The backstory on Hollywood movie backdrops

Рет қаралды 284,960

4 жыл бұрын

In Hollywood's Golden Age, hand-painted backdrops played a vital role in the magic of movies, creating cities, sunsets, or any other setting a director could imagine. These massive artworks were some of the largest paintings ever created, by artists whose work often went unappreciated. John Blackstone reports on the Backdrop Recovery Project, an effort to rescue these works of cinema history, and talks with Karen Maness, coauthor of "The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop," and with Lynne Coakley, whose family business, JC Backings, has been providing the backgrounds to movies and TV shows for generations.
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Пікірлер: 270

@mbgrafix 4 жыл бұрын

I would absolutely love to visit a museum of backdrops!

@44BlueFoxes 4 жыл бұрын

It's a selfie addict's dream. Imagine all the beautiful shots you could get. Just invite a load of high profile instagrammers to the opening of the museum & watch their thousands of followers flock to visit. The money raised from admission could go to the restoration of the backdrops. It's a brilliant idea.

@saberwing2170 4 жыл бұрын

Same

@alancastaneda8322 4 жыл бұрын

Ditto! Unfortunately, my only option in Vegas is when a casino with a temporary art gallery decides.

@mbgrafix 4 жыл бұрын

(Spoken in a whisper): *_If you build it, they will come._*

@UntappedShesources 4 жыл бұрын

Awesome

@lestudio76 4 жыл бұрын

I love when unsung artists get recognition

@pawpatrolnews 4 жыл бұрын

Why?

@johnnyroxx8513 4 жыл бұрын

me,with 3 degrees analyze and breakdown these and I just love the skills unknown,but not unseen. thank you dear for your work

@Ian-dn6ld 4 жыл бұрын

Real artists. Not just people who make squiggles and throw trash together.

@overout429 4 жыл бұрын

These folks can paint. The buildings were absolutely great.

@tmdamoradamora5437 4 жыл бұрын

This will never be talked about at the Oscars. This is truly Hollywood royalty.

@debbiecooper1677 4 жыл бұрын

you are so right

@Mydetroitplaya112 4 жыл бұрын

So much better than CGI

@jkinzel5979 4 жыл бұрын

Yes!!!

@thatssofetch3481 4 жыл бұрын

Terrill E Well that’s debatable. There is so much amazing cgi, which manages to do what this does perfectly in that it looks real

@megandunklin6147 2 жыл бұрын

Huh? There’s a whole section of backdrops at the Academy Museum.

@leonardodalongisland Жыл бұрын

The visual artist and filmmaker in me is very happy to know these works of Art are being kept alive.

@NIGHTFLIGHTVIDEO 2 жыл бұрын

Seeing the backdrop for the Forbidden Planet really took me back. It's the first science fiction movie I ever saw in color ,it was at a library on 16 mm film

@JamesLee-sl4er 4 жыл бұрын

I'd love to have a home big enough and to decorate my whole home with those backdrops

@jediknightjairinaiki560 4 жыл бұрын

To paraphrase Indiana Jones, "These belong in a museum."

@mukundbhanot7144 4 жыл бұрын

Jedi Knight Jairin Aiki by now Indiana Jones should belong to a museum. No offence to Harrison Ford

@jediknightjairinaiki560 2 жыл бұрын

@@mukundbhanot7144 I agree.

@minder4u1 4 жыл бұрын

OMG , my wife had just watched the segment on CBS and came down to tell me about it, about the company who bought old back drops etc and I stopped her and I asked, was it J C Backings?? She answered amazed yes it was, I then went on to tell her that they were clients of my Limo Company In Los Angeles. I described how I took jackie and her husband and parents to see Phantom of the Opera and I decorated the limousine Phantom style and had the cd playing and the making of phantom book on display. The family said it made their evening. I long since closed down Bond St Livery and moved out of L.A . I remember fondly the Coakley family who lived high above the 405 freeway.

@shannongeorgiapeach76 4 жыл бұрын

What a great story thanks for sharing

@Bageera63 4 жыл бұрын

As a lover of old movies, I appreciate the artwork. Amazing artistry!

@dianeo 4 жыл бұрын

So fascinating! I can't imagine that any of these were once thrown away. So glad there are people like this that understand the importance of preserving these historical works of art.

@ritadaniels3175 2 жыл бұрын

U r seeing melancholy creative personalities NOT pragmatic pockets of demolish Paradise & put up a parking lot kinda people... THESE🤓PERSONALITIES😎ARE THE🤩ONES WHO ACTUALLY MADE OUR 🌟DREAMS🌟COME🌟TRUE❣️

@Kenikex 4 жыл бұрын

The Academy is opening its museum this summer. These backings should be there....all of them. Recognize the artists, and their incredible talent that made Hollywood make all of us dream.

@user-qr8ki8ue4i 4 жыл бұрын

I immediately recognized the Singin' in the Rain backdrop. How cool that it survived.

@JuliaHullmann 2 жыл бұрын

This is such a great news story! It left me in awe and longing for Hollywood' s filmmaking yesterdays. Hollywood' s movies were enchanting back then.

@shannongeorgiapeach76 4 жыл бұрын

I love movies from silent films to today, and I always notice backdrops, props and even extras. So much goes into making a movie. Loved this segment and learning how the old backdrops are used over again even today. Great movie trivia

@EXthesweetlamb 4 жыл бұрын

Many years ago I saw a documentary on "Gone With the Wind" and I couldn't believe how many of the scenes had backdrops, they all looked so real! Glad they included a scene from it here also!

@Dachdogoriginal 4 жыл бұрын

Awesome. I wish I had a space to hang one.

@jraaccounts 4 жыл бұрын

thank you for this story. having grown up in LA and being an art lover, there is so much ART in the business of movie-making that is not focused on generally speaking (as much as we focus on the celebrities and whether a movie makes money). it warms my heart to hear the backdrop artists get their due. would love to hear more about them, how they learned and advanced their craft, etc.

@topopops 4 жыл бұрын

They should print these limited edition miniatures for the collector. Great back drops indeed!

@jeanneblondewomanstamping9788 4 жыл бұрын

How wonderful that this art form is now being properly appreciated and preserved.

@kerry9025 4 жыл бұрын

*Great job on this incredibly interesting piece, CBS!*

@KAH5371 4 жыл бұрын

Thank goodness these people are helping to save all those beautiful backdrops! I would much rather see a movie with a painted backdrop, than to see a CGI back ground. I want to always be able to "suspend my disbelief", and not be slapped in the face with "reality". Loved this so much!

@JoseMorales-lw5nt 4 жыл бұрын

Seeing this segment reminds me about my childhood memories of old TV shows. The whole "seen and invisible" duality is so true. When done right, the backing becomes near invisible to the acting in the foreground. Yet just detailed enough that you wish you had it as your own painting. The first backdrop I ever noticed was the Brooklyn buildings framed by the Kramden's apartment window on THE HONEYMOONERS. Story goes that the set and backdrop were modeled after Jackie Gleason's real life apartment from his childhood in Brooklyn.🇵🇷🇺🇸😊

@chrisfinch8637 4 жыл бұрын

A very interesting and moving, as well as adventurous story, if I must say so. I love this.

@GailMooney 4 жыл бұрын

What a great story! I wish this was a museum.

@karenmaness5229 2 жыл бұрын

An exhibition is in the works for 2022 at the Boca Raton Museum of Art!

@gaetanovindigni8824 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for saving an important part of our film history and dreams.

@BradThePitts 4 жыл бұрын

Ironically, the BETTER the backdrop, the LESS it's noticed!

@freddie1991d 4 жыл бұрын

Wow, amazing, I’m so glad her family decided to repurpose all those historic works of art! Wonderful to see them used over again

@Lisa-di1wi 4 жыл бұрын

The Sound of Music was filmed at the 20th Century Fox studios and on location in and around Salzburg, Austria.

@maryannkochanski5777 2 жыл бұрын

The old ways and the artists that created them will never be gone in my heart!

@michaelprice7005 4 жыл бұрын

Mary Poppins has some of my favorites. THIS should've been my career choice.

@michaeltaylor1603 4 жыл бұрын

Yes! I've always liked back drops and backgrounds in animation. Each decade there would be a different "style" 30's & 40's golden era of sumptuous details. They got more simplistic in the 50's & 60's but still had a nice look. Even the Flintstones had a nice texture. Matte painting are great as well. Disney and others used this technique a lot. Mary Poppins had some extraordinary paintings. Great video about Hollywood art.

@CinemaoftheMind 4 жыл бұрын

I’ll never forget a kind of vertigo when I walked out onto one of the sets for TV’s (1987) “Beauty and the Beast.” I found myself standing beyond a high rise balcony’s railing apparently in ‘mid-air’ between it and a gigantic panoramic backer of Central Park’s skyline, lit windows and all. Even up close it was still VERY convincing!

@totalt6600 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you. I have loved movies, all my life.

@infraredthomas 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing such a fascinating story. It's true, the better the backdrop, the less it's recognized as such - thanks for showcasing the talent that created such works of art, and those that are trying to save the artwork.

@meritofapproval 4 жыл бұрын

Fascinating Hollywood history! 🎥👍🏾

@digester2427 4 жыл бұрын

I never even thought about the backdrops,which I referred to as scenery , and the amount of time and exactness to detail that you have shown in your piece. I would love to see more videos about how backdrops changed for each era and decade,as well as how their theme/style evolved as social norms changed. Good work, you've opened up a completely new avenue of interest for all movie buffs,especially the old classics some which we only saw in black&white. Thank you

@ArsPraestigium 4 жыл бұрын

Peter Ellenshaw, who worked primarily for Disney, was among the very best backdrop artists, working on glass, mirrors, and traditional art surfaces. His brilliance provided fantastic special effects later done in CG. It’s a real shame he is not better known, though he was directly responsible for at least some of Disney’s record 32 Oscars, back when Oscars mattered.

@jenniferrussellstudio 4 жыл бұрын

The glass paintings were / are amazing. Magical. And made by human ingenuity rather than a machine.

@jackierostow9537 2 жыл бұрын

As someone who has worked in textiles, this is fascinating. I love it. Do not let these disappear. They are treasures and will be needed and sought after in the future. And, they are a source of inspiration for present and future artists. Take care of these.

@dr.aniasara7038 Жыл бұрын

Great backdrops and set decorations. My uncle was part of the 'Wizard of Oz" set decoration when he worked at MGM. Upon retirement was given a set that became his home bar and party area that was the inside of a ship. Beautiful well preserved wood carved set that lasted for years.

@lindawoody8501 Жыл бұрын

That was my grandfather's business. He worked for several movie studios in the 1920s through 1940s as an artist painting scenery and props.

@MyButtercup 3 жыл бұрын

So glad some of them were saved.

@maxlinder5262 Жыл бұрын

Never knew this existed .... THIS is Wonderful that They preserve these artifacts ...😮..😊

@brentfisher6484 2 жыл бұрын

(wonderful story!!) What an amazing art form. The day is near when these--like film itself, will be a thing of the past. Digitally created backdrops that utilize led 'screens' the size of football fields are fast replacing these magnificent paintings. Ah...the good old days.

@jermar1979 4 жыл бұрын

This is a cool story.

@mattpierard 2 жыл бұрын

The backings for Black Narcissus were so realistic, for years I thought they'd shot it on location.

@alancastaneda8322 4 жыл бұрын

Wow, that's so cool, and the new technology, wow, I had no idea! As an artist, I truly appreciate these and more so the preservation!

@whatstheniche8716 4 жыл бұрын

I need this book!

@whatstheniche8716 4 жыл бұрын

Absolutely beautiful video! Thank you!

@jessicasmith7102 4 жыл бұрын

✨😍🤓💗🤩💖🤩💗🤓😍✨ Wonderfully Spectacular! These are not Garbage!

@jediknightjairinaiki560 4 жыл бұрын

So very, very cool. The wanton disregard Hollywood had for these and the still have for set pieces and props is so sad.

@sclogse1 2 жыл бұрын

You can't have disregard without wantons.

@jeffmanalo8830 4 жыл бұрын

OK THIS was an amazing story! Great job CBS Sunday Morning ❤️👍🏽

@crystalalexander6634 4 жыл бұрын

I absolutely adore it! Oh I wish I had one... or two or three.....

@PinnaclePete 4 жыл бұрын

I'm so glad I caught this video! It's a shame that these unsung artists are not recognized or known to the general public. They are every bit as great as the well-known actors and directors in in the movies. My parents were comic book artists, Warren and Grace Kremer (Casper, Richie Rich, etc.). They were friends with a fine portrait painter in town who in turn was friends with a man who painted some of the backdrops found in the Museum of Natural History in New York City. They are magnificent!! I got to see some of the original Emerald City paintings used in The Wizard of Oz in a New York City museum years ago. So cool!! I would love to see these movie backdrops on exhibition somewhere!

@karenmaness5229 2 жыл бұрын

An exhibition is in the works for 2022 at the Boca Raton Museum of Art!

@PinnaclePete 2 жыл бұрын

@@karenmaness5229 Thanks Karen. It's a bit far for me to travel these days but maybe I'll have other opportunies.

@QueenZenaTheFirst 4 жыл бұрын

Awesome. Grateful these works of art are preserved

@maryeliason1504 2 жыл бұрын

I've always appreciated their talent! Amazing. Thank you for this.

@dennisoconnor4387 2 жыл бұрын

I just found this ! I love it. Maybe I'll use one in my backyard so I won't have to garden so much!

@jefferypiotrowski6059 4 жыл бұрын

The segment of Sunday Morning about the Hollywood backdrops was so cool ! Especially, that back-ground from 'Forbidden Planet'. It was the first sci-fi film I viewed as a kid in the 50's. Fortunalely, I was able to see a restored digital version as part of the Detroit Film Theaters Summer Sci-Fi series in 2018. It's wonderful to see the effort to preserve this unheralded works of cinematic artwork. I hope a catalog of their film usage goes into the new Hollywood museum that Tom Hank spoke of during last night's Oscar Awards.

@5DNRG 2 жыл бұрын

Being analytical to a fault, I very much appreciate these stunning backdrops!!

@nslouka90 Жыл бұрын

I’m glad these are still being used today because whenever I see a film or tv show use a painted backdrop it always gives it a certain look that I really like and I know that technology has come a long way and you can easily use a green screen but what’s most important is the art aspect.

@keithjohnson5398 4 жыл бұрын

I remember one such company here in Hollywood we used, forget the name, think it was on Sunset in east Hollywood. Believe it went out of biz and someone bought the backgrounds to save them. Interesting lots of 'old Hollywood' has faded away or been trashed and not saved.

@jraaccounts 4 жыл бұрын

it really is very sad. and all the talent these artists had -- yet they went completely unknown, unsung compared to say, the actors, cinematographers, or composers.

@davidskaar3232 Жыл бұрын

Beautiful works of art , time , and space.

@madArt1981 Жыл бұрын

There should be a dedicated museum of backdrops and carnival signs! They're absolutely works of art for Sure

@ProducerLare 4 жыл бұрын

💕Amazing!💕 Thank you for sharing this beautiful piece!👍👍

@madfranmanr5751 2 жыл бұрын

I love this site - KZfaq. A video like this comes up and you don't expect to be fascinated and mesmerized. It took a whole lot of talent and time to paint these masterpieces and to discard them is unthinkable. I'm glad that they are being saved.

@tomgebarowski8156 2 жыл бұрын

Amazing story...classic backdrops from classic films!

@nycava0520 4 жыл бұрын

So interesting!! Love CBS Sunday Morning..

@criticalhard 4 жыл бұрын

Amazing, this should be implemented again, yes CGI looks amazing but paintings can do it great too

@sabrinan4792 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@karenwaddell9396 2 жыл бұрын

What an amazing story and heritage. They’d be so proud of you!

@cfinlay6428 4 жыл бұрын

Fascinating, really glad I came across this! Thanks.

@1983Film 4 жыл бұрын

This is great to watch, love stuff like this old Hollywood is always interesting to learn about!

@Andrew-so8nr 4 жыл бұрын

I just love this show

@inthemixx8664 4 жыл бұрын

I wish they would have shown some of the backdrops from The Golden Girls. The backdrop seen through their living room windows and the one from out on the lanai with palm trees and houses behind their house were gorgeous and really made you wish you could stroll back there through their Miami backyard. I've heard before though that those same tropical backdrops were originally from the Frank Sinatra movie, "A Hole in the Head" but I've never been able to locate the particular scenes from which they were from.

@ogdebonair Жыл бұрын

i remembered this comment and decided to come back to it. i was just watching another video and noticed the lanai background and was surprised nobody else noticed it. look up “1958 chrysler plymouth mary costa” and you will see it in the final scene 🙂

@inthemixx8664 Жыл бұрын

@@ogdebonair WOW! Thank you so much for letting me know! That is so cool!! I always wondered what those "overhang gas station looking roof things" were on the left. I always noticed them in scenes from the lanai. To me they weren't part of a neighbors house and they just seemed so out of place. I still can't tell what they're supposed to be. I wish this was in color. I'm also wondering if the backdrop was redone a bit through the years before being used on Golden Girls because it looks like there's mountains in the distance of this one and I know you never see that in the show. If anything, far, far away in the distance looked like the ocean If you look closely in some scenes from the show which was kind of silly too lol. There's also a lamppost on the backdrop of the one in the show that doesn't seem to be on this one either.

@ogdebonair Жыл бұрын

@@inthemixx8664 you’re welcome! ☺️ i think those overhang details were just a decorative touch that were commonplace in many mid century modern homes. ironically, a good example of that is frank sinatra’s palm springs home. and yes, i noticed the background was slightly altered as well with the details of the missing lamp post and mountains in the distance. this very well could have slightly preceded a hole in the head since this backdrop is more reminiscent of palm springs/any southern california neighborhood because of the architecture and landscape, but by the time a hole in the head began production that same year, they decided to alter the background since there aren’t any mountains in miami lol it must have been cheaper just to paint over those details as opposed to creating an entirely new backdrop that was nearly identical. i have also yet to recognize this backdrop in a hole in the head either. i have no doubt whatsoever though that this is the exact same backdrop that was later utilized for the golden girls.

@DougUnfunny 4 жыл бұрын

I've seen specials on old movie Matte paintings but its true nobody ever brings up old hollywood backdrop paintings. This was very interesting. You would need several airplane hangers just to have open museum.

@samueljaramillo4221 2 жыл бұрын

This is so interesting. I’m glad all those backdrop were saved.👏👏

@wvictorgarvey Жыл бұрын

The North by Northwest Mount Rushmore backdrop is in a two story gallery at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. At a nearby display they play some clips where you can see how it was used.

@mwarnas Жыл бұрын

Fantastic story. Would love to have the space for one of those. They absolutely deserve to be preserved and if possible re-used.

@gwenniegirl50 2 жыл бұрын

For decades backdrops were a critical part of movie-making. It was extremely rare for movies to be shot on location.

@angelinalozada189 2 жыл бұрын

How interesting, loved it. Thank You.

@captainnima 3 жыл бұрын

Amazing talents.

@amaz3624 4 жыл бұрын

Amazing!

@hueyahumana 4 жыл бұрын

Wow. Wow ,wow . Love it . I would love to buy one

@BrisaMakesVideos 4 жыл бұрын

Go Karen! That's my professor! Go Karen!!

@stevebishop9468 4 жыл бұрын

Oh my lord.....the backdrop from forbidden planet!!!!!!!

@jillsalkin7389 4 жыл бұрын

Fascinating!!

@FappinSteve 4 жыл бұрын

Wow..The acting at the beginning....10/10

@onehappydogg 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you.

@nata3467 Жыл бұрын

Simply gorgeous

@HighwayLand 4 жыл бұрын

that is incredible!

@suzieq1218 4 жыл бұрын

Now that was cool!!

@billlombard9911 4 жыл бұрын

Beautiful

@MeMeDaVinci 2 жыл бұрын

I'm absolutely breathless. I would love one of the remnant backdrops...just to have one. The artwork at Knott's Berry farm way back when was created by Hollywood artists. I don't know what happened to the artwork that was on display as they sold off many items in 2017 at an auction. But to see many of the backdrops the way they're supposed to be hung is just remarkable. I would pay to see the backings just as I would pay to go to a museum. I appreciate the art because I can't even draw a stick figure right.

@gabrielcaron9436 2 жыл бұрын

Fascinating

@n.d.7931 2 жыл бұрын

Lovely segment. Thanks for covering a bit of yesteryear that most people today wouldn't even think of.

@lkbarrett39 Жыл бұрын

I saw this book when it first went on sale on Amazon, and I almost bought it just based on the reviews. There were a limited number printed, and now the used copies are selling for $$$$$$.

@nigelcarren 4 жыл бұрын

Gives new meaning to the phrase "All the world's a stage"! Maybe I needn't move house... I will just change the backdrop outside every year, and if winter seems too long, then I think I will go with Spring in the Alps. Great feature thank you. 🏆🇬🇧