Disney's Frollo and Possible Inspirations

Disney's Judge Claude Frollo voiced by Tony Jay
There's no doubt that Disney's Claude Frollo is the most intriguing.  While not portrayed as a corrupt priest like he was in the novels and instead, he was a judge, however one can look at the inspiration really had to come from SOMEWHERE!

Sir Cedric Hardwicke as Jehan Frollo
In the 1939 version, the character of Jehan Frollo from the novels was made more corrupt and destructive than he was just a drunk official.  The bad traits of Claude were merged with Jehan Frollo to form a really dark antagonist even more cruel than Disney's version.


The unnamed Archdeacon of the Disney movie was actually more likely taken from the 1939 version's Claude Frollo (who was protagonistic in contrast to the novel version), the name to which the corrupt judge in the Disney version shares.  Strangely enough, Claude Frollo despite being a minister, acted more like he was a lower priest than a politician by his actions.  In the 1939 version, they are brothers but not in the Disney film although it may have been intended they were.  Only if Disney just kept the name Claude for the archdeacon and used Jehan for the main villain.


In the end, the conflict between Frollo and the Archdeacon was more like a lower priest and a higher priest with different ideals than it was between a judge and a priest.  I got to admit Frollo's robe was more like of a lower priest's than that of a judge by any means!  The song Hellfire was more like a priest's confession than that of a judge IMO.  Whatever it was, also these two hardly aged in the films even after a decade or two has passed!

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