In 15th century
Paris, France, during the reign of
Louis XI, the deformed and hunchbacked bell ringer of
Notre Dame Cathedral,
Quasimodo, falls in love with the beautiful gypsy dancer
Esmeralda, who is in love with
Captain Phoebus. When Quasimodo's master and adoptive father, Archdeacon Dom
Claude Frollo, also becomes obsessed with Esmeralda, he tries to force her under his spell. However, when she rejects him, he indicts her for "
attempted murder and
witchcraft" and sentences her to death by
hanging in the town square of Paris. On the day of her execution, Quasimodo rescues her and grants her "
Sanctuary" in Notre Dame. The two eventually grow closer, but Quasimodo realizes that his love for Esmeralda will probably never be reciprocated, due to her physical appearance.
Pierre Gringoire and
Clopin Trouillefoul, the leader of the Roma, assemble the
Court of Miracles in a plan to rescue Esmeralda. Quasimodo interprets the attack on Notre Dame as an attempt to harm Esmeralda, and counterattacks the gypsy invaders with wooden beams, blocks of stone, and molten lead. Frollo takes advantage of Quasimodo's distraction and searches for Esmeralda throughout the cathedral, finding her hiding in the bell tower. Esmeralda rings the bell to call for help, and Quasimodo goes to find her. He finds Frollo trying to take Esmeralda with him by force. He tries to block Frollo's path, but Frollo kicks him, so Quasimodo knocks him down and the two fight intensely, with Frollo attempting to stab Quasimodo, who ends up
impaling him on a hook. After the unsuccessful attack, Gringoire enters the cathedral tower and finds Esmeralda and Quasimodo, and the couple embrace. Quasimodo sees the king's officers approaching and helps Gringoire and Esmeralda, leading them to a secret tunnel that will take them outside. Esmeralda thanks him and kisses Quasimodo goodbye and escapes with Gringoire. The soldiers chase Quasimodo, who escapes to the bell tower, leaving the cathedral, with the soldiers in pursuit. He escapes along the edges, holding on to the
gargoyles, but ends up slipping, hanging from a gargoyle. He looks around and asks "Why?" and falls to his death. ==Cast==