The Romance of Celluloid

A window into the backstage life of the movie industry that fuels the thrill audiences feel when they go to the theater. This overview traces the journey from the making of film stock—produced from cotton and silver—to the crews who raise sets that replicate cities, towns, and villages around the world. It features Jack Dawn demonstrating the makeup design process; the screen-testing pipeline through which many actors begin their careers; the work of the candid cameraman behind the scenes; a visit with Adrian, the designer responsible for the clothes worn by many on screen; and a moment with Herbert Stothart as he conducts the musical score for Conquest (1937). Together, these behind-the-scenes looks offer a pathway to meeting MGM’s constellation of stars and their productions slated for the 1937/38 movie season.