“A drink of water… and a little pity.”

Posted by Richard Harland Smith on March 27, 2007

Hunchback Quasimodo rescues gypsy Esmerelda from the gallows and brings her to the cathedral belltower. Despite his love for her (born of her earlier kindness to him), Quasimodo is humbled by her beauty.

Quasimodo: I’m going away so you don’t have to see my ugly face when you’re eating.

He crosses away from her.

Esmerelda: Come here.

Esmerelda rises to tap Quasimodo on the shoulder. He turns to face her and allows Esmerelda to lead him back.

Quasimodo: You called me back.

Quasimodo: I’m, I’m deaf, you know. You would think there would be nothing more wrong with me, wouldn’t you? But I, I’m deaf, too. It’s, it’s horrible. I never realized, till now, how ugly I am. Because you… because you’re so beautiful. I’m not a man… I’m not a beast…

He laughs.

Shapeless

Quasimodo: I’m… I am about as shapeless as the Man in the Moon.

Esmerelda

His laughter subsides.

Quasimodo: Oh, I, I, I’m deaf, you know. But, but, but you can speak to me by, uh… signs.

Esmerelda: Why did you save me?

Quasimodo: You asked me why I saved you. Oh… oh, I tried to carry you off… and the next day you gave me… a drink of water… and a little pity.

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12 Responses “A drink of water… and a little pity.”

Posted By Alan : March 27, 2007 2:32 pm

Richard: Nicely recalled from a classic production. Another couple of lines that I recollect from 'Hunchback' were essayed by that bulbous-eyed purrer of malice, George Zucco, who plays 'the Procurator':"My Lord, Frollo, there is nothing left but the torture for this stubborn wench." and later… " I've never seen such an outrage: an imbecile hunchback carries off a condemned gypsy and the King approves!"

Posted By RHS : March 28, 2007 10:45 am

Impossible to appreciate from frame grabs is how absolutely weightless Laughton seems to be in the role… he was not a thin man and he's probably wearing at least 30 pounds of prosthetics… and yet he seems as light as air and his performance is as fresh today as when he first stepped before the camera.

Posted By Medusa : March 29, 2007 9:42 am

One of my favorite classics classic movies, also. I can't recall specific lines but in addition to Laughton's great tragic performance and Maureen's ethereal beauty, I think Edmond O'Brien delivers a delightful performance as Gringoire the poet. Especially when you remember EO'B in his later years, even in D.O.A., he's Flynn-level handsome here and charming as can be. Wonderful role for him! And the smoldering illicit desire in the eyes of the malevolent — or was he merely erotically bewitched? — Cedric Hardwicke as Frollo….what a great bunch of actors. And a terrific goat, too!

Posted By RHS : March 29, 2007 10:17 am

what a great bunch of actors.And Rondo Hatton, too!

Posted By erik : March 29, 2007 2:01 pm

Not too often that someone gets to top a Lon Chaney Sr role, but Laughten got to in this version.(I guess to be fair, need to mention that the Laughton performance builds off things Chaney did in the silent version of Hunchback)

Posted By Ben Martin : April 10, 2007 5:37 pm

So funny you highlight this scene. I used to act it out as a kid and recently I wrote the line "You asked me why I saved you. Oh… oh, I tried to carry you off… and the next day you gave me… a drink of water… and a little pity." in a little book my son gave to me that allows you to write in favorite scenes, favorite actors, favorite lines – even write in your own movie reviews. he wants me to fill in the book and leave it to him when i'm gone. A nice idea – and the line from Hunchback as delivered by Charles laughton earned its rightful place in this little memento.

Posted By RHS : April 10, 2007 6:22 pm

Sounds like you and your son have a great tradition going. It'll be a wonderful keepsake for him some day.

Posted By titile : December 14, 2007 12:07 pm

Can you telel me the name of the movie on which therei sQuasimodo and Esmeralda? and the name of the cineast? Tahnk you a lot!!

Posted By RHS : December 14, 2007 12:20 pm

Those characters exist, as far as I know, soley in the several versions of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, all based on the novel Notre Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo. The director of the 1939 version above was William Dieterle.

Posted By TCM’s Movie Blog : August 22, 2008 4:12 pm

[...] on August 22, 2008 It’s hard to believe it’s been over a year since Morlock RHS posted this beautiful sequence of stills and dialogue from 1939’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, starring Charles Laughton and [...]

Posted By IClaudius : August 30, 2008 6:54 pm

I argue this with myself sometimes, but most often, I think this is Laughton’s greatest role. Sadly, it’s almost as underrated as his turn in “Tuttles of Tahiti,” which has always puzzled me.

Posted By ovwatch : September 2, 2008 4:30 pm

I will be setting up a travel related blog and this is the perfect way to present the videos

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