"The Court of Miracles" is a song featured in Disney's 1996 animated feature film The Hunchback of Notre Dame. It is the seventh one in the film and the third song sung by Clopin. Much like "Topsy Turvy" and "A Guy Like You", it is more comedy-oriented than the other songs from the film; unlike the former, however, it is based on black humor.
Plot[]
Clopin and the Roma have captured Quasimodo and Phoebus, believing them to be spies despite Phoebus and Quasimodo trying to explain that they're not, and sing about how it would be a miracle if they got out alive. Taking delight in tormenting his victims, Clopin stages a mock trial, making rapid transformations into various figures, such as the judge, the lawyer, and the executioner. However, Esmeralda arrives before any harm can come to her friends.
Lyrics[]
Clopin and Gypsy chorus: Maybe you've heard of a terrible place
Where the scoundrels of Paris collect in a lair
Maybe you've heard of that mythical place
Called the Court of Miracles
Clopin: Hello, you're there!
Gypsy chorus (variously): Where the lame can walk
And the blind can see
Clopin: But the dead don't talk
So you won't be around to reveal what you've found
Clopin and Gypsy chorus: We have a method for spies and intruders
Rather like hornets protecting their hive
Clopin: Here in the Court of Miracles
Clopin and Gypsy chorus: Where it's a miracle if you get out alive!
(Instrumental interlude)
(singing resumes)
Clopin: Justice is swift in the Court of Miracles
I am the lawyers and judge all in one
We like to get the trial over with quickly
Because it's the sentence that's really the fun!
(speaking) Any last words?
Quasimodo and Phoebus: (muffled speech)
Clopin: That's what they all say.
(singing) Now that we've seen all the evidence
Clopin puppet: Wait! I object!
Clopin: Overruled!
Clopin puppet: I object!
Clopin: Quiet!
Clopin puppet: Dang!
Clopin: We find you totally innocent
Which is the worst crime of all
Clopin and Gypsy chorus: So you're going to hang!
Trivia[]
- Michael Surrey, the supervising animator for Clopin, noticed that the tune to this song bore some resemblance to "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" from Fantasia. After noticing this, he decided to base some of Clopin's movements, mainly as he skips while dressed like Frollo, after Sorcerer Mickey.
- During Clopin and his puppet's argument, Clopin doesn't move his mouth while playing the puppet, although he had done so during the song "The Bells of Notre Dame". It is possible (though unlikely) that another Rom provides the puppet's voice for him, making the illusion more realistic. More likely, however, is that the one moment in the beginning of "Bells" was to establish for the audience that Clopin was speaking for the puppet, as his ventriloquy is on point after that.
- Clopin's line "We find you totally innocent…which is the worst crime of all!" is a throwback to the Court of Miracles' nature in the books. In the novel, it is not a hideout for the hunted Roma but a general haunt for all the criminals, beggars and lowlifes in Paris, and the protagonist is to be hanged not because he is thought of as a "spy" but because he, a completely honest and perceivably moderately wealthy man, dared wander into the lair of crime.