"Hellfire"

[Sledge]

I'm sure you all remember the song Hellfire in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. For those that don't know which I'm talking about, it's the one that Frollo sings next to the fire.

I was thinking about it and thought "Wow, this is pretty intense for a cartoon movie, especially for Disney." For me to think that it must be since I usually don't think twice about stuff like that. The lyrics can be found here: http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/thehunchbackofnotredame/heavenslighthellfire.htm

One verse that really stood out was:
Protect me, Maria
Don't let this siren cast her spell
Don't let her fire sear my flesh and bone
Destroy Esmeralda
And let her taste the fires of hell
Or else let her be mine and mine alone

Random trivia I found on the subject; "When Judge Frollo sings "Hellfire" and sees Esmerelda dancing in the fire before him. The MPAA insisted that Disney Animators go back and make Esmerelda's clothing more defined as she seemed nude."

The reason I am posting is because I am really suprised there hasn't been a bit of a controversy over this. Don't get the wrong impression though. Am I offended by it? Not at all, but I can see some people freaking out about it. I guess I was just wondering what people thought about the song, and if it was appropriate for a Disney movie. Also, had this come out this year would the song have gotten some flack. I think people are obviously more about things then they might have been in 1996 when the movie came out.

Thoughts?

 

[Wilt Dasney]

I thought the same thing first time I saw the movie, but I felt that it fit the tone of the character and scene very well. I voted #2. A bit much for younger ones, but a good scene.

 

[Legacy]

The film as a whole is very adult. I thought it was a great song that fit so perfectly within the context of the scene, character and story as a whole.

 

[cherrynegra]

Agreed with the previous posters' comments. Those lyrics simply reflect the whole madonna/ complex that he was suffering from. The character was torn apart and driven mad by both his for her and his want to see her punished for being the embodiment of his own desire.

 

[dandaman]

Being maybe 9 years old when I saw it, I can't remember if I found it too intense... :lol:

I voted Option 2.

 

[Connor002]

Being maybe 9 years old when I saw it, I can't remember if I found it too intense... :lol:

I can't even remember if I liked the movie...

 

[lunalovegoddess]

Agreed with the previous posters' comments. Those lyrics simply reflect the whole madonna/ complex that he was suffering from. The character was torn apart and driven mad by both his for her and his want to see her punished for being the embodiment of his own desire.

Very well said, Gordon. This scene always resonated with me. I also liked the song "The Bells of Notre Dame" because of the line "Who is the monster and who is the man?" Both songs were done well, IMO. I liked that Frollo was a complex character. He sees himself as righteous and good, but he harbors such darkness and justifies his actions as necessary. His desire for Esmeralda shakes up his very existence. At first he treats it as his weakness of the flesh, but then in the next breath it's all her fault for tempting him. She must be a witch, in his mind, because he is such a pious man and of strong moral fiber. At the same time, he wonders if God is testing his devotion. From a psychological viewpoint, he's fascinating.
I think it was very relevant for the time period and even today.

 

[Legacy]

Hunchback on the whole turned a different corner for Disney Animation. It was by far, one of the most complex and layered films they produced. It was really the film that started maturing the story-lines and made everything more 'adult'. And it showed that Disney could fine-tune amazingly deep and alagorical stories into films that were more accesible to the public at large.

It's in my top ten, easily. Probably about 7.

 

[dxwwf3]

Excellent song from a fantastic movie.