Jaws
by Robbo
Posted on 10 April 2021
Rating -
Jaws is a 1975 American thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on Peter Benchley’s 1974 novel of the same name. It stars Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw, Murray Hamilton and Lorraine Gary. The screenplay is credited to Benchley, who wrote the first drafts, and actor-writer Carl Gottlieb, who rewrote the script during principal photography.
The ominous and minimalist theme was created by composer John Williams to indicate its impending appearances. Spielberg and others have compared this suggestive approach to that of director Alfred Hitchcock.
The film is set on Amity Island where over a period of several days a number of shark attacks occur resulting in several deaths.
Police Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) wants to close the beaches but Mayor Larry Vaughn persuades him that in doing so it will kill the towns economy as they rely on the summer tourists. Vaughn appeases Brody by saying he can implement anything he wants to ensure the beaches are safe, but they must remain open, so Brody brings in shark expert Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) to consult.
Local shark fisherman Quint (Robert Shaw) offers to catch and kill the shark for $10,000, his offer is initially rejected but when the shark attacks again, witnessed by Brody’s son Michael who has to be hospitalised due to shock, the Mayor agrees to commission Quint to kill the shark.
Brody insists that as it’s his charter, he and Hooper should be able to accompany Quint, which Quint reluctantly agrees to.
The rest of the film follows the hunt for the shark.
Jaws is a suspense packed thrill ride from start to finish and is widely considered to be the first ‘Summer Blockbuster’.
Due to problems with the mechanical shark, the film went over budget and over schedule.
With the shark not working, Spielberg had to suggest the presence of the shark which was achieved using barrels shot into the shark by Quint to bring the shark to the surface.
Rather than show the shark, the barrels would appear indicating the sharks presence which added to the suspense of the film, as merely suggesting the presence of the shark made it even more menacing, the fear of the unseen.
Jaws adopts the same device as Duel, one of Spielberg’s earlier films about a motorist being pursued and terrorised by a truck, with the driver unseen.
This device of the faceless, seemingly unstoppable leviathon has been repeated through many films, including Halloween and Predator.
Jaws is one of my favourite films as I can watch it over again. It is well written, superbly acted, well directed and beautifully photographed.
This is definitely a film you should see before you die.
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