Oscar-winning silent movie 'The Artist' was originally shot in colour in case film bosses didn't want to show the picture in black and white.

The film was the big winner at Sunday night's Academy Awards, taking five prizes including the coveted Best Picture title as well as Best Actor for its star Jean Dujardin and Best Director for Michel Hazanavicius.

The Best Picture win made 'The Artist' only the second silent film ever to scoop the Academy's top prize after 'Wings' in 1929, reported Daily Star.

However, Mark Bridges, who won the Best Costume Design Oscar for his work on the movie, revealed the picture was originally shot in colour before being converted to black and white.

"It was filmed in colour because there was a chance in some markets it would be shown in colour," Bridges said. Producer Thomas Langmann was later asked whether he has any plans to release colour footage, but he said, "No. Sorry, but no."