The (Original) Artists

The enchanting French silent movie, “The Artist,” this year’s winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture, entertained moviegoers as well as critics. The film’s stars, Jean Dujardin (Best Actor) as George Valentin, a swaggering silent movie idol who's career is ruined by the advent of sound, and Berenice Bejo, as Peppy Miller, the girl who loves him and becomes a star of talkies were charming actors who pleased the public with their portrayal of the performers of that era. Without the benefit of sound, Dujardin and Bejo exhibited extraordinary expressiveness in bringing their characters to the screen. That being said, their efforts fell short. Eager and likable as they were, compared to the actual stars of the silent film era these two were one-dimensional, “moving,” as David Denby wrote in The New Yorker on 2/12/12, “in a straight line in each scene and staying within a single mood.” The great silent actors did so much more.
The silent cinema arrived like a storm, a medium devoted to primitive passions and explosive emotions. The multi-faceted stars produced obsession in their huge audience. Compared to the films of that era, “The Artist” is little more than a likable spoof, its actors simple and passionless.
Here is a quick look at some of the brightest stars of the silent era:

Greta Garbo - The great Garbo made 10 silent films before she appeared in talkies. Although a silent superstar, she became even more successful when ads for her first talkie proclaimed "Garbo Talks!"
"The Artist" is probably inspired by her relationship with John Gilbert whose star waned with the advent of talkies.

Charlie Chaplin - Originally a music hall star in London, Chaplin found overnight success as an inventive director/star in Hollywood. Famous for his tramp persona - bowler hat, baggy pants, mustache and funny walk - he produced, directed and starred in great films including "The Kid," "The Gold Rush," and "City Lights."

Harold Lloyd - A funny man who played a naive, middle-class go-getter wearing a suit, tie, boater and horn-rimmed glasses. In his most famous scene, from the magnificent "Safety Last," he is seen clinging to life from the hour hand of a clock outside an upper floor of a skyscraper. This year's multi-Oscar nominated film, "Hugo" (my choice for Best Picture) pays homage to that scene.

Douglas Fairbanks - The handsome, athletic son of a Jewish lawyer became famous as the swashbuckling hero of adventure films such as "The Mark Of Zorro," "Robin Hood," and "The Thief of Bagdad."