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The Artist
Hollywood, 1927: As silent movie star George Valentin wonders if the arrival of talking pictures will cause him to fade into oblivion, he sparks with Peppy Miller, a young dancer set for a big break.
2011 · Directed by Michel Hazanavicius · 100 min · Drama · Comedy · Romance · Screenplay in the scene database · 11 frames
Tagline
A breath of fresh vintage air.
Plot
In 1927, silent film star George Valentin is posing for pictures outside the premiere of his latest hit film when a young woman, Peppy Miller, accidentally bumps into him. Valentin reacts with humor and shows off with Peppy for the cameras. The next day, Peppy is on the front page of Variety with the headline "Who's That Girl?" She capitalizes by auditioning as a dancer and is spotted by Valentin, who insists that she have a part in Kinograph Studios' next production, despite objections from studio boss Al Zimmer. While performing a scene in which they dance together, Valentin and Peppy show great chemistry. With a little guidance from Valentin, who draws a beauty spot on her cheek, Peppy rises through the industry, earning more prominent starring roles.
Two years later, Zimmer announces plans to cease production of silent films at Kinograph Studios, but Valentin is dismissive, insisting that sound is just a fad. In a dream, he begins hearing sounds from his environment (as does the audience) but cannot speak himself. He decides to leave the studio for the chance to produce, finance, and direct his own silent film, Tears of Love. The film opens on the same day as Peppy's new sound film Beauty Spot and the 1929 stock market crash. Valentin's only chance of avoiding bankruptcy is for his film to be a hit. Unfortunately, audiences flock to Peppy's film instead, while only a few people attend Valentin's. With Valentin ruined, his wife, Doris, kicks him out, and he moves into an apartment with his valet/chauffeur, Clifton, and his dog. Peppy quickly becomes the first of several major new Hollywood sound film stars.
Later, the bankrupt Valentin is forced to auction his personal effects, and after realizing he has not paid the loyal Clifton in over a year, gives him his car before firing him. Depressed and drunk, Valentin sets fire to a stack of his old films. As the nitrate film blazes out of control, he is overwhelmed by the smoke and passes out inside the burning house, clutching a single film canister. However, Valentin's dog attracts the help of a nearby policeman, and after being rescued, Valentin is hospitalized for injuries suffered in the fire. Peppy visits the hospital and discovers that the film he rescued is the one with them dancing together. She asks for him to be moved to her house to recuperate. Valentin awakens in a bed at her house to find that Clifton is now working for Peppy. His ego hurt, Valentin shows ingratitude for Peppy having taken him in, prompting Clifton to remind him of his changing luck.
Plot summary from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
Crew
- Written by: Michel Hazanavicius
- Cinematography: Guillaume Schiffman
- Edited by: Anne-Sophie Bion, Michel Hazanavicius
- Music: Ludovic Bource
- Production design: Laurence Bennett
- Produced by: Thomas Langmann
Cast
- Jean Dujardin as George Valentin
- Bérénice Bejo as Peppy Miller
- John Goodman as Al Zimmer
- James Cromwell as Clifton
- Penelope Ann Miller as Doris Valentin
- Missi Pyle as Constance Gray
- Beth Grant as Peppy's Maid
- Ed Lauter as Peppy's Butler
- Joel Murray as Policeman Fire
- Elizabeth Tulloch as Norma
Production
- Country: Belgium, France
- Language: No Language
- Studios: uFilm, La Petite Reine, Studio 37, La Classe américaine
- Budget: $15,000,000
- Box office: $133,432,856
- Themes: movie business, hollywood, black and white, dog, filmmaking, mustache, silent film, marquee, terrier, movie star
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