George Valentin (Jean Dujardin), not so long ago a movie star, finds himself an anonymous figure in a crowd filling the lobby after an afternoon matinee, a talkie entitled "Guardian Angel", starring America's newest cinematic sweetheart, Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo). Poor George, as ever in the company of his loyal Jack Russel Terrier, is like a defrocked priest milling about this cathedral of the motion picture. Young people in the crowd pass Valentin by, oblivious to his fame as a star of silent cinema. Finally, an older woman smiles in recognition. George returns the smile, one of significantly of lower wattage than those he beamed during his heyday, but still enough to signify his gratitude at the acknowledgement. But no, he quickly realizes, the woman isn't responding to him, but the adorable pooch in his arms. After she expresses her admiration, George says, "If only he could talk!" No need to worry about the cute dog, but much of The Arti