif Mardin. Album produced by Alan Menken.
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These web pages were designed and maintained by Jonathan Broxton copyright 1997. All opinions and views expressed on these pages are my own and are in no way intended to reflect those of my employer, the Trent Institute for Health Services Research, or those of the University of Sheffield.