Beauty and the Beast 1908
Albert Capellani's early silent adaptation of *Beauty and the Beast (1908)* reimagines the classic tale with a hauntingly simple yet powerful visual approach.
Director: Albert Capellani
Cast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is *Beauty and the Beast* (1908) about?
A desperate merchant, lost in the woods, plucks a rose from a magical garden and awakens the Beast—a terrifying figure who demands a terrible price: one of his daughters must marry him or he will die. The story unfolds as a tense fairy tale where love and fear collide in the most unexpected way.
Who directed *Beauty and the Beast*?
The film was directed by Albert Capellani, a pioneering French filmmaker known for his work in early silent cinema.
Who stars in *Beauty and the Beast*?
Julienne Mathieu headlines the cast as the central figure affected by the Beast's curse.
Is *Beauty and the Beast* (1908) worth watching?
As one of cinema's earliest adaptations of the beloved fairy tale, this 5-minute silent film offers a unique glimpse into early filmmaking techniques. While not a visual spectacle by modern standards, its historical significance and atmospheric storytelling make it a rewarding watch for silent film enthusiasts and fairy-tale fans alike.
How long is *Beauty and the Beast*?
The film runs for 5 minutes.
🎥 Trailer
About Beauty and the Beast (1908) — The Silent Film That Started a Legend
Albert Capellani's early silent adaptation of *Beauty and the Beast (1908)* reimagines the classic tale with a hauntingly simple yet powerful visual approach. A merchant, lost in a dark forest, stumbles upon a radiant garden where he plucks a single rose—only to unleash the Beast, a monstrous figure emerging from the earth in a burst of fire. Condemned to death unless one of his daughters agrees to marry the creature, the merchant's desperate choice sets the stage for a story drenched in gothic romance and fairy-tale wonder. The film's stripped-down narrative, enriched by fantasy and adventure, captures the timeless tension between beauty and the beast within us all.
Starring Julienne Mathieu in the iconic role, this 5-minute silent gem leans into its eerie atmosphere, blending early cinema's novelty with the timeless themes of sacrifice and redemption. Though modest in scale, Capellani's direction infuses the short with a dreamlike quality, turning a brief encounter into a lasting imprint on film history. For fans of silent-era storytelling, *Beauty and the Beast (1908)* remains a fascinating relic—a tiny but unforgettable glimpse into cinema's earliest attempts to bring fairy tales to life.