Going behind the scenes at one of Hollywood's greatest movie studios, this extraordinary history reveals the untold story of the soundstages and outdoor sets where many of the world's greatest films were produced. Featuring candid, previously unpublished photographs from the studio's archives and exclusive interviews with actors and staff, this detailed exploration of MGM's backlot--the setting for more than a fifth of the films produced prior to 1980--takes film buffs back to Hollywood's golden age, offering an insider's look at the movie business and celebrating many of its best films and the leading actors of the studio system. Today, when a film set can be anywhere at anytime, this treasure trove of information reveals the creativity and ingenuity of a bygone era when the studio system, coping with the limitations of space and technology, produced screen gems such as ''The Wizard of Oz,'' ''Gone with the Wind,'' and the ''Our Gang'' shorts.