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The Artist wins three Golden Globes
Black and white silent film The Artist took home three prizes from the Golden Globe awards in Los Angeles, hosted by British comedian Ricky Gervais.
British comedian, Ricky Gervais opened the Golden Globe awards with jibes at the award ceremony saying they were "like the Oscars, with less esteem"
The Oscar-tipped movie took home awards for best comedy, and won additional prizes for lead actor Jean Dunjardin and its score.
The Descendants was named best film drama and won a best actor prize for its star George Clooney.
Other lead actor awards went to Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady and Michelle Williams for My Week with Marilyn.
Martin Scorsese was named best director for Hugo, a family film that marked his first 3D feature, while Steven Spielberg received the animated feature prize for The Adventures of Tintin.
Veteran actor Christopher Plummer won the evening's first award for his supporting role in Beginners.
The female equivalent went to Octavia Spencer for her role as a domestic servant in The Help.
Pop star Madonna was recognised for Masterpiece, a song she wrote for her historical drama W.E.
Iran's A Separation received the award for best foreign language film, while Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris won best screenplay.
British television drama Downtown Abbey was named best mini-series.
Britain's Idris Elba collected a best actor prize for BBC One crime drama Luther, while Kate Winslet was recognised for HBO mini-series Mildred Pierce while Peter Dinklage picked up a supporting actor prize for Game of Thrones.
The 37-year-old was left with serious back injuries after being picked up and dropped on the ground outside a pub last October.
Host Ricky Gervais, criticised last year with his sharp-tongued presenting style, opened the ceremony with a waspish monologue.
Yet while he was briefly silenced for swearing, his barbs were not as cutting as they were 12 months ago.
The 50-year-old began the night by telling the star-studded audience the Globes were "just like the Oscars... without all that esteem".
Johnny Depp, Dame Helen Mirren and Colin Firth were a few of the stars who received a gentle ribbing over the course of the evening.
Yet the comedian got as good as he gave later when he introduced Madonna with a reference to her song Like a Virgin.
The Golden Globes is one of the first major awards ceremonies in the run-up to the Oscars, to be held this year on 26 February.
Both films and TV shows are recognised, with separate categories for dramas, comedies and mini-series or motion pictures made for television.
