The definitive behind-the-scenes history of one of Hollywood's most
closely guarded cinematic secrets finally revealed--painted backdrops
and the scenic artists who brought them to the big screen.
In almost every feature film of Hollywood's golden age, from The Wizard
of Oz to North by Northwest to Cleopatra to The Sound of Music,
painted backings have convinced moviegoers that what they are
seeing--whether the fantastic roads of Oz, the presidents of Mount
Rushmore, or ancient Egyptian kingdoms--is absolutely real. These
backings are at once intended to transport the audience and yet remain
unseen for what they really are. The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop
reveals the hidden world and creators of these masterpieces,
long-guarded as a special effects secret by the major studios such as
MGM, Warner Brothers, Universal, Columbia, 20th Century Fox, and
Paramount.
Despite the continued use of hand-painted backings in today's films,
including the big-budget Interstellar and Lemony Snicket's A Series
of Unfortunate Events among many others, digital technology is
beginning to supplant the art form. In an effort to preserve the
irreplaceable knowledge of scenic masters, Karen Maness and Richard
Isackes have compiled a definitive history of the craft, complete with
interviews of the surviving artists. This is a rich undiscovered
history--a history replete with competing art departments, dynastic
scenic families, and origins stretching back to the films of Méliès,
Edison, Sennett, Chaplin, and Fairbanks.
