The Artist

Silent film star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) attends the premiere of his latest film, A Russian Affair. Outside the theater, Valentin is posing for pictures for the press when a woman, Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo), admiring Valentin while lost in a sea of adoring fans, drops her purse. She bends down to get it and is accidentally pushed into Valentin. She ends up photographed, and the next day, she is on the front page of Variety with the headline "Who's That Girl?" Later, Miller auditions as a dancer and is spotted by Valentin. He insists she have a bit in his new film, despite objections from the studio boss, Al Zimmer (John Goodman). Peppy slowly rises in the industry, her roles growing larger and larger. Two years later, Zimmer announces the end of production of silent films, but Valentin insists that sound is just a fad. When Zimmer unloads all his silent stars, Valentin decides to produce and direct his own silent film, financing it himself. It opens on the same day as Miller's new sound film, and Valentin is ruined. His wife, Doris (Penelope Ann Miller), kicks him out, and he moves into an apartment with his valet, Clifton (James Cromwell). Miller goes on to become a major Hollywood star. Later, having been financially ruined in the 1929 stock-market crash, Valentin fires Clifton and sells off all his effects. Desperate and drunk, Valentin starts a fire in his home. His dog gets help and he is hospitalized for injuries suffered in the fire. Miller visits the hospital and has him moved to her house to recuperate. He awakens in a bed there. Clifton is now working for Miller. Miller insists that Valentin co-star in her next film, or she will quit Zimmer's studio. After Valentin learns that Miller had purchased all his auctioned effects, he has a nervous breakdown and returns to his burnt-out apartment. Miller arrives, panicked, as Valentin is attempting suicide. The two reconcile, and remembering that he is a superb dancer, she persuades Zimmer to let them make a musical together. The picture ends with the implication that Valentin will return to fame. In the final shot, the sound finally comes in as the film starts rolling. Afterwards, Zimmer calls "Cut! Perfect. Beautiful. Could you give me one more?" Valentin, in his first audible line, replies "With pleasure" in a clearly French accent, revealing the reason he refused to speak on camera.