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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.