Jaws is a 1975 American thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg. It is based on the 1974 novel by Peter Benchley and stars Roy Scheider as police chief Martin Brody. The movie revolves around a killer shark that unleashes chaos on a beach community off Cape Cod, and the efforts of a local sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer to hunt the beast down. The film was highly successful, setting box office records and receiving critical acclaim for its story, acting, script, and direction. Despite the dated technology, Jaws is still considered a great film to watch. The movie has a runtime of 124 minutes and falls under the genres of adventure, mystery, and thriller.
Plot
Jaws is a 1975 American thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg. The plot revolves around a killer shark that unleashes chaos on a beach community off Cape Cod. The story follows a local sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer as they hunt down the beast. Here are the key events in the plot:
- The peaceful community of Amity Island is terrorized as a monstrous great white shark patrols the waters, hungry for human flesh.
- The shark attacks swimmers, causing panic and affecting the number of tourists visiting the island.
- A group of experts, including a sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer, is tasked with hunting down the shark.
- The shark encounters a boat with a group of people on board, and a young woman named Ellen sees the shark approaching the boat.
- The shark attacks the boat, causing it to sink, and the air tank lodges in its jaws.
- The shark retreats, leaving Brody, the sheriff, to climb to the summit of the boat's mast.
- The shark returns and smashes through the side of the boat, its enormous mouth perilously close to Brody, who attempts to fend it off by bludgeoning it with the tank.
- The shark retreats again, with the air tank lodged in its jaws.
Cast
- Roy Scheider as Police Chief Martin Brody
- Robert Shaw as Quint
- Richard Dreyfuss as Matt Hooper
- Lorraine Gary as Ellen Brody
- Murray Hamilton as Mayor Larry Vaughn
- Carl Gottlieb as Meadows
- Jeffrey Kramer as Deputy Leonard 'Lenny' Hendricks
- Susan Backlinie as Christine 'Chrissie' Watkins
- Jonathan Filley as Tom Cassidy
- Chris Rebello as Michael Brody
- Jay Mello as Sean Brody
- Lee Fierro as Mrs. Kintner
- Jeffrey Voorhees as Alex Kintner
- Craig Kingsbury as Ben Gardner
- Robert Nevin as Medical Examiner
- Peter Benchley as Interviewer
- Fritzi Jane Courtney as Mrs. Taft
- David Engelbach as Deputy Jeff Hendricks
- Denise Cheshire as Mrs. Posner
- Dorothy Fielding as Estuary Victim
- Gloria Hendry as Mrs. Ward
- Donna Wilkes as Girl in Music Store
- Roy Scheider's wife, Cynthia Scheider, as Mrs. Taft (uncredited)
- Steven Spielberg as Amity Point Lifestation Worker (voice) (uncredited)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writer: Peter Benchley, Peter Benchley, Carl Gottlieb, Howard Sackler, John Milius, Robert Shaw
Box Office (Gross USA): $272.2M
Distributor: Universal Pictures, DiscoVision
Genre: Holiday, Mystery & Thriller, Horror, Adventure
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 20, 1975
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 22, 2015
Theme
The theme of Jaws revolves around fear, survival, and the conflict between man and nature. The movie explores the primal fear of the unknown, as well as the resilience and determination of the human spirit in the face of a powerful and relentless adversary.
Reception
Jaws was a groundbreaking film that received widespread critical acclaim and was a massive commercial success. It is often regarded as a classic in the thriller and horror genres. The movie's impact on popular culture and its influence on the film industry have been significant, making it a landmark in cinematic history.
Production Challenges
The production of Jaws was notoriously challenging, with issues ranging from mechanical malfunctions of the shark prop to adverse weather conditions. These challenges forced the filmmakers to be creative in their approach, leading to the use of suspenseful music and innovative camera techniques to compensate for the limited visibility of the shark.
Settings
The film is set in the fictional town of Amity Island, a small, idyllic community off the coast of New England. The tranquil beaches and the vast, foreboding ocean serve as the primary settings for the unfolding drama, creating a stark contrast between the beauty of the surroundings and the terror lurking beneath the waves.
Visual Styles and Techniques
Jaws is known for its masterful use of suspense and tension, achieved through a combination of visual and auditory techniques. The film's iconic score, composed by John Williams, and the use of underwater point-of-view shots have become synonymous with the intense atmosphere of the movie.
Trivia and Fun Facts
- The mechanical shark used in the film was nicknamed "Bruce" by the cast and crew.
- The movie's famous line, "You're gonna need a bigger boat," was ad-libbed by Roy Scheider.
- Jaws is often credited with popularizing the summer blockbuster phenomenon, as it was one of the first films to be released in hundreds of theaters simultaneously.