The boundaries of the film frame can take many forms. The history and evolution of formats is as long as the history of the cinema itself. (Hence the need for our Aspect Ratio Guide). However the heated development of widescreen formats we now associate with movies began in earnest in the early 1950s in the battle to compete with television which at the time was seen to be keeping people entertained at home preventing them from heading out to the movie theater.  Read more