Original Kit Issued: 1964 - 1968

Re-Issued: 1969-1975, 2000

Part of the third wave of original kits, this
one is perhaps the least lovely of all, due to theobvious anguish of its subject, but that's precisely what makes it such a
great kit. There is such expression in the
features of the face and torso.

The very medieval design of the platform
and chains is sort of a preview to the later
torture kits like the Guillotine and the
Pendulum. What cheerful worlds we little
kids chose to let our imaginations loose in!

"A figure was seen darting about the towers and scaling the walls like a human fly. The figure was that of the grotesque hunchback foundling, named Quasimodo after the Sunday on which he was found. He was now the bell-ringer and keeper of the bells at the cathedral. Now, in the middle of the night when decent people were in bed, the bells could be heard pealing out as if for some evil celebration. Demonic laughter could be heard over the sound of the bells."

Excerpt from Original Promotional Copy on Instruction Sheet
See Entire Text

WORK IN PROGRESS:

I've just recently picked up the Polar Lights reissue
of this kit; now called "The Bellringer" (Disney wouldn't
lend licensing rights to the title - Lame-O!!) I've opened
the box, and checked out the pieces, but have not
yet begun assembling. I'm already trying to decide
what colors to use for the clothing. I like the earthier
tones of both of these photos, but they don't quite
"pop" the way I want mine to. (It's probably just the
photos!) I'm thinking I might go for the box lid suggestions,
but I'll grey out the green and purple to mute the tones.

"The Hunchback of Notre Dame" - 1923
Studio: Universal
Starring: Lon Chaney, Sr., Norman Kerry,
Patsy Ruth Miller,
Director: Wallace Worsley

Big fun. The best version of Victor Hugo's classic
tale of the deformed bellringer, due to both the
excellent Universal production values and the talents
of Chaney. The flogging sequence is still a heart-
wrencher. Sorry kids, no singing gargoyles in this one.