It is a completely speechless movie (barring the two minutes of a dream scene when people started talking and the closing lines). The movie narrates the story set from 1927 to 1932 of a silent movie star, George Valentin, a swashbuckling toothy grinned hero who has has problem adjusting to the introduction of talkies.
The movie starts with the premiere of his movie 'Russian Affair ' which receives a roaring approval from the masses. During a photo shootout with fans, George meets Peppy Miller who makes it as a chorus girl extra in Valentin's new movie. Slowly Peppy moves up the ladder of stardom.
Come 1929, the studio decides to go talkies with the introduction of sounds in movies. All at once, old faces are axed to give way for newbies including Peppy Miller. As all actors of that era who thought that sounds are going to kill the acting ability of the actors, Valentin decided that he was not going to take it lying down. He acted, produced and directed in on own silent movie which was released at the same day as Peppy's talkies. Unfortunately his release coincided with the stock market crash and the reception to his film was appalling. He became a bankrupt while Peppy's career flourished. His wife had left him too.
Poor, drunk and depressed made him burn his old film collection and he is trapped in his own flat only to be rescued by his faithful companion Uggie (a Jack Russel terrier). (Watch Uggie's antics here!) Incidentally, Uggie needs a special mention for his extraordinary talent. If not for being of the human species, he would have vied for the Oscars! In 1928, a dog acting as Tin Tin got more votes then the actual winner - after that most award boards disqualified animals from nomination!
George is nursed back to health in Peppy's mansion where he stumbles upon all his old collection of items which were auctioned by him nicely stashed away. Feeling disillusioned, he attempts suicide, while Uggie compassionately coaxing him not to do so by ticking on his pants. This scene quite poignant and heart wrenching. Just in nick of time, Peppy makes it to the scene literally in a bang by crashing at the compound stopping our hero from his silly action.
Peppy suggests that they should use his dance talent to make it back to the movies which proved to quite true.
I can swear that the hero (Jean Dujardin) is trying very hard to be much like Sean Connery via his mannerisms, actions, moustache, smile and barrette! He is quite a likeable guy. The movie is quite straight forward in its storyline - nothing extraordinarily. Perhaps there is a lot of hype for this movie to sort of to commemorate and honour the contributions of the forefathers of the celluloid industry.
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