The Artist crowned a phenomenal awards season with the Oscar for Best Film, as well as four other gongs during the biggest night on the film industry's calendar.
It was the first time in 84 years that a silent film had triumphed at the event.
Collecting the evening's final and biggest award, French director Michel Hazanavicius said he wished to thank three people - "Billy Wilder, Billy Wilder, Billy Wilder".
First signs that the biggest statuettes would go The Artist's way were with recognition for Best Director for Michel Hazanavicius for his creation of the black and white silent French film, an ode to the end of the silent movie era, with a dog the only one with a speaking part.
And Jean Dujardin beat home-grown favourites George Clooney, Brad Pitt as well as Gary Oldman and Demian Bechir to take the Best Lead Male Actor for his silent role in the film.
Meryl Streep looked genuinely shocked to learn she had beaten a strong field, including Viola Davis, Michelle Williams, Glenn Close and Rooney Mara to take the gong for Best Lead Female Actor for her role of Margaret Thatcher in controversial biopic The Iron Lady.
She said at the podium that she could feel half of the American audience saying "oh, not her again", but stopped to thank everyone she could, adding it was "definitely the last time I will ever be here".
Octavia Spencer was a popular winner for Best Supporting Female, for her role in The Help, earning a standing ovation as she took to the stage and broke down during her acceptance speech, thanking many people, even including the state of Alabama in her list.
And 82-year-old Christopher Plummer was probably the least surprising winner, for Best Supporting Male Actor, for his role as a newly out father to Ewan McGregor in Mike Mills' Beginners.
"You're only two years older than me, where have you been all my life?" he asked his new statuette.
One thing became clear early on in the evening - it wasn't going to be a sweep by any one film.
The Descendants, which has largely lost out to The Artist for this season's gongs, garnered Alexander Payne an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Martin Scorsese's sentimental Hugo took an early lead on the night, with five wins in technical categories, Best Achievement in Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects.
The Artist also picked up two early gongs for Best Costume and Best Musical Score, and The Iron Lady triumphed for Best Makeup.
Girl With The Dragon Tattoo picked up an Award for Best Film Editing, while A Separation continued its sweep of Awards season, with the Iranian love story picking up the Oscar for Best Foreign Film.
See below for ALL the winners, beneath our collection of them with their statuettes:
Launch Slideshow
HIDE THUMBNAILS
SHARE
BACK TO ARTICLE
1 of 34
PLAY ALL
VOTE ON THIS SLIDE
ADVERTISEMENT
[{"entry_id":"3312571","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/05\/21\/chloe-sims-towie-cannes-film-festival_n_3312571.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/298616\/slide_298616_2478966_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/298616\/slide_298616_2478966_small.jpg","title":"Chloe Sims On The Beach In Cannes","slideshow_id":"298616","vertical":"uk-entertainment"},{"entry_id":"3317711","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/05\/22\/harry-styles-shirtless-baby-tattoos-pictures_n_3317711.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/216490\/slide_216490_803448_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/216490\/slide_216490_803448_small.jpg","title":"One Direction Family Album","slideshow_id":"216490","vertical":"uk-entertainment"},{"entry_id":"3317424","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/05\/22\/brad-pitt-drugs-jennifer-aniston-esquire_n_3317424.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/266663\/slide_266663_1819873_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/266663\/slide_266663_1819873_small.jpg","title":"Signs These Celebrity Marriages Were Doomed","slideshow_id":"266663","vertical":"uk-entertainment"},{"entry_id":"3317425","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/05\/22\/man-of-steel-trailer-general-zod_n_3317425.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/269093\/slide_269093_1867979_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/269093\/slide_269093_1867979_small.jpg","title":"Man Of Steel (Pictures)","slideshow_id":"269093","vertical":"uk-entertainment"},{"entry_id":"3317339","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/05\/22\/great-british-bake-off-paul-hollywood-marcela-valladolid-splits-husband_n_3317339.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/247204\/slide_247204_1438046_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/247204\/slide_247204_1438046_small.jpg","title":"The Great British Bake Off Contestants","slideshow_id":"247204","vertical":"uk-entertainment"},{"entry_id":"3318547","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/05\/22\/catherine-zeta-jones-rehab-bipolar-disorder_n_3318547.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/200164\/slide_200164_525233_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/200164\/slide_200164_525233_small.jpg","title":"Celeb MILFs","slideshow_id":"200164","vertical":"uk-entertainment"},{"entry_id":"3312700","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/05\/21\/elton-john-hyde-park-kinks-elvis-costello_n_3312700.html","content_type":"video","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/288214\/slide_288214_2261571_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/288214\/slide_288214_2261571_small.jpg","title":"Elton John Collaborations","slideshow_id":"288214","vertical":"uk-entertainment"},{"entry_id":"3317862","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/05\/22\/david-bowie-trevor-bolder-bassist-dead-cancer_n_3317862.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/273420\/slide_273420_1954450_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/273420\/slide_273420_1954450_small.jpg","title":"David Bowie Through The Years","slideshow_id":"273420","vertical":"uk-entertainment"},{"entry_id":"3314881","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/05\/21\/here-comes-honey-boo-boo-review-episode-2_n_3314881.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/297560\/slide_297560_2451972_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/297560\/slide_297560_2451972_small.jpg","title":"Honey Boo Boo","slideshow_id":"297560","vertical":"uk-entertainment"},{"entry_id":"3317977","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/05\/22\/friends-reunion-matthew-perry-jennifer-aniston-courtney-cox-ellen-show_n_3317977.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/292399\/slide_292399_2346410_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/292399\/slide_292399_2346410_small.jpg","title":"\"Friends\"","slideshow_id":"292399","vertical":"uk-entertainment"},{"entry_id":"3317008","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/05\/22\/millie-mackintosh-made-in-chelsea_n_3317008.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/297066\/slide_297066_2441416_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/297066\/slide_297066_2441416_small.jpg","title":"Millie Mackintosh","slideshow_id":"297066","vertical":"uk-entertainment"},{"entry_id":"3318088","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/05\/22\/x-factor-judges-2013-sharon-osbourne-louis-walsh-nicole-scherzinger-gary-barlow_n_3318088.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/288183\/slide_288183_2260461_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/288183\/slide_288183_2260461_small.jpg","title":"'X Factor' Judges Through The Years","slideshow_id":"288183","vertical":"uk-entertainment"},{"entry_id":"3317870","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/05\/22\/russell-brand-sheridan-smith_n_3317870.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/199378\/slide_199378_508035_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/199378\/slide_199378_508035_small.jpg","title":"Celebrities Who Have Battled Addiction","slideshow_id":"199378","vertical":"uk-entertainment"},{"entry_id":"3317879","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/05\/22\/tv-tonight-the-apprentice-lord-sugar-karren-brady-nick-hewer_n_3317879.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/294727\/slide_294727_2394328_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/294727\/slide_294727_2394328_small.jpg","title":"The Apprentice 2013: Meet The Candidates","slideshow_id":"294727","vertical":"uk-entertainment"},{"entry_id":"3312729","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/05\/21\/chloe-madeley-wardrobe-malfunction_n_3312729.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/205965\/slide_205965_634090_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/205965\/slide_205965_634090_small.jpg","title":"Flashing Celebs","slideshow_id":"205965","vertical":"uk-entertainment"},{"entry_id":"3316893","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/05\/22\/blue-bust_n_3316893.html","content_type":"video","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/287545\/slide_287545_2245980_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/287545\/slide_287545_2245980_small.jpg","title":"Our Big Reunion Series 2 Hopefuls","slideshow_id":"287545","vertical":"uk-entertainment"},{"entry_id":"3319017","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/05\/22\/hangover-baby-grant-holmquist-premiere_n_3319017.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/194498\/slide_194498_429192_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/194498\/slide_194498_429192_small.jpg","title":"Child Actors That Succeeded In Adulthood(CLONED)","slideshow_id":"194498","vertical":"uk-entertainment"},{"entry_id":"3317108","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/05\/22\/george-michael-car-accident-police-hospital_n_3317108.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/230026\/slide_230026_1046123_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/230026\/slide_230026_1046123_small.jpg","title":"Injured Celebs","slideshow_id":"230026","vertical":"uk-entertainment"},{"entry_id":"3318160","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/05\/22\/cara-delevingne-new-tattoo-cjd_n_3318160.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/281951\/slide_281951_2127250_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/281951\/slide_281951_2127250_small.jpg","title":"The Many Faces Of Cara Delevingne ","slideshow_id":"281951","vertical":"uk-entertainment"},{"entry_id":"3312973","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/2013\/05\/21\/phillip-schofield-fern-britton-this-morning_n_3312973.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/263555\/slide_263555_1767507_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/263555\/slide_263555_1767507_small.jpg","title":"Holly Willoughby","slideshow_id":"263555","vertical":"uk-entertainment"}]
Best Picture
The Artist
The Descendants
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
The Help
Moneyball
War Horse
The Tree of Life
Best Actor
Demian Bichir - A Better Life
George Clooney - The Descendants Jean Dujardin - The Artist
Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt - Moneyball
Best Actress
Glenn Close - Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis - The Help
Rooney Mara - The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams - My Week With Marilyn
Best Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh - My Week With Marilyn
Jonah Hill - Moneyball
Nick Nolte - Warrior Christopher Plummer - Beginners
Max Von Sydow - Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Best Supporting Actress
Berenice Bejo - The Artist
Jessica Chastain - The Help
Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer - Albert Nobbs Octavia Spencer - The Help
Best Director
Woody Allen - Midnight in Paris Michel Hazanavicius - The Artist
Terrence Malick - The Tree of Life
Alexander Payne - The Descendants
Martin Scorsese - Hugo
Best Original Screenplay Woody Allen - Midnight in Paris
JC Chandor - Margin Call
Asghar Farhadi - A Separation
Michel Hazanavicius - The Artist
Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo - Bridesmaids
Best Adapted Screenplay Alexander Payne, Nat Faxton, Jim Rash - The Descendants
John Logan - Hugo
George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon - The Ides of March
Aaron Sorkin, Steven Zaillian - Moneyball
Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughn - Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Best Animated Feature
A Cat In Paris
Chico & Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots Rango
Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
Bullhead (Belgium)
Footnote (Israel)
In Darkness (Poland)
Monsieur Lazhar (Canada) A Separation (Iran)
Original Score
The Adventures of Tintin - John Williams The Artist - Ludovic Bource
Hugo - Howard Shore
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Alberto Iglesias
War Horse - John Williams
Best Original Song Man or Muppet - The Muppets; Music and Lyric by Bret McKenzie
Real in Rio - Rio; Music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown, Lyric by Siedah Garrett
Best Achievement in Art Direction
The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Hugo
Midnight in Paris
War Horse
Best Achievement in Cinematography
The Artist
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Hugo
The Tree of Life
War Horse
Best Achievement in Costume Design
Anonymous The Artist
Hugo
Jane Eyre
W.E.
Best Documentary Feature
Hell and Back Again
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Pina Undefeated
Best Documentary Short Subject
The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement?
God Is the Bigger Elvis
Incident in New Baghdad Saving Face
The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom
Best Achievement in Film Editing
The Artist
The Descendants The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Moneyball
Best Achievement in Makeup
Albert Nobbs
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 The Iron Lady
Best Animated Short Film
Dimanche/Sunday The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
La Luna
A Morning Stroll
Wild Life
Best Live Action Short Film
Pentecost
Raju The Shore
Time Freak
Tuba Atlantic
Best Achievement in Sound Editing
Drive
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Hugo
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
War Horse
Best Achievement in Sound Mixing
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Hugo
Moneyball
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
War Horse
Best Achievement in Visual Effects
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Hugo
Real Steel
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
The Artist crowned a phenomenal awards season with the Oscar for Best Film, as well as four other gongs during the biggest night on the film industry's calendar.
It was the first time in 84 years ...
The Artist crowned a phenomenal awards season with the Oscar for Best Film, as well as four other gongs during the biggest night on the film industry's calendar.
It was the first time in 84 years ...
The National Domestic Workers Alliance has extended their personal congratulations to Octavia Spencer for her Oscar win in the Best Supporting Actress category. "Ms. Spencer's...
The most important difference between the movie and technology industries lies in each community's very raison d'etre -- movies are rooted in art and personality and technology is driven by increasing the efficiency of transactions.
The idea that we're going to get a lot of silent films being released now, seems rather an extreme answer to the problem of the terrible sound system in our little local cinema!
dirtyoldtown: The idea that we're going to get a lot of
Kenazaki,
No offence but when the talkies came along it was wonderful or was it?
When one considers the amount of verbal garbage we have to endure being projected at our poor sensetive lug-holes, I find myself wanting, from time to time, to escape into an old SILENT Greta Garbo movie.
honestly_I: Kenazaki, No offence but when the talkies came along it
If you've seen The Artist and didn't like it, fair enough. Until you've seen it, you are not entitled to an opinion on its quality or whether it's deserving of an Oscar.
Thomas_Platt: If you've seen The Artist and didn't like it, fair
I can't understand how a film that should have been left in the twentys is wooing everybody.
I surpose we are going to have to endure a hole host of silent moves now
kenazaki: I can't understand how a film that should have been
In fact the film has been widely panned by left wing and right wing alike. The scuttlebut from critics and viewers at sites like Rottentomatoes is also a whole load of 'meh'.
Streep's perfomance may be good, but it's not in a good film.
Personally I think Thatcher is dreadful, but milage varies. The fact remains that the Best Actress Oscar has gone to a brilliant performance in an okay-at-best film.
untalkative: In fact the film has been widely panned by left
That "The Iron Lady" isn't a great film on the whole has nothing to do with Streep's performance in it. Most of the same reviewers on Metacritic agree that Streep's incredible performance elevates what would otherwise be a mediocre film, and that's hard to do.
Thomas_Platt: That "The Iron Lady" isn't a great film on the
The Oscars, Emmy's and the Academy Awards have not changed. We need to clean and clear out the voting house and put in some real voters who call it like it really is. You know - vote for the real winners.
cbarwil: The Oscars, Emmy's and the Academy Awards have not changed.
Wow, make a film in black and white with no sound and that makes it good. I bet it doesn't do too well at the box office though. Nice that an Iranian film won.
cantabria: Wow, make a film in black and white with no
The Artist is pretty much what you call a runaway success in the countries in which it has been released. Yes, good to see another nod to Iranian cinema which is consistently challenging.
Michael_II: The Artist is pretty much what you call a runaway
Loading comments… 
The Huffington Post UK Caroline Frost First Posted: 26/02/2012 22:32 Updated: 27/02/2012 09:04