General VHS Question

[Flint]

I've got a technical question-

When a particular film is not available on DVD, and I am forced to seek it out on VHS, I want to make sure to avoid pan & scan. Usually I can go to the imdb and they will list the original aspect ratio there. If it was originally shot 1:33, then I will suffer through the resolution problems just to see it. Sometimes (as in the case of several Mizoguchi films I would like to see) they do not say. My question: after what year were most films not shot 1:33 anymore and instead the more "modern" 1:85. That is, what is my time frame where it's safe to go with a VHS copy? Or, is there a site which lists technical specs of this kind that I could go to as a reference if the imdb fails?

I hope I've been clear. Thanks in advance for the help!

-Flint

[ChristopherBanks]

Loosely, there is a grey area between 1950-1960 when the changeover was occurring.

BUT films shot in 1.85 are created by masking an image in the cinema that has been shot 1.33 at the top and bottom, and many VHS releases simply remove the masks rather than zooming in to cut off the sides.

[Noel Shane]

This is generally a good place to start on the web for answers to ratio questions:

http://www.widescreenmuseum.com/widescreen/lobby.htm