Using primary source material such as story outlines as well as oral histories and interviews, Behlmer paints a realistic portrait of the studio moviemaking process between 1930 and 1952. Topics addressed include purchasing of story rights, the choice of director and actors, problems with censors and production and the creation of musical scores. Among the 15 movies discussed are "Frankenstein," "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "The Adventures of Robinhood," "Lost Horizon," "Stagecoach," "The Maltese Falcon," "The African Queen" and "Casablanca".