From Spielberg to Martin Scorcese, George Clooney to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, the "A" list of film celebrities turned out for the gala event in Beverly Hills as the 90 international entertainment reporters in the HFPA spread their awards among a handful of films.

They gave three Golden Globes to the French-made audience favorite The Artist. A silent, black-and-white story of old Hollywood, it won best comedy film as well as awards for lead actor Jean DuJardin and musical score composer Ludovic Bourse.

The Descendants, a bittersweet story of a family in Hawaii, won best dramatic film and best lead actor in a drama for star George Clooney, who accepted the award with thanks to its writer-director.

"Especially, thank you very much to Alexander Payne who makes wonderful films and is a great friend," Clooney said. "I thank you very much for this."

Meryl Streep took home best actress in a dramatic film for playing former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. Best actress in a comedy film went to Michelle Williams for her portrayal of a screen legend in My Week With Marilyn.

"Thank you to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for putting in my hands the same award that Marilyn Monroe herself won over 50 years ago. I am honored," Williams said.

Woody Allen's Midnight In Paris took best screenplay. Scorcese got best director for his ambitious "Hugo." And Spielberg accepted best animated feature for The Adventures of Tin Tin.

"Wow, thank you very much Hollywood Foreign Press. This is fantastic," said director Steven Spielberg as he accepted his award.

The Golden Globe for best foreign language film went to the Iranian drama A Separation, directed by Asghar Farhadi.

"It's an award that was chosen by critics and critics are not easy people to please," he noted. "This will most likely cause more audiences to be found for this movie in the world."

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association also gives out awards for television programs and performances, but the film categories get the most attention as one of the first salvos in the barrage of award shows leading up to Hollywood's top annual honors, the Oscars, presented in February.  

Photo Gallery: Golden Globe Awards