Best Voice Over: Tony Jay in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Michael Graham Cox in Watership Down and John Hurt & Christopher Benjamin in The Plague Dogs

Tony Jay did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Judge Claude Frollo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

The nature of a vocal performance is perhaps an under discussed performance art form, with rare the credit given to the accomplishment. This as the vocal turn must do something quite unique in garnering the life and emotion to the images, at its best past even what the often vibrant images entail. The nature of a Disney villain performance may be another form in itself as it is often the source of entertainment for their films. This finding the right combination of a lively menace and just an enjoyable enthusiasm towards evil. Well with that we have Tony Jay as the greatest Disney villain, have no hesitations in that statement, as Judge Claude Frollo. Jay's booming baritone voice was previously used in a minor villainous role in Beauty and the Beast, as the corrupt head of an insane asylum. His work initially is an expansion on this as we see in his introductory scene. Jay quite powerfully carries a menace with such remarkable ease, and even a strange grace that suggests an unquestioned authority. Jay's work though has nuance, even before we are even given more in the introduction of the film where he murders a woman, and almost kills her malformed child if not called upon his faith to stop him. This as his pondering on the future of the "creature" as he puts it, with a manipulative intrigue at the idea of potential. This expanded upon as we see the later years as is teaching the "creature" grown up in the secluded bell tower to be Quasimodo. This as Jay brings a gentler tone, as nearly genuine one, that is rather remarkable in creating an honest sense of manipulation and even close to warmth in his explanations to his strange ward of how he should stay hidden. I particular affection for his introduction to "Out There" as the counterpart to Quasimodo's hopes of the outside world against the fierce condemnation of it by Frollo. This is something that Jay speaks not as a broad evil, but a fearful teaching with a false concern of manipulation.

Now we are given the broader evil, however even this Jay's work leaves a striking impact in specific intensity. This as a careful rage that seems to define the man's hate of the other. Frollo's evil though has far more to it than many a Disney villain, who are usually born evil, connected to the character of the novel, who is actually even more complex, however still notable to see that all complexity was not lost in this technically kid minded version. This is as even at his most evil, Jay delivers this proper conviction of a true zealot feeling his crusade has some divine purpose despite it obviously being to the contrary. This being the calm in his evil so often. This though he undercuts so effectively though as we see Frollo at his worst, with this more emotional venom, alluding to less a servant a God, and more a weak man defined by his own personal demons. The greatest depth though comes within his kept fascination with Esmeralda, and the lust that entails. Jay is outstanding in delivering this element most notably through he all time great song "Hellfire". Jay's singing is already terrific, but his performance of the song goes beyond technical skill. It is amazing the complexity Jay finds in the delivery of just one song. This as he opens with the solemn delivery of a faithful man of prayer. This slowly segues into this brilliant mix of genuine fear of the thoughts, with a desperate need related to them, along with a vindictive hate towards the temptation all the same. The detail and intensity of the emotion is simply incredible, as Jay manages to find, through his voice, a rawness within Frollo's mental state that goes beyond a generalized evil. Jay's work is not just an excellent villainous turn, as much as it is that, as he grants depth even oddly enough a distinctly flawed humanity to the hypocrite.

Michael Graham Cox did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Bigwig in Watership Down.

The vocal "responsibility" of the films of Martin Rosen is a little bit different in a way, as the animals, while still expressive to a degree, are a little more realistically depicted than a Disney expectation. This requires than vocal turns that some how both fit this specific tone of frankly a harsher animated film, along with breathing life within the character beyond the animation, which here is purposefully more limited. The films manage to capture this tone though and the cast of both is an essential element of each. Watership Down being a brilliant film that is part horror film, part adventure film in the context of a group of rabbits somehow trying to survive. Despite some valiant efforts of John Hurt here as the crafty leader of the group Hazel, my favorite of the cast and character is that of Bigwig. A larger rabbit, original burrow enforcer, who joins the group. What I love about Cox's performance is beyond granting the needed life to the character, through such devoted work, which is throughout the cast. This being just about every vocal turn delivers the conviction of a drama rather than the broader approach usually found in animated films. The standard here though is that of bringing a strict humanity to the animal characters because the performers treat the material as a seriously as they would any real dramatic piece. This is the same for...

John Hurt who did not receive an Oscar nomination or Christopher Benjamin for portraying Snitter and Rowf respectively in The Plague Dogs.

The Plague Dogs, is the, somehow, darker followup to "Watership", honing in an even more desperate tale of two dogs, who had been brutally experimented on, trying to find some place to live in the English countryside. This is all while the government is trying to kill them. I'll admit The Plague Dogs, does tear one's heart out then show it to you before you die, more so than any animated film that I've seen. An essential part of this being the performances of John Hurt and Christopher Benjamin together. This is again in both grant a given humanity to the dogs, who again have a purposefully limited emotional expression compared to many an animated film, however never seems as such. This partly due to just how careful the animation is but also what Benjamin and Hurt bring through their performances. Each give a complimentary performance to the other that is brilliant in creating the dynamic between Snitter and Rowf. Snitter being this strange optimist against the pessimistic Rowf. Hurt delivering, even within this sense of anguish buried within every line that reflects Snitter's horrible life, there is this hopeful wistfulness that Hurt garners to it. This is against Benjamin's performance that has a more grizzled quality to begin with, and a more immediately heartbreaking quality. This as the very wear of the dog, who was experimented on with forced drownings, is within his more overt anguish that speaks to the burden the life has had on Rowf.

But back to Michael Graham Cox again, who I love in his realization of Bigwig's arc. This as his initial performance carries the sort of inherent strength you'd expect. His voice creating just the since of a force of the rabbit with a tough stiffness. This though with a bit lacking in emotion other than anger towards some of Hazel's decision. Cox suggesting this potential bully even in the sort of force of his voice, but also a sense of confidence as well. Cox suggests Bigwig as a figure to be feared, even as he is on Hazel's side, and the sense of strength in every word he speaks as the larger rabbit. This suddenly changes however as Bigwig is trapped in a snare, a gut wrenching scene if there was ever one, that Cox also adds to in his harrowing haggard voice as he whispers out of his lines of the dying Bigwig. Bigwig manages to survive, and Cox is excellent in creating the sense of change in the rabbit in both in terms of respect for his company as well as general care for others. Cox is terrific in portraying this greater urgency and sense of warmth in his words. There is still this sense of strength, particularly as he takes lead later on in taking on the villainous Rabbit General Woundwort. The sense of determination that Cox delivers creates a sense of real passion that makes Bigwig stand out as this true hero. Cox brings this forcefulness that is remarkable in his voice though as it is underlined by a real care concern of that hero, rather than the seeming bully he might've been mistaken for early on. I in particular adore his vocal work in the final fight with Woundwort, where he brings such powerful sense of righetous distaste and intensity in every word he utters in the fight. This making quite honestly Bigwig was a proper, for the lack of a better word, badass, even as a rabbit. The moment of this that is the greatest in Cox's work is as he seems cornered but refuses to leave the smaller rabbits at the General's mercy. Cox is amazing in his voice manages to capture such desperation, still a striking defiance, and charity all with the same words. It is excellent work and with the best vocal turns it is that ability to create such a fluid and complex emotions, while never seeing the performer's face that is so notable. 

Speaking of, Hurt and Benjamin are particularly unique, and I'm not sure the circumstances of their recordings, but there is a such strong dynamic the two form with their voices. This is as Hurt is no stranger to exasperation, however his hardened voice only keeping that as an underlying factor makes it all the more moving in his portrayal of the consistently optimistic Snitter dreaming of an island paradise and a hope for the future. This is against Benjamin's work that offers an as moving portrayal of the bent nature of the dog, as his voice evokes the years of hardship and the waning belief in any chance at a real life. The two together though craft a warmth in between the two as their words to each other evoke a friendship and concern. A differing concern for each mind you, however Hurt haunting disjointed optimism along with Benjamin's broken resignation creates such a poignancy in each dog, but most importantly their friendship. Hurt's delivery is fascinating as in the optimism there is this bit of an intensity, a randomness at times, alluding to a mind that technically isn't quite right. In Benjamin there is a contrast in a bluntness of despair, but also still a passionate wish for survival with his friend. The ending scene is perhaps the best work from each as the two create a role reversal as they attempt to swim away from the authorities intending to kill them both. In Hurt you have that underlying exasperation brings itself to the surface in his voice that creates this heart wrenching hysteria as his certain madness is noted by despair rather than hope, however this is against Benjamin's work now of encouragement. His encouragement though is as blunt as his former despair, though now pushing his friend to push on. Their consistency though now with a different philosophy in the end, is brilliantly realized by each actor who creates this incredible moment. This of the two keeping part of their nature but changing this outlook. Both John Hurt and Christopher Benjamin's work makes the film as hard to watch as it is, though only because it is as affecting as it is, as they grant not only humanity and personality to the dogs, but a real sense of kinship and love.