Сценарий фильма художник

Содержание серий сериала «Художник», чем закончится сериал «Художник» 2022, сколько серий в фильме «Художник» на Россия-1? Здравствуйте, уважаемые читатели и посетители сайта Спринт-Ответ. 17 октября 2022 года в эфир вышел сериал под названием «Художник». Читайте сюжет и содержание серий детективного сериала «Художник» в этой статье. Сериал состоит из шестнадцати серий. Чем закончился фильм «Художник»?

Сколько серий: 16.
Режиссер: Тимур Алпатов.
В ролях: Андрей Смоляков, Александр Горбатов, Марина Александрова, Дарья Урсуляк, Сергей Газаров, Кирилл Зайцев, Александр Устюгов, Виктор Добронравов, Андрей Мерзликин, Филипп Ершов, Светлана Колпакова, Агриппина Стеклова, Игорь Хрипунов, Евгений Харитонов, Дмитрий Куличков, Николай Кисличенко, Юрий Тарасов и другие.

Сериал «Художник» актеры и роли

• Андрей Смоляков – майор отдела по борьбе с бандитизмом Ефимов (Тихон Степанович – «Ефимыч»)
• Александр Горбатов – капитан отдела по борьбе с бандитизмом Сазонов (Александр)
• Марина Александрова – Люся
• Дарья Урсуляк – Света
• Сергей Газаров – подполковник Пульнер — начальник отдела милиции
• Кирилл Зайцев – Алексей Костенко – сотрудник отдела по борьбе с бандитизмом
• Александр Устюгов – Кривцов
• Виктор Добронравов – Михаил Рудаков, капитан НКВД
• Андрей Мерзликин – Ливер (Платон Семёнович), вор в законе, негласный король «Тишинки»

Сюжет сериала «Художник»

Москва, 1944 год. Город накрывает серия жестоких ограблений и убийств. На месте преступления бандиты оставляют портреты своих жертв, за что банду прозвали «Мертвой головой», а ее главаря – «Художником». Расследование ведут начальник отдела по борьбе с бандитизмом, майор Тихон Ефимов (Андрей Смоляков), капитан Александр Сазонов (Александр Горбатов) и сержант Алексей Костенко (Кирилл Зайцев). Чем глубже оперативники погружаются в дело, тем больше убеждаются, что убийства и ограбления – это лишь прикрытие, а настоящие цели Художника им еще предстоит раскрыть.

Когда к расследованию подключается старый друг капитана Сазонова, офицер НКВД Михаил Рудаков (Виктор Добронравов) становится ясно, что предателя придется вычислять среди своих. Под подозрением каждый. Теперь для Ефимова и его команды поймать преступника – дело чести. Враг наносит удары по самому дорогому, под угрозой их семьи и любимые женщины, в опасности и библиотекарь Светлана (Дарья Урсуляк), в которую влюблены друзья-соперники Сазонов и Рудаков. Но сыщики МУРа готовы пойти на все, чтобы одержать победу в смертельном поединке с преступниками.

Содержание серий сериала «Художник»

1-я серия
Великая Отечественная война. В Москве орудует банда «Мёртвая голова», которая нападает только на бандитов и оставляет на месте преступлений рисунки с портретами жертв. Главарь банды известен как «Художник». Расследовать её деятельность поручают майору милиции Ефимычу и его помощнику Александру Сазонову. Тот тем временем знакомится со строгой и принципиальной девушкой – библиотекарем Светланой.

2-я серия
Трое бандитов из «Мёртвой головы» совершают очередное убийство. Один из участников банды вскоре присылает весточку Ефимычу и предлагает ему встретиться с глазу на глаз. Сазонов предчувствует ловушку, он считает, что в одиночку на встречу идти опасно. В отдел приходит новый сотрудник – сержант Алексей Костенко, бывший сослуживец Сазонова.

3-я серия
Вор-домушник Штепа становится свидетелем очередного убийства. Его вещи обнаружены рядом с местом преступления. Ефимыч и Сазонов выясняют, что почерк нового убийства сильно отличается от предыдущих. А значит, события могли развиваться по двум сценариям: либо кто-то пытается копировать «Художника», либо бандиты действуют за спиной главаря. И теперь главная задача – разыскать Штепу.

4-я серия
Оперативники решают узнать, что могло связывать бандитов между собой в прошлом. Однако поиски не приносят результатов. И чем сильнее Ефимыч, Сазонов и Костенко погружаются в дело, тем больше убеждаются, что убийства – это лишь прикрытие, а настоящие цели «Художника» им только предстоит выяснить…

5-я серия
К Ефимычу приходит представитель Госбезопасности Кривцов и предупреждает оперативников, что теперь информация о вооружении банды «Мёртвая голова» строго засекречена. Сазонов и Ефимыч просят вора в законе Ливера помочь найти Штепу.

6-я серия
Ливер опасается потерять авторитет среди своих, поэтому решает сдать Штепу Ефимычу. Он посылает на поиски Штепы подручного Губу и свою подругу Люсю, которую приставляет к Сазонову. Сазон приглашает Светлану на свидание в ресторан Метрополь.

7-я серия
В квартире убитого начальника автобазы Сазонов и Ефимыч сталкиваются с Михаилом Рудаковым, однокурсником Сазонова из школы милиции, а ныне сотрудником Госбезопасности. Кривцов рассказывает ему, что убитый начальник автобазы Журбин занимался операцией под кодовым названием «Лазарет».

8-я серия
Петрова, члена секретной группы «Лазарет», обнаруживают убитым в своей квартире. Ефимыч решается на рискованный план — ловить банду на живца. Сазонов предлагает отпраздновать день рождения матери Светланы, приглашает на праздник её соседей по квартире. Но все идёт не по плану…

Продолжение содержания серий на 2-й стр.

Страницы: 1 2

Какой смысл заложен в «Художнике» (2022), почему так важны актеры и сыгранные роли. Детальное описание содержания серий и тонкости сюжета, чем закончится финальный эпизод, прольют свет на загадку детектива. Пока красноармейцы воюют на фронте, в стране действуют банды. Причем не только уголовники, но и агенты гитлеровцев, диверсанты. Милиция идет по следу преступников.

Сюжет сериала «Художник» (2022)

Москва, 1944 год. Город накрывает серия жестоких ограблений и убийств. На месте преступления бандиты оставляют портреты своих жертв, за что банду прозвали «Мертвой головой», а ее главаря – «Художником». Расследование ведут начальник отдела по борьбе с бандитизмом, майор Тихон Ефимов, капитан Александр Сазонов и сержант Алексей Костенко. Чем глубже оперативники погружаются в дело, тем больше убеждаются, что убийства и ограбления – это лишь прикрытие, а настоящие цели Художника им еще предстоит раскрыть.

Содержание серий

1 серия

1944 год. В Москве орудует банда «Мертвая голова», которая нападает только на бандитов и оставляет на месте преступлений рисунки с портретами убитых жертв. Расследовать их деятельность поручают майору милиции Ефимычу и его помощнику Александру Сазонову.

2 серия

В отдел к Ефимычу приходит работать сержант Костенко, бывший сослуживец Сазонова. Александр знакомится с библиотекаршей Светой и влюбляется в нее, а трое бандитов из «Мертвой головы» во главе с Прозрачным совершают новое убийство.

3 серия

Ефимыч с Сазоновым выясняют, что почерк нового убийства сильно отличается от предыдущих. Это наводит их на мысль о том, что бандиты не так уж сплочены. Оперативники отправляются на поиски Штепы, чтобы выйти на след Художника.

4 серия

Оперативники приходят к выводу, что Прозрачного и его подельников завербовали во время оккупации. Ефимыч и Сазонов подозревают, что на самом деле «Мертвая голова» может быть тщательно подготовленной диверсионной группой, а Художник – шпионом.

5 серия

Пульнер предупреждает оперативников, что теперь информация о вооружении банды «Мертвая голова» строго засекречена. Сазонов и Ефимыч просят вора в законе Ливера помочь найти Штепу, а в городе тем временем объявляется новый руководитель троек Канцлер.

6 серия

Ливер посылает подручного Губу на поиски Штепы, надеясь через него выйти на «Мертвую голову», а Ефимыч и Сазонов берутся за расследование нового убийства. Сазонов уверен, что банда раскололась и преступники теперь открыто воюют с Художником.

7 серия

Начальник Рудакова рассказывает ему, что Журбин занимался операцией под кодовым названием «Вальс», и советует поговорить с Алексеем Петровым, который также входил в состав секретной группы.

8 серия

Петрова обнаруживают убитым в своей квартире. Кроме этого, пропадает папка с секретными документами. Рудаков узнает, что в Москву был заброшен немецкий агент под псевдонимом Вагнер, который внедрился в силовые структуры. А  Ефимыч решает ловить банду Прозрачного на живца.

9 серия

Ефимыч, Сазонов и бандиты пытаются выяснить, когда деньги общака прибудут в Москву. Люся вызывается помочь Сазонову, но взамен просит расправиться с бандитом по прозвищу Дракон. Тем временем Рудаков занимается расследованием убийства Петрова и находит новые улики.

10 серия

Оперативники разрабатывают операцию по поимке банды «Мертвая голова». Они решают взять живым одного из преступников, чтобы выйти на след Вагнера. Рудаков выясняет, что Петров вел двойную игру, и отправляется на поиски его сына.

11 серия

Ефимыч считает, что на Петровке завелся крот, и пытается выяснить, кто сливает информацию «Мертвой голове». Рудаков добивается эксгумации тела сына Петрова, но его могила оказывается пустой.

12 серия

На месте перестрелки в кафе Ефимыч находит американский пистолет-пулемет. Он понимает, что преступники приходили за Художником. Костенко и Сазонов подозревают, что Рудаков может быть главарем банды, пока тот выходит на след немецкого офицера Отто Рихтера.

13 серия

Пытаясь выманить Сазонова, Канцлер и Прозрачный убивают Свету. Сазонов расправляется с Прозрачным, а Канцлеру удается сбежать. Тем временем в Москву прибывают тысячи немецких военнопленных для участия в марше под кодовым названием «Большой Вальс».

Чем закончится сериал «Художник»

Москва за год до окончания войны. Советские войска победоносно наступают, тесня гитлеровцев по все направлениям. А в это время идет другая война. С преступностью. Воры, убийцы, насильники, домушники совсем распоясались. Считая, что сейчас им никто не даст отпора.

Сотрудники уголовного розыска ведут борьбу с загадочной бандой, условно названной «Мертвая голова». Во главе преступников стоит некто «Художник». О нем нет никаких данных. Только то, что после своих деяний он всегда оставляет «автограф». Портрет убитых.

Постепенно у оперативников проявляется общий облик банды. Действуют дерзко, стремительно. Как будто бы заранее знают, где, на кого нападать. Больше всего вопросов вызывает личность «Художника». Кто он? Как сколотил свою группировку?

Более того. Возникают подозрения, что у «Мертвой головы» есть иная задача. Маскируемая убийствами и ограблениями. А именно – саботаж. Причем практически на профессиональном уровне. Вероятно, и сам художник – завербованный немецкими спецслужбами агент. Диверсант высочайшего класса.

Тем временем в самой банде явно назрел раскол. Судя по изменившемуся почерку преступлений, лидерство «Художника» уже не так четко проявляется. Возможно, появился его антагонист. Тот, кто расшатывает авторитет главаря.

Чем закончится сериал. Недавно появившийся в Москве новый агент под псевдонимом «Канцлер» ведет свою игру. Что у него на уме? А правительство СССР планирует провести в столице показательный марш пленных немцев. Между событиями явно есть какая-то связь. Ее должны разгадать Ефимыч с напарником.

Актеры и роли

• Андрей Смоляков – Тихон Степанович Ефимов, майор ОББ (главная роль)
• Александр Горбатов (II) – Александр Сазонов, капитан ОББ (главная роль)
• Кирилл Зайцев (II) – Алексей Костенко, сержант ОББ (главная роль)
• Дарья Урсуляк – Света Акимова (главная роль)
• Марина Александрова – Люся (главная роль)
• Сергей Газаров – Геннадий Федорович Пульнер (главная роль)
• Александр Устюгов – Андрей Кривцов (главная роль)
• Виктор Добронравов – Михаил Рудаков (главная роль)
• Андрей Мерзликин – Ливер (главная роль)
• Филипп Ершов – Дмитрий Мальчик
• Игорь Хрипунов – Николай Головачев (Голова)
• Анастасия Имамова – Клавдия Головачева
• Светлана Колпакова – Галина Клементьева
• Агриппина Стеклова – Ксюта, жена Ефимова
• Евгений Харитонов (II) – Прозрачный
• Дмитрий Куличков – Губа
• Юрий Тарасов – Штепа
• Николай Кисличенко – Борис Ткачук
• Ела Санько – Марта, мать Штепы
• Артем Алексеев (II) – Костров
• Павел Попов – Талый
• Рамиль Сабитов – Барон
• Сергей Черданцев – Дракон
• Елена Нестерова – Татьяна Владимировна, мама Светы
• Гурам Баблишвили – Черкес
• Евгений Харланов – Витька Соловьев
• Сергей Сафронов – Канцлер
• Сергей Фролов – Анатолий Боков
• Мария Крылова (II) – Катя
• Лариса Шахворостова
• Никита Абдулов – механик
• Орхан Абулов (эпизод)
• Юлия Акимова – управдом
• Иван Алексеев (III) (эпизод)
• Дмитрий Архангельский – Козей
• Григорий Багров – эксперт
• Карэн Бадалов – раввин Альтшулер
• Дарья Белоусова – библиотекарь
• Михаил Бида (эпизод)
• Максим Битюков – Потап
• Александр Бобров – Костя
• Олег Бойко (эпизод)
• Евгений Бониславский (эпизод)
• Михаил Бочаров (III) (эпизод)
• Иван Бровин – Серега Универмаг
• Максим Важов – Мавруха
• Алексей Вакарчук – официант
• Екатерина Вельдина – сотрудник милиции
• Александр Воробьев (IV) – Федя
• Юрий Воробьев – отец Саши
• Александр Высоковский (эпизод)
• Ксения Гаевская (эпизод)
• Людмила Галиаскарова – женщина на кладбище
• Гело (эпизод)
• Игорь Гордеев (эпизод)
• Татьяна Городецкая – сотрудница милиции
• А. Григорьев (III) (эпизод)
• Ольга Гришова – дама в ресторане
• Сергей Гурьев (эпизод)
• Андрей Гусев (II) – Рогачев
• Ольга Демидова – Прасковья, дворничиха
• Максим Деричев – Сало
• Наталья Донская (эпизод)
• Илья Древнов – Хофман
• Владимир Дубровский (II) (эпизод)
• Анатолий Дымов (эпизод)
• Сергей Дьяков – Саша Маленький
• Филипп Дьячков (II) – Митяй
• Кирилл Ермичев – Мамочка
• Наталья Жернакова – дворничиха
• Кристина Завьялова (эпизод)
• Анжелика Зарьева (эпизод)
• Алексей Зеленский (эпизод)
• Прохор Зикора – бандит
• Д. Иванов (эпизод)
• Ксения Иванова – Лена
• Даниил Ивершинь (эпизод)
• Кристина Исайкина – Вера
• Ольга Калашникова – Саша
• Олег Каменщиков – бандит
• Галина Кашковская – Екатерина Тишкина
• Алексей Кашников – Танкист
• Станислав Кисилевский (эпизод)
• Андрей Клавдиев (эпизод)
• А. Колбунов (эпизод)
• Сергей Колешня – Сергей Анатольевич Раков
• Антонина Комиссарова – Ольга, продавец
• Сергей Кореньков – Цыганов
• Евгений Косырев – Лапша
• Анатолий Кощеев – Горыныч
• Александр Красовский – фронтовик
• Дмитрий Кривочуров – Бурзя
• Евгений Крылов – Потапов
• Наталья Кулинкина (эпизод)
• Анатолий Лобоцкий – отец Рудакова
• Петр Логачев – Мотор
• Александр Макаров – скрипач
• Олег Малахов (эпизод)
• Алла Малкова – соседка
• Юрий Маслак – Хмурый
• Ведат Меметов (эпизод)
• Эльмира Мирэль – Любовь Михайловна
• Владимир Михельсон (эпизод)
• О. Муравецкий (эпизод)
• Нана Муштакова (эпизод)
• Кирилл Назаров (эпизод)
• Татьяна Насташевская (эпизод)
• Александр Нестеров – главный редактор
• Олег Никитин (II) (эпизод)
• Александр Никольский (II) – участковый
• Александр Новиков (X) (эпизод)
• Игорь Оробей (эпизод)
• Алексей Ошурков – Лиске
• Дмитрий Павленко – инженер
• А. Палладин (эпизод)
• Федор Парамонов – пацан
• Григорий Перель – подельник Головы
• Сергей Петров (II) – хирург
• Роман Погорелов (эпизод)
• Сергей Покопцев (эпизод)
• Борис Покровский – Сергеев
• Антон Полетаев – Иван-Искупало
• Алексей Потапов – Седой
• Екатерина Белова (IV) (эпизод)
• Анна Пухова (эпизод)
• Николай Разуменко – водитель
• Андрей Ребенков – спекулянт
• Александр Ревенко – начальник ЖЭКа
• Глеб Ромашевский (эпизод)
• Николай Сальников (эпизод)
• Евгений Сахаров (II) (эпизод)
• Владислав Сахнов – покупатель на рынке
• Юрий Сберегаев (эпизод)
• Владимир Свирский – Караваев, художник
• Матвей Семенов – шкет
• И. Сергеев (II) (эпизод)
• Роман Сергиенко (эпизод)
• Р. Сердюченко (эпизод)
• Илья Сланевский – Тощий
• Геннадий Смирнов – психолог
• Валентина Смольникова – сотрудница архива
• Олег Снопков (эпизод)
• Юлия Соловьева (эпизод)
• Леон Тафара – Бойко
• Леонид Тележинский (эпизод)
• Константин Терновой (эпизод)
• Андрей Титков (эпизод)
• Яков Тихомиров (эпизод)
• Даниил Толстых (эпизод)
• Игорь Трафлялин – метрдотель
• Данил Тябин – бандит
• А. Устинов (эпизод)
• Станислав Устюжанин (эпизод)
• Иван Федотов – водитель
• Олег Феоктистов – врач
• Олег Фомин – Меркулов
• Дмитрий Фрид – Уильям Гарриман, посол США в СССР
• Андрей Харенко (эпизод)
• Владимир Хацкевич (эпизод)
• Сергей Холмогоров (эпизод)
• Эдуард Чемодаков (эпизод)
• Иван Шабалтас – Алексей Степанович Петров
• Андрей Шалин (эпизод)
• Роман Шаляпин – Желвак
• Андрей Шарыпов – подельник Головы
• Александр Шатохин – хозяин квартиры
• В. Шмаков (эпизод)
• Николай Шония (эпизод)
• Рамиз Алиев – чекист (нет в титрах)
• Анна Буянова – официантка (нет в титрах)
• Ирина Васильева – секретарь (нет в титрах)
• Игорь Днепров – адъютант (нет в титрах)
• Анастасия Саклакова – официантка (нет в титрах)
• Иосиф Шаруиф – беспризорник (нет в титрах)
• Александр Артемьев – подельник Головы (нет в титрах)
• Вячеслав Галюга (эпизод, нет в титрах)
• Иван Токарев – мужик на кладбище (нет в титрах)
• Василий Белокопытов – бандит (нет в титрах)
• Максим Плешко – бандит (нет в титрах)
• Александр Калтахчян – бандит (нет в титрах)
• Александр Февралев – бандит (нет в титрах)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Artist
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Michel Hazanavicius
Written by	Michel Hazanavicius
Produced by	Thomas Langmann
Starring	Jean Dujardin Bérénice Bejo James Cromwell Penelope Ann Miller Malcolm McDowell Missi Pyle Beth Grant Ed Lauter Joel Murray Ken Davitian John Goodman
Cinematography	Guillaume Schiffman
Edited by	Anne-Sophie Bion Michel Hazanavicius
Music by	Ludovic Bource
Production companies	La Petite Reine ARP Sélection Studio 37 La Classe Américaine France 3 Cinema U Film Jouror Productions JD Prod
Distributed by	Warner Bros. France
Release dates	15 May 2011 (Cannes) 12 October 2011 (France)
Running time	100 minutes[1]
Country	France
Budget	$15 million
Box office	$133.4 million[2]

The Artist is a 2011 French^{[nb 1]} comedy-drama film^{[nb 2]} in the style of a black-and-white silent film or part-talkie.^{[9][10][11][12]} The film was written and directed by Michel Hazanavicius, produced by Thomas Langmann and stars Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo.^[13] The story takes place in Hollywood, between 1927 and 1932, and focuses on the relationship between a rising young actress and an older silent film star as silent cinema falls out of fashion and is replaced by the «talkies».

The Artist received widespread critical acclaim and won many accolades. Dujardin won Best Actor at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, where the film premiered. The film was nominated for six Golden Globes, the most of any 2011 film, and won three: Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Original Score, and Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Dujardin. In January 2012, the film was nominated for twelve BAFTAs, the most of any film from 2011,^[14] and won seven, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor for Dujardin, and Best Original Screenplay for Hazanavicius.

It was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won five,^[15] including Best Picture, Best Director for Hazanavicius, and Best Actor for Dujardin, making him the first French actor ever to win in this category. It was also the first French-produced film to win Best Picture,^[16] and the first mainly silent film to win since 1927’s Wings won at the 1st Academy Awards in 1929. It was also the first film presented in the 4:3 aspect ratio to win since 1953’s From Here to Eternity. Additionally, it was the first black-and-white film to win since 1993’s Schindler’s List, though the latter contained limited colour sequences; it was the first 100% black-and-white film to win since 1960’s The Apartment.

In France it was nominated for ten César Awards,^[17] winning six, including Best Film, Best Director for Hazanavicius, and Best Actress for Bejo. The Artist has received more awards than any other French film.^[18]

Plot[edit]

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 to the accident and shows off with Peppy for the cameras. The next day, Peppy finds herself on the front page of Variety with the headline «Who’s That Girl?» Later, Peppy capitalizes on the headline 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 after finding her in his dressing room, Peppy slowly rises through the industry, earning more prominent starring roles.

Two years later, Zimmer announces the end of production of silent films at Kinograph Studios, but Valentin is dismissive, insisting that sound is just a fad. In a dream, Valentin begins hearing sounds from his environment (as does the audience), but cannot speak himself, then wakes up in a sweat. He decides to produce and direct his own silent film, Tears of Love, financing it himself. 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 (including Peppy herself) 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 goes on to become a major Hollywood star.

Later, the bankrupt Valentin is forced to auction off all of his personal effects, and after realizing he has not paid loyal Clifton in over a year, gives him the car and fires him, telling him to get another job. Depressed and drunk, Valentin angrily sets a match to his private collection of his earlier films. As the nitrate film quickly blazes out of control, he is overwhelmed by the smoke and passes out inside the burning house, still 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. Valentin seems to remain dismissive of Peppy having taken him in, prompting Clifton to remind Valentin of his changing luck.

Peppy insists to Zimmer that Valentin co-star in her next film, threatening to quit Kinograph if Zimmer does not agree to her terms. After Valentin learns to his dismay that Peppy had purchased all his auctioned effects, he returns in despair to his burnt-out apartment. Peppy arrives, panicked, and finds that Valentin is about to attempt suicide with a handgun. Peppy tells him she only wanted to help him. They embrace and Valentin tells her it’s no use; no one wants to hear him speak. Remembering Valentin’s superb dancing ability, Peppy persuades Zimmer to let them make a musical together.

Now the audience hears sound for the second time, as the film starts rolling for a dance scene with Peppy and Valentin and their tap-dancing can be heard. Once the choreography is complete, the two dancers are heard panting. The director of the musical calls out audibly, «Cut!» to which Zimmer adds: «Perfect. Beautiful. Could you give me just one more?» Valentin, in his only audible line, replies «With pleasure,» revealing a French accent.^[19] The camera then pulls back to the sounds of the film crew as they prepare to shoot another take.

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

Director Michel Hazanavicius had been fantasizing about making a silent film for many years, both because many filmmakers he admires emerged in the silent era, and because of the image-driven nature of the form. According to Hazanavicius, his wish to make a silent film was at first not taken seriously, but after the financial success of his spy-film pastiches OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies and OSS 117: Lost in Rio, producers started to express interest. The forming of the film’s narrative started with Hazanavicius’ desire to work again with actors Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo, who had both starred in OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies. Hazanavicius chose the form of a melodrama, mostly because he thought many of the films from the silent era that have aged best are of that genre. He did extensive research about 1920s Hollywood, and studied silent films to find the right techniques to make the story comprehensible without having to use too many intertitles. The screenplay took four months to write and was principally inspired by the 1928 silent comedy, Show People.^[21][22]

Chief among the influences shaping the screenplay’s protagonist was Douglas Fairbanks. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ recent book Douglas Fairbanks, by Jeffrey Vance, as well as the Academy’s Douglas Fairbanks exhibition and screening events both in Los Angeles and New York City, afforded Hollywood’s first swashbuckling hero and the Academy’s first president some significant media attention.^[23][24]

Principal photography on The Artist began in November 2010,^[25] taking place over the course of thirty-five days,^[26] made in the 1.33:1 screen ratio commonly used in the silent film era. Though presented in black-and-white, it was shot in color by cinematographer Guillaume Schiffman.^[27] All the technical details, including lenses, lighting and camera moves, were calibrated to aesthetically match silent films of the period.^[28] To recreate the slightly sped-up look of 1920s silent films, the film was shot at a slightly lower frame rate of 22 fps as opposed to the standard 24 fps.^[29] Most of the film is silent, except for two brief scenes with sound as well as the non-diegetic soundtrack. Throughout the shoot, Hazanavicius played music from classic Hollywood films while the actors performed.^[21]

The film was produced by La Petite Reine and ARP Sélection for 13.47 million euro, including co-production support from Studio 37 and France 3 Cinéma, and pre-sales investment from Canal+ and CinéCinéma.^[30] The cast and the crew included both French and American members.^[21] All the scenes were shot in Los Angeles, primarily in Hollywood, but also in downtown theaters, restaurants and houses, including the one in which Mary Pickford lived. Soundstage work was done at Red Studios, and the studio lot itself doubled for part of the fictional Kinograph Studios lot, with Red’s Lillian Way entrance doubling as the Kinograph entrance in several sequences. The iconic Bradbury Building in downtown L.A. provided the location for the film’s distinctive staircase sequence. The dance sequence that closes the film took seventeen takes, and required Dujardin and Bejo to spend five months studying tap dancing, with Dujardin claiming that «in the first week it’s fun, the fifth week it’s a little boring, at the end it’s thrilling».^[31]

American costume designer Mark Bridges created the wardrobe for the film’s cast.^[32]

Music[edit]

The film’s music was largely composed by Ludovic Bource, but includes works by other composers such as Alberto Ginastera’s «Estancia». The soundtrack was recorded in Belgium by the Brussels Philharmonic and was conducted by Ernst Van Tiel; the Brussels Jazz Orchestra also cooperated. The recording took place during six days in April 2011 at Flagey’s Studio 4 in Brussels.^[33]

The film’s climactic scene is set to Bernard Herrmann’s «Scène d’amour» from his score to Alfred Hitchcock’s film Vertigo. In Vertigo, that composition similarly accompanies an extended scene without dialogue. Only one song (sung, with lyrics) is used in the soundtrack, «Pennies from Heaven», sung by Rose «Chi-Chi» Murphy (uncredited). This song was written in 1936 although the film is set between 1927 and 1932. The soundtrack was released on 10 October in France, and 21 October in the U.K. and U.S. through Sony Classical Records.^[34]

Release[edit]

The film premiered on 15 May 2011 in competition at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.^[35] It was initially announced as an out of competition entry, but was moved to the competition a week before the festival opened.^[36] The French regular release was on 12 October 2011 through Warner Bros. France.^[37] The Weinstein Company bought the distribution rights for the United States and Australia and Entertainment Film Distributors bought the UK distribution.^[38] The film was initially given a limited release in the United States on 23 November 2011.^[39]

Following its wins at the 69th Golden Globe Awards, it was announced Warner Bros. would re-release the film in France in 362 theaters on 25 January 2012.^[40][41] It was also re-released in Belgium on 22 February 2012.^[42]

Box office[edit]

The Artist grossed $44,671,682 in North America, along with $88,761,174 in other territories for a worldwide total of $133,432,856.^[2] After its success at the Academy Awards, the film saw a moderate boost the following week on the box office in North America. It appeared on the week’s top 10 chart and got an increase of 34% while expanding its release from 966 theaters to 1,756.^[43]

Critical response[edit]

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 95% based on 327 reviews, with an average rating of 8.8/10. The website’s critical consensus states, «A crowd-pleasing tribute to the magic of silent cinema, The Artist is a clever, joyous film with delightful performances and visual style to spare.»^[44] At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating to reviews, the film received an average score of 89 out of 100, based on 41 critics, indicating «universal acclaim».^[45] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of «A» on an A+ to F scale.^[46]

Mark Adams of Screen Daily called the film «a real pleasure»; «propelled elegantly forward by delightful performances from Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo it is the most unlikely of feel-good movies.» He added however: «The film does feel a little sluggish towards the end of the first third as the music is a little repetitive and the intertitles are infrequent, but Hazanavicius manages to give the film a real sense of charm and warmth, and film fans will be competing to spot visual and musical references.»^[47] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian described how the film «had me on my feet cheering throughout the final credits» and stated «I can’t wait to see it again».^[48]

Geoffrey McNab at The Independent called the film «both a surefire crowdpleaser and a magnificent piece of film-making» in his 5 star review from the Cannes Film Festival.^[49] Rick Groen of The Globe and Mail assessed The Artist highly, noting the film «uses old technology to dazzling effect to illustrate the insistent conquest of a new technology.»^[50] Sukanya Verma for Rediff.com feels The Artist is an extremely well-researched film and is an instant classic.^[51] David Thomson of The New Republic called The Artist an «accomplished and witty entertainment» and went on to write, «Whether Hazanavicius can do more things as elegant and touching, without the gimmick of silence, remains to be seen (and heard). Meanwhile, he is to be congratulated on the grounds of pleasure alone. He may be due for much more in the way of rewards.»^[52] Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert gave the film four out of four stars, praising the performances, and calling the film «one of the most entertaining films in many a moon, a film that charms because of its story, its performances and because of the sly way it plays with being silent and black and white.»^[53]

Writing for Slant Magazine, Jaime N. Christley gave the film one-and-a-half out of four stars, explaining Michel Hazanavicius ignores «everything that’s fascinating and memorable about the era, focusing instead on a patchwork of general knowledge, so eroded of inconvenient facts that it doesn’t even qualify as a roman à clef.»^[54] America argued that while Jean Dujardin carried the film, Bejo’s performance was disappointing.^[55]

Kim Novak controversy[edit]

On 9 January 2012, actress Kim Novak stated that «rape» had been metaphorically committed in the film’s licensed use of a portion of Bernard Herrmann’s score from Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 film Vertigo (in which Novak starred). The final portion of The Artist is accompanied not by original music, but by a 1992 recording of the Herrmann composition Scene d’Amour, conducted by Elmer Bernstein. In the article published, by Variety, she stated that «I feel as if my body—or at least my body of work—has been violated by the movie.»^[56] «This film should’ve been able to stand on its own without depending on Bernard Herrmann’s score from Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Vertigo’ to provide more drama» and that «It is morally wrong for the artistry of our industry to use and abuse famous pieces of work to gain attention and applause for other than what they were intended», ending her comments with «Shame on them!»^[57]

In response, director Hazanavicius released a statement:

The Artist was made as a love letter to cinema, and grew out of my (and all of my cast and crew’s) admiration and respect for movies throughout history. It was inspired by the work of Hitchcock, Lang, Ford, Lubitsch, Murnau and Wilder. I love Bernard Herrmann and his music has been used in many different films and I’m very pleased to have it in mine. I respect Kim Novak greatly and I’m sorry to hear she disagrees.^[58]

Hazanavicius also told CNN «I used music from another movie, but it’s not illegal. We paid for that, we asked for that and we had the permission to do it. For me there is no real controversy…. I feel sorry for her, but there’s a lot of movies with music from other movies, directors do that all the time and I’m not sure it’s a big deal.»^[57]

In May 2011, when the film was first shown at the Cannes Festival, Todd McCarthy from The Hollywood Reporter mentioned the use of Herrmann’s music, «Hazanavicius and Bource daringly choose to explicitly employ Bernard Herrmann’s love theme from Vertigo, which is dramatically effective in its own right but is so well known that it yanks you out of one film and places you in the mind-set of another. Surely some sort of reworked equivalent would have been a better idea.»^[59]

Top ten lists[edit]

The film has appeared on the following critics’ top ten lists for the best films of 2011:

Critic	Publication	Rank
Richard Corliss	Time	1st[60]
Peter Bradshaw	The Guardian	1st[61]
Robbie Collin	The Telegraph	1st[61]
Richard Roeper	Chicago Tribune	2nd[62]
Peter Travers	Rolling Stone	2nd[63]
Elizabeth Weitzman	New York Daily News	2nd[61]
Lisa Schwarzbaum	Entertainment Weekly	3rd[61]
Mark Kermode	BBC Radio 5 Live	4th[64]
Richard T. Jameson	MSN Movies	4th[61]
Sean Axmaker	MSN Movies	5th[61]
Empire‘s writers and contributors	Empire Magazine	5th[61]
James Berardinelli	Reelviews	5th[65]
S&S international poll of critics	Sight & Sound	5th[66]
Austin Film Critics Association	Austin Film Critics Association	6th[67]
Roger Ebert	Chicago Sun-Times	10th[61]
Time Out‘s film team	Time Out London	10th[61]

Accolades[edit]

At the 65th British Academy Film Awards, the film won seven awards, including Best Film, Best Actor for Dujardin, Best Original Screenplay for Hazanavicius, Cinematography for Schiffman, Costume Design for Bridges and Original Score for Ludovic Bource.^[68][69] At the 69th Golden Globe Awards, the film was nominated for six Golden Globes to win three of them; Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Dujardin and Best Musical Score for Bource.^[70][71]

At the 84th Academy Awards, The Artist received ten nominations, winning five awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Hazanavicius, Best Actor in a Leading Role for Jean Dujardin, Best Costume Design, and Best Original Score.^[72][73][74]

Home media[edit]

The Artist was released on region 1 DVD and Blu-ray on 26 June 2012.^[75] It was released in the UK by Entertainment in Video on 28 May 2012.^[76]

See also[edit]

• List of black-and-white films produced since 1970
• List of films featuring fictional films

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Orange Studio (Studio 37) official site (in French)
• The Artist at IMDb
• The Artist at AllMovie
• The Artist at Box Office Mojo
• The Artist at Metacritic
• The Artist at Rotten Tomatoes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Artist
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Michel Hazanavicius
Written by	Michel Hazanavicius
Produced by	Thomas Langmann
Starring	Jean Dujardin Bérénice Bejo James Cromwell Penelope Ann Miller Malcolm McDowell Missi Pyle Beth Grant Ed Lauter Joel Murray Ken Davitian John Goodman
Cinematography	Guillaume Schiffman
Edited by	Anne-Sophie Bion Michel Hazanavicius
Music by	Ludovic Bource
Production companies	La Petite Reine ARP Sélection Studio 37 La Classe Américaine France 3 Cinema U Film Jouror Productions JD Prod
Distributed by	Warner Bros. France
Release dates	15 May 2011 (Cannes) 12 October 2011 (France)
Running time	100 minutes[1]
Country	France
Budget	$15 million
Box office	$133.4 million[2]

The Artist is a 2011 French^{[nb 1]} comedy-drama film^{[nb 2]} in the style of a black-and-white silent film or part-talkie.^{[9][10][11][12]} The film was written and directed by Michel Hazanavicius, produced by Thomas Langmann and stars Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo.^[13] The story takes place in Hollywood, between 1927 and 1932, and focuses on the relationship between a rising young actress and an older silent film star as silent cinema falls out of fashion and is replaced by the «talkies».

The Artist received widespread critical acclaim and won many accolades. Dujardin won Best Actor at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, where the film premiered. The film was nominated for six Golden Globes, the most of any 2011 film, and won three: Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Original Score, and Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Dujardin. In January 2012, the film was nominated for twelve BAFTAs, the most of any film from 2011,^[14] and won seven, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor for Dujardin, and Best Original Screenplay for Hazanavicius.

It was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won five,^[15] including Best Picture, Best Director for Hazanavicius, and Best Actor for Dujardin, making him the first French actor ever to win in this category. It was also the first French-produced film to win Best Picture,^[16] and the first mainly silent film to win since 1927’s Wings won at the 1st Academy Awards in 1929. It was also the first film presented in the 4:3 aspect ratio to win since 1953’s From Here to Eternity. Additionally, it was the first black-and-white film to win since 1993’s Schindler’s List, though the latter contained limited colour sequences; it was the first 100% black-and-white film to win since 1960’s The Apartment.

In France it was nominated for ten César Awards,^[17] winning six, including Best Film, Best Director for Hazanavicius, and Best Actress for Bejo. The Artist has received more awards than any other French film.^[18]

Plot[edit]

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 to the accident and shows off with Peppy for the cameras. The next day, Peppy finds herself on the front page of Variety with the headline «Who’s That Girl?» Later, Peppy capitalizes on the headline 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 after finding her in his dressing room, Peppy slowly rises through the industry, earning more prominent starring roles.

Two years later, Zimmer announces the end of production of silent films at Kinograph Studios, but Valentin is dismissive, insisting that sound is just a fad. In a dream, Valentin begins hearing sounds from his environment (as does the audience), but cannot speak himself, then wakes up in a sweat. He decides to produce and direct his own silent film, Tears of Love, financing it himself. 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 (including Peppy herself) 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 goes on to become a major Hollywood star.

Later, the bankrupt Valentin is forced to auction off all of his personal effects, and after realizing he has not paid loyal Clifton in over a year, gives him the car and fires him, telling him to get another job. Depressed and drunk, Valentin angrily sets a match to his private collection of his earlier films. As the nitrate film quickly blazes out of control, he is overwhelmed by the smoke and passes out inside the burning house, still 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. Valentin seems to remain dismissive of Peppy having taken him in, prompting Clifton to remind Valentin of his changing luck.

Peppy insists to Zimmer that Valentin co-star in her next film, threatening to quit Kinograph if Zimmer does not agree to her terms. After Valentin learns to his dismay that Peppy had purchased all his auctioned effects, he returns in despair to his burnt-out apartment. Peppy arrives, panicked, and finds that Valentin is about to attempt suicide with a handgun. Peppy tells him she only wanted to help him. They embrace and Valentin tells her it’s no use; no one wants to hear him speak. Remembering Valentin’s superb dancing ability, Peppy persuades Zimmer to let them make a musical together.

Now the audience hears sound for the second time, as the film starts rolling for a dance scene with Peppy and Valentin and their tap-dancing can be heard. Once the choreography is complete, the two dancers are heard panting. The director of the musical calls out audibly, «Cut!» to which Zimmer adds: «Perfect. Beautiful. Could you give me just one more?» Valentin, in his only audible line, replies «With pleasure,» revealing a French accent.^[19] The camera then pulls back to the sounds of the film crew as they prepare to shoot another take.

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

Director Michel Hazanavicius had been fantasizing about making a silent film for many years, both because many filmmakers he admires emerged in the silent era, and because of the image-driven nature of the form. According to Hazanavicius, his wish to make a silent film was at first not taken seriously, but after the financial success of his spy-film pastiches OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies and OSS 117: Lost in Rio, producers started to express interest. The forming of the film’s narrative started with Hazanavicius’ desire to work again with actors Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo, who had both starred in OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies. Hazanavicius chose the form of a melodrama, mostly because he thought many of the films from the silent era that have aged best are of that genre. He did extensive research about 1920s Hollywood, and studied silent films to find the right techniques to make the story comprehensible without having to use too many intertitles. The screenplay took four months to write and was principally inspired by the 1928 silent comedy, Show People.^[21][22]

Chief among the influences shaping the screenplay’s protagonist was Douglas Fairbanks. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ recent book Douglas Fairbanks, by Jeffrey Vance, as well as the Academy’s Douglas Fairbanks exhibition and screening events both in Los Angeles and New York City, afforded Hollywood’s first swashbuckling hero and the Academy’s first president some significant media attention.^[23][24]

Principal photography on The Artist began in November 2010,^[25] taking place over the course of thirty-five days,^[26] made in the 1.33:1 screen ratio commonly used in the silent film era. Though presented in black-and-white, it was shot in color by cinematographer Guillaume Schiffman.^[27] All the technical details, including lenses, lighting and camera moves, were calibrated to aesthetically match silent films of the period.^[28] To recreate the slightly sped-up look of 1920s silent films, the film was shot at a slightly lower frame rate of 22 fps as opposed to the standard 24 fps.^[29] Most of the film is silent, except for two brief scenes with sound as well as the non-diegetic soundtrack. Throughout the shoot, Hazanavicius played music from classic Hollywood films while the actors performed.^[21]

The film was produced by La Petite Reine and ARP Sélection for 13.47 million euro, including co-production support from Studio 37 and France 3 Cinéma, and pre-sales investment from Canal+ and CinéCinéma.^[30] The cast and the crew included both French and American members.^[21] All the scenes were shot in Los Angeles, primarily in Hollywood, but also in downtown theaters, restaurants and houses, including the one in which Mary Pickford lived. Soundstage work was done at Red Studios, and the studio lot itself doubled for part of the fictional Kinograph Studios lot, with Red’s Lillian Way entrance doubling as the Kinograph entrance in several sequences. The iconic Bradbury Building in downtown L.A. provided the location for the film’s distinctive staircase sequence. The dance sequence that closes the film took seventeen takes, and required Dujardin and Bejo to spend five months studying tap dancing, with Dujardin claiming that «in the first week it’s fun, the fifth week it’s a little boring, at the end it’s thrilling».^[31]

American costume designer Mark Bridges created the wardrobe for the film’s cast.^[32]

Music[edit]

The film’s music was largely composed by Ludovic Bource, but includes works by other composers such as Alberto Ginastera’s «Estancia». The soundtrack was recorded in Belgium by the Brussels Philharmonic and was conducted by Ernst Van Tiel; the Brussels Jazz Orchestra also cooperated. The recording took place during six days in April 2011 at Flagey’s Studio 4 in Brussels.^[33]

The film’s climactic scene is set to Bernard Herrmann’s «Scène d’amour» from his score to Alfred Hitchcock’s film Vertigo. In Vertigo, that composition similarly accompanies an extended scene without dialogue. Only one song (sung, with lyrics) is used in the soundtrack, «Pennies from Heaven», sung by Rose «Chi-Chi» Murphy (uncredited). This song was written in 1936 although the film is set between 1927 and 1932. The soundtrack was released on 10 October in France, and 21 October in the U.K. and U.S. through Sony Classical Records.^[34]

Release[edit]

The film premiered on 15 May 2011 in competition at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.^[35] It was initially announced as an out of competition entry, but was moved to the competition a week before the festival opened.^[36] The French regular release was on 12 October 2011 through Warner Bros. France.^[37] The Weinstein Company bought the distribution rights for the United States and Australia and Entertainment Film Distributors bought the UK distribution.^[38] The film was initially given a limited release in the United States on 23 November 2011.^[39]

Following its wins at the 69th Golden Globe Awards, it was announced Warner Bros. would re-release the film in France in 362 theaters on 25 January 2012.^[40][41] It was also re-released in Belgium on 22 February 2012.^[42]

Box office[edit]

The Artist grossed $44,671,682 in North America, along with $88,761,174 in other territories for a worldwide total of $133,432,856.^[2] After its success at the Academy Awards, the film saw a moderate boost the following week on the box office in North America. It appeared on the week’s top 10 chart and got an increase of 34% while expanding its release from 966 theaters to 1,756.^[43]

Critical response[edit]

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 95% based on 327 reviews, with an average rating of 8.8/10. The website’s critical consensus states, «A crowd-pleasing tribute to the magic of silent cinema, The Artist is a clever, joyous film with delightful performances and visual style to spare.»^[44] At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating to reviews, the film received an average score of 89 out of 100, based on 41 critics, indicating «universal acclaim».^[45] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of «A» on an A+ to F scale.^[46]

Mark Adams of Screen Daily called the film «a real pleasure»; «propelled elegantly forward by delightful performances from Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo it is the most unlikely of feel-good movies.» He added however: «The film does feel a little sluggish towards the end of the first third as the music is a little repetitive and the intertitles are infrequent, but Hazanavicius manages to give the film a real sense of charm and warmth, and film fans will be competing to spot visual and musical references.»^[47] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian described how the film «had me on my feet cheering throughout the final credits» and stated «I can’t wait to see it again».^[48]

Geoffrey McNab at The Independent called the film «both a surefire crowdpleaser and a magnificent piece of film-making» in his 5 star review from the Cannes Film Festival.^[49] Rick Groen of The Globe and Mail assessed The Artist highly, noting the film «uses old technology to dazzling effect to illustrate the insistent conquest of a new technology.»^[50] Sukanya Verma for Rediff.com feels The Artist is an extremely well-researched film and is an instant classic.^[51] David Thomson of The New Republic called The Artist an «accomplished and witty entertainment» and went on to write, «Whether Hazanavicius can do more things as elegant and touching, without the gimmick of silence, remains to be seen (and heard). Meanwhile, he is to be congratulated on the grounds of pleasure alone. He may be due for much more in the way of rewards.»^[52] Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert gave the film four out of four stars, praising the performances, and calling the film «one of the most entertaining films in many a moon, a film that charms because of its story, its performances and because of the sly way it plays with being silent and black and white.»^[53]

Writing for Slant Magazine, Jaime N. Christley gave the film one-and-a-half out of four stars, explaining Michel Hazanavicius ignores «everything that’s fascinating and memorable about the era, focusing instead on a patchwork of general knowledge, so eroded of inconvenient facts that it doesn’t even qualify as a roman à clef.»^[54] America argued that while Jean Dujardin carried the film, Bejo’s performance was disappointing.^[55]

Kim Novak controversy[edit]

On 9 January 2012, actress Kim Novak stated that «rape» had been metaphorically committed in the film’s licensed use of a portion of Bernard Herrmann’s score from Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 film Vertigo (in which Novak starred). The final portion of The Artist is accompanied not by original music, but by a 1992 recording of the Herrmann composition Scene d’Amour, conducted by Elmer Bernstein. In the article published, by Variety, she stated that «I feel as if my body—or at least my body of work—has been violated by the movie.»^[56] «This film should’ve been able to stand on its own without depending on Bernard Herrmann’s score from Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Vertigo’ to provide more drama» and that «It is morally wrong for the artistry of our industry to use and abuse famous pieces of work to gain attention and applause for other than what they were intended», ending her comments with «Shame on them!»^[57]

In response, director Hazanavicius released a statement:

The Artist was made as a love letter to cinema, and grew out of my (and all of my cast and crew’s) admiration and respect for movies throughout history. It was inspired by the work of Hitchcock, Lang, Ford, Lubitsch, Murnau and Wilder. I love Bernard Herrmann and his music has been used in many different films and I’m very pleased to have it in mine. I respect Kim Novak greatly and I’m sorry to hear she disagrees.^[58]

Hazanavicius also told CNN «I used music from another movie, but it’s not illegal. We paid for that, we asked for that and we had the permission to do it. For me there is no real controversy…. I feel sorry for her, but there’s a lot of movies with music from other movies, directors do that all the time and I’m not sure it’s a big deal.»^[57]

In May 2011, when the film was first shown at the Cannes Festival, Todd McCarthy from The Hollywood Reporter mentioned the use of Herrmann’s music, «Hazanavicius and Bource daringly choose to explicitly employ Bernard Herrmann’s love theme from Vertigo, which is dramatically effective in its own right but is so well known that it yanks you out of one film and places you in the mind-set of another. Surely some sort of reworked equivalent would have been a better idea.»^[59]

Top ten lists[edit]

The film has appeared on the following critics’ top ten lists for the best films of 2011:

Critic	Publication	Rank
Richard Corliss	Time	1st[60]
Peter Bradshaw	The Guardian	1st[61]
Robbie Collin	The Telegraph	1st[61]
Richard Roeper	Chicago Tribune	2nd[62]
Peter Travers	Rolling Stone	2nd[63]
Elizabeth Weitzman	New York Daily News	2nd[61]
Lisa Schwarzbaum	Entertainment Weekly	3rd[61]
Mark Kermode	BBC Radio 5 Live	4th[64]
Richard T. Jameson	MSN Movies	4th[61]
Sean Axmaker	MSN Movies	5th[61]
Empire‘s writers and contributors	Empire Magazine	5th[61]
James Berardinelli	Reelviews	5th[65]
S&S international poll of critics	Sight & Sound	5th[66]
Austin Film Critics Association	Austin Film Critics Association	6th[67]
Roger Ebert	Chicago Sun-Times	10th[61]
Time Out‘s film team	Time Out London	10th[61]

Accolades[edit]

At the 65th British Academy Film Awards, the film won seven awards, including Best Film, Best Actor for Dujardin, Best Original Screenplay for Hazanavicius, Cinematography for Schiffman, Costume Design for Bridges and Original Score for Ludovic Bource.^[68][69] At the 69th Golden Globe Awards, the film was nominated for six Golden Globes to win three of them; Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Dujardin and Best Musical Score for Bource.^[70][71]

At the 84th Academy Awards, The Artist received ten nominations, winning five awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Hazanavicius, Best Actor in a Leading Role for Jean Dujardin, Best Costume Design, and Best Original Score.^[72][73][74]

Home media[edit]

The Artist was released on region 1 DVD and Blu-ray on 26 June 2012.^[75] It was released in the UK by Entertainment in Video on 28 May 2012.^[76]

See also[edit]

• List of black-and-white films produced since 1970
• List of films featuring fictional films

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Orange Studio (Studio 37) official site (in French)
• The Artist at IMDb
• The Artist at AllMovie
• The Artist at Box Office Mojo
• The Artist at Metacritic
• The Artist at Rotten Tomatoes