In an enchanted castle lives a rich man who, due to his crudity and inhumanity, was turned by a Fairy into a Beast. One day the Merchant Wilhelm loses his way into this castle and, to the astonishment of the Fairy, the Beast offers the father of three daughters food, drink and a place to sleep.

Touched by the Beast´s unusual generosity, the Good Fairy changes the curse and offers him the chance to end it forever: should the Beast fall in love with a girl and this girl then returns his love, the Beast, the whole castle and all it´s other inhabitants will be freed from the curse.

As the Merchant awakes he encounters the Beast and tells of his three daughters, especially his favourite the beautiful and kind Bella. In the hope of deliverance from his fate the Beast offers the Merchant a trade: within three days either the father or one of his daughters must return to the castle and remain there for evermore. In return the father will receive a chest full of treasure and a Magic Ring with which the owner can transport himself to anywhere he may wish.

On his return, the two older sisters are delighted by their newfound wealth, while Bella can only worry about her father´s melancholy. After she learns of his adventure Bella secretly steals the Magic Ring and with the Fairy´s help makes her way to the castle.

Of course, at first Bella is terrified by the Beast´s violent and repulsive appearance but quite soon the two begin to feel closer. After a while Bella feels homesickness and concern for her father. Moved by her tears, the Beast allows Bella to look into a Magical Mirror where she sees her father, sad and sick over her absence. The Beast knows that here lies little hope for his rescue but an unknown deep feeling for Bella allows him, with a heavy heart, to let Bella return to her village.

Very soon it´s clear to Bella that with her cackling, selfish and greedy sisters and the braggart Gustav, who was always too coarse for her anyway, the simple village life is not for her. Longing for her new friend awakes in her and against her father´s will she returns to the Beast.

However, Gustav mobilizes the whole village to destroy the Beast. With a tumultuous force, the rabble break into the castle and the gruesome battle begins. Bella witnesses the proceedings desperately. It´s clear to her that she loves this Beast. In the last moment she confesses her love thereby eliminating the curse that held the Prince, the castle and all it´s other inhabitants in it´s clutches.