Jacques Lantier, the "human beast" of the title, has a hereditary madness and has several times in his life wanted to murder women. At the beginning of the story he is an engine driver, in control of his engine "La Lison". His relationship with "La Lison" is almost sexual and provides some degree of control over his mania.

Cast

Ossip Runitsch

Jacques Lantier

Maria Orska

Ilka Grüning

Lucie Höflich

Eduard von Winterstein

Hugo Döblin