Silence is golden: The Artist sweeps the board at Critic's Choice Awards while The Help requires none at all to scoop up three

By Georgina Littlejohn

Last updated at 12:10 PM on 13th January 2012

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It has been been received with critical acclaim as it brought silent movies back with a bang into the 21st century.

And last night, The Artist proved just how much of a success it has been as it swept the board at the Critic's Choice Awards.

It also proved to be a good night for The Help, another critically-acclaimed film that scooped three awards, including Best Acting Ensemble.

C'est magnifique! The cast of The Artist celebrate their quadruple win at the Critic's Choice Awards last night

The Artist, a French silent film set in the 1920s, waltzed away with four awards, including the top accolade of Best Picture.

It also took honours for best score, costume design and director for Michel Hazanavicius, who, as he collected the award joked in English that he made the film because, 'I don't like to speak so much'.

He was joined by producer Thomas Langmann, as they collected the Best Picture award for the black-and-white movie, which pays homage to the silent-film era.

Southern victory: The cast of The Help pose for pictures after winning three awards at last night's bash

They were joined by the cast backstage, including the lead actors Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo as they posed for pictures with their shiny accolades.

The Help, a big screen adaptation of the best-selling book by Kathryn Stockett, took three awards including Best Actress for Viola Davis who plays the main character Aibileen Clark, the maid on which the book is based on.

Merci beaucoup! The Artist director Michel Hazanavicius collects his award for Best Director for his silent movie masterpiece

Bravo! The Artists's lead actress Berenice Bejo kisses Hazanavicius as he accepts his award while his producer Thomas Langmann thanks the crowd for the Best Picture award

Overcome with emotion as she collected the award, she told the audience: 'I absolutely knew I wanted to be an actor because I wanted to be somebody.

'I wanted to dream big and make a mark somehow. That's something absolutely that Aibileen was not afforded. I considered it my honour to pay homage to these women at this time period who were not allowed to dream and not allowed to find their purpose.'

Well done, girls - and boy! The female cast of The Help - and Chris Lowell who plays Stuart Whitworth, gather onstage to collect the Best Ensemble Award

Time to shine: Octavia talks to the crowd as she accepts the award for Best Supporting Actress

Her co-star Octavia Spencer was awarded Best Supporting Actress for her role as Minny Jackson, Aibleen's best friend.

And the cast were also recognised as they took the award for Best Ensemble with Viola and Octavia being joined by Emma Stone, Jessica Chastain, Allison Janney, Cicely Tyson, Ahna O'Reilly and Chris Lowell on stage.

Gobsmacked: Viola Davis looked totally overwhelmed as she collected her award for Best Actress

A winner's kiss: George Clooney gallantly congratulates Viola backstage

Other awards on the night went to George Clooney for his role in the comedy-drama The Descendants, while Christopher Plummer was acknowledged as Best Supporting Actor for Beginners.

Newcomer Thomas Horn was also honoured as he scooped the award for Best Young Actor for his role in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. and told the audience: 'Frankly, I didn't even imagine I would get this, but I have.'

By George, I've won! George Clooney snagged the Best Actor award for The Descendants

Thank you so much: Thomas Horn was surprised to get the Best Young Actor award while Christopher Plummer was given the Best Supporting Actor gong

Man to man: George takes to the stage to honour Sean Penn, who was not present at the awards

Other winners included Bridesmaids as best comedy movie, Drive as best action movie, Rango as best animated feature, Midnight in Paris as best original screenplay, Moneyball as best adapted screenplay, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo for best editing and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 for best make-up and best sound.

And an award ceremony wouldn't be an award ceremony without a tribute made to one of the industry's greats - or two, in last night's case.

Sorry I can't be there: Sean Penn collected his award via video link from Haiti

George Clooney went to present Sean Penn with fifth annual Joel Siegel award which honors those who understand that celebrity is a platform to do good works for others, but the actor and humanitarian was not present and collected his award via video link from Haiti

But Martin Scorsese was and he was presented with the Critics' Choice Music + Film Award by Leonardo DiCaprio, who he directed in The Departed and Shutter Island.

Friends for life: He was also seen planting a kiss on his old pal Martin Scorsese, who directed Leo in Gangs Of New York and The Departed

Cheers to us: Owen Wilson and Kirsten Dunst toast each other with some champagne

The Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards, which is commonly referred to as the Critics' Choice Awards, are designed to honor those for their cinematic achievements.
The award nominees have often anticipated who will be nominated for Academy Awards.

Your hosts for the evening: Rob Huebel (L) and Paul Scheer presented the 17th annual event

Old pals: Brad had a catch-up and chat to Inglorious Basterds co-star Diane

Critics Choice Awards 2012 Winners

BEST PICTURE - The Artist
BEST ACTOR - George Clooney
BEST ACTRESS - Viola Davis (The Help)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - Christopher Plummer (Beginners)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS - Octavia Spence (The Help)
BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS - Thomas Horne
BEST ACTING ENSEMBLES - The Help
BEST DIRECTOR - Michael Hazanavicius (The Artist)
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY - Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris)
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY - Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin (Moneyball)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY - Janusz Kaiminski (War Horse)