The Iran hostage thriller ``Argo'' was a surprise best-drama winner at Sunday's Golden Globes, beating out the Civil War epic ``Lincoln,'' which had emerged as an awards-season favourite.

``Argo'' also claimed the directing prize for Ben Affleck, a prize that normally bodes well for an Academy Award win _ except he missed out on an Oscar nomination this time. Affleck's now in an unusual position during Hollywood's long awards season, taking home the top filmmaking trophy at the second-highest film honours knowing he does not have a shot at an Oscar.

The night left ``Argo'' taking home the top prize at the Globes but standing as a longshot for best picture at the Feb. 24 Oscars, where films almost never win if their directors are not nominated.
   
``Les Miserables'' was named best musical or comedy, while Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway claimed acting prizes. Besides the three wins for ``Les Miserables'' and two for ``Argo,'' the show was a mixed bag, with awards spreads around a number of films.
``Lincoln'' came in leading with seven nominations but lost all but one, for Daniel Day-Lewis as best actor in the title role of ``Lincoln.'' ``If I had this on a timeshare basis with my wonderful gifted colleagues, I might just hope to keep it for one day of the year, and I'd be happy with that,'' said Day-Lewis, who previously won a Globe for ``There Will Be Blood'' and is a two-time Oscar winner with a strong shot at a third.
    
``Zero Dark Thirty'' star Jessica Chastain won the Globe for dramatic actress as a CIA agent obsessively pursuing Bin Laden.

Other acting prizes went to Jennifer Lawrence as best musical or comedy actress for the oddball romance ``Silver Linings Playbook'' and Christoph Waltz as supporting actor for the slave-revenge tale ``Django Unchained.''

``Les Miserables,'' the musical based on Victor Hugo's classic novel earned Jackman the Globe for musical or comedy actor as tragic hero Jean Valjean. Hathaway won supporting actress as a single mom forced into prostitution.
    
Former President Bill Clinton upstaged Hollywood's elite with a surprise appearance to introduce Spielberg's Civil War epic ``Lincoln,'' which was up for best drama. The film chronicles Abraham Lincoln's final months as he tries to end the war and find common ground in a divided Congress to pass the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery.
   
Jennifer Lawrence won as best actress in a musical or comedy for her role as a troubled widow in a shaky new relationship. The Globe winners in musical or comedy categories often aren't factors at the Oscars, which tend to favour heavier dramatic roles. ``Silver Linings Playbook'' is a crowd-pleasing comic drama with deeper themes than the usual comedy. And Lawrence _ a 2010 Oscar nominee for her breakout film ``Winter's Bone'' who shot to superstardom with ``The Hunger Games'' _ delivers a nice mix of
humour and melancholy.

``Django'' co-star Leonardo DiCaprio. ``Quentin, you know that my indebtedness to you and my gratitude knows no words.'' Tarantino won the screenplay prize for ``Django Unchained.'' He thanked his cast and also the group of friends to whom he reads work-in-progress for reaction.
    
Pop star Adele and co-writer Paul Epworth won for best song for their theme tune to the James Bond adventure ``Skyfall.''
    
The prize for musical score went to Toronto's Mychael Danna for the lost-at-sea tale ``Life of Pi.''

Show hosts Fey and Poehler, who co-starred in the 2008 big-screen comedy ``Baby Mama,'' had a friendly rivalry at the Globes. Both were nominated for best actress in a TV comedy series, Fey for ``30 Rock'' and Poehler for ``Parks and Recreation.''

Here's a complete list of winners:
    _ Picture, Drama: ``Argo.''
    _ Picture, Musical or Comedy: ``Les Miserables.''
    _ Actor, Drama: Daniel Day-Lewis, ``Lincoln.''
    _ Actress, Drama: Jessica Chastain, ``Zero Dark Thirty.''
    _ Director: Ben Affleck, ``Argo.''
    _ Actor, Musical or Comedy: Hugh Jackman, ``Les Miserables.''
    _ Actress, Musical or Comedy: Jennifer Lawrence, ``Silver Linings
Playbook.''
    _ Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, ``Django Unchained.''
    _ Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway, ``Les Miserables.''
    _ Foreign Language: ``Amour.''
    _ Animated Film: ``Brave.''
    _ Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino, ``Django Unchained.''
    _ Original Score: Mychael Danna, ``Life of Pi.''
    _ Original Song: ``Skyfall'' (music and lyrics by Adele and Paul
Epworth), ``Skyfall.''
   

TELEVISION
    _ Series, Drama: ``Homeland.''
    _ Series, Musical or Comedy: ``Girls.''
    _ Actress, Drama: Claire Danes, ``Homeland.''
    _ Actor, Drama: Damian Lewis, ``Homeland.''
    _ Actress, Musical or Comedy: Lena Dunham, ``Girls.''
    _ Actor, Musical or Comedy: Don Cheadle, ``House of Lies.''
    _ Miniseries or Movie: ``Game Change.''
    _ Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Julianne Moore, ``Game Change.''
    _ Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Kevin Costner, ``Hatfields &
McCoys.''
    _ Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Maggie Smith,
``Downton Abbey.''
    _ Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Ed Harris,
``Game Change.''
    ____
    Previously announced:
    Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award: Jodie Foster.<