Beginning of the Serpentine Dance (1908): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1908, Beginning of the Serpentine Dance is a fantasy film directed by Segundo de Chomón, running about 4 minutes.

What it’s about. In a living room, four contemporary couples from the time the film was shot dance a waltz under the direction of a violinist (Linder). They begin a minuet and their costumes change in a sudden. A man enters and seems interested in what he sees, casts a spell and everything disappears. Transforming himself into the devil, the visitor takes the violinist with him to hell, where he creates a large piece of silk out of a cauldron. The fabric unrolls, revealing a young woman in a silk dress that starts dancing the serpentine. While she dances, other women join in a synchronized ballet, before all of them vanish into bursts of flames.

Who’s in it. Beginning of the Serpentine Dance stars Max Linder as The ballet master.

How it landed. With an audience score of 4.6/10, Beginning of the Serpentine Dance has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Beginning of the Serpentine Dance page.

If you liked it. Fans of Beginning of the Serpentine Dance tend to enjoy The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Green Mile, Spirited Away and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.