By Daily Mail Reporter PUBLISHED: 22:45 EST, 7 October 2012 | UPDATED: 08:10 EST, 8 October 2012 The plot of the new film 'Argo', in which a CIA operative poses as a Hollywood bigwig scouting locations in Tehran during political upheaval and secretly rescues six hostages, is almost as unbelievable as the true story behind the silver screen adaptation. But CIA master of disguise Antonio Mendez is real, as are the six Americans saved in the daring rescue mission in 1979 during the Iran hostage crisis. For almost three months, the group hid out in Iran, sheltered by the Canadian government until Mr Mendez flew in with fake business cards and a ridiculous cover story - and the Iranian revolutionaries believed every word.
@highlight
CIA disguise master Antonio Mendez created a sci-fi movie plot to free captives in Tehran in 1979
@highlight
Created a screenplay, printed business cards, and rented staff to spirit away hostages successfully
@highlight
On October 12, the real story behind the fake film will hit the big screen in blockbuster adaptation 'Argo'
'It would just seem absurd... the CIA is trying to get these people out of @placeholder and they turned to Hollywood for help?'
@placeholder militants stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979, taking 52 Americans hostage for 444 days.
he slipped into @placeholder and began prepping the hostages for their big roles.
Disguise: With a back story for each and every hostage, Mr Mendez helped transform the embassy workers into Hollywood types and handed them fake @placeholder passports and whisked them to the airport.