A film that has been etched in my memory since the first time I saw it a two thirty in the morning at a cinema

Rating: 10/10 (15 March 2004)

It has been almost twenty-nine years since producers Richard D. Zanuck and director Stephen Spielberg unleashed Jaws onto the big screen and into film history. In 1975, the summer blockbuster was born, for better or as many now believe, or for worse. Whatever your feelings are on that subject doesn't matter. Jaws is still one heckuva ride.
In 1971 Spielberg directed a movie of the week for ABC entitled Duel. It was the story of one man confronting a relentless enemy. In that film, the enemy was a huge tractor trailer rig. We never saw the drive of the truck, all we saw was his relentless, single minded goal to pummel and kill Dennis Weaver as the everyman. It was one of the best of the Movie of the week films, but little did anyone know that it would eventually lead Spielberg to Jaws, which would put his name on the map permanently. Just as the truck in Duel was of a single minded purpose, so is the shark in Bruce. As Richard Dreyfuss puts it, the only thing a shark does is swim, eat, and make baby sharks. In Jaws, it mostly swims and eat, with tourists and citizens of Amity being it's main course.
The original idea was to use a mechanical shark in the filming of Jaws. The fact that the never before tested shark didn't work as planned turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to Spielberg in jaws. It forced him to rely more on his capabilities as a storyteller and director by shooting much of the film from the perspective of the shark. Yet, Spielberg is so astute at using this device, and aided by the editing of Verna Fields, after seeing the film, you'll swear you saw the shark more than you actually did. If any person besides Spielberg deserved an Oscar for Jaws it was Verna Fields who went on to score a win in the category. There is no explanation for the lack of so much as a directorial nomination for Spielberg. Bill Butler's cinematography deserves special mention as well, especially when the action switches from Amity Island to the Orca and the open sea. As for John Williams score it is the stuff legends are made of. The thought of Jaws without William's simple shark theme is unfathomable.
As for the cast, they too are perfect in roles now ingrained in our memory. Though they have made other fine and notable films, one cannot think of Scheider, Dreyfuss, Shaw, Hamilton or Laraine Gary without thinking of this film. Maybe it was luck that brought this cast together, or like just about anything else associated with Jaws, the casting was perhaps one of those things that was just meant to be. Dreyfuss's Hooper provides the perfect foil for Shaw's Quint. Quint is hard edge and sea worn, Hooper is a product of luxury and class. Scheider's Chief Brody is like the dependable anchor, who keeps everyone in their place. I was really happy to see Murray Hamilton as the Mayor. He is perfect for the role, as evidenced by a conversation he has with Hooper and Brodie as they try to convince him the shark is still a threat. We know his arguments and defense of his position are foolish, but as Mayor Vaughn Hamilton gives the lines almost a comedic edge.
If you have ever had the privilege of seeing Jaws in a movie theater, I can't think of too many films that had as terrifying and an attention grabbing opening as Jaws. Because of these first few minutes as the shark suddenly attacks Chrissie without warning, Spielberg grabs hold of his audience and never lets them loose for the entire running time of the film. The fact that the last forty five minutes or so of the film take place aboard Quint's small boat the Orca, yet never loses it momentum during the entire sequence is again a testimony to Spielberg's directorial brilliance.
If ever there has been a perfect suspense/action/horror film made it has to be Jaws. It is a film that has been etched in my memory since the first time I saw it at two thirty in the morning in a cinema in downtown Cincinnati. We had bought tickets at five in the afternoon to get into that two thirty a.m. showing. I was thinking at the time it had better be one heck of a film if I was to be able to stay awake into the wee hours of the morning. I needn't have worried about that. For causing me one night's good sleep, and for being all around excellent you get my grade. It's an A+. Was there any doubt in your mind?