The Artist won five Academy Awards, including Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor. It was a huge box office hit, partly because of its uniqueness as a retro “silent film” and partly because its co-stars danced with consummate grace and dash.

Dance is the film’s subliminal star, notably in the boffo finale. In preparation, stars Jean Dujardin (Valentin) and Bérénice Bejo (Peppy) studied tap dancing for five months. Dujardin has said that he was “really inspired by Gene Kelly,” and that he particularly “watched . . . Kelly for his smile, for his energy.”

Much like Kelly’s Singin’ in the Rain, The Artist is set in the transition from silents to “talking pictures.” The final scene showcases Valentin and Peppy dancing; when asked to do “one more take,” Valentin, in his only spoken dialogue, replies, “With pleasure!”