In the early days of cinema, families on screen were often depicted as traditional, nuclear units. Films like It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and The Sound of Music (1965) showcased idyllic families with biological parents and their children. These portrayals reinforced the notion that a "typical" family consisted of a married couple and their biological children. For instance, The Sound of Music tells the story of the von Trapp family, a widowed father and his seven children, who find love and stability with their new governess, Maria.