Jaws (1975)

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers:

Peter Benchley (screenplay) and
Carl Gottlieb (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

20 June 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller

Tagline:

Amity Island had everything. Clear skies. Gentle surf. Warm water. People flocked there every summer. It was the perfect feeding ground.

Plot:

When a gigantic great white shark begins to menace the small island community of Amity, a police chief, a marine scientist and grizzled fisherman set out to stop it.

Plot Keywords:

Shark | Great White Shark | Island | Beach | Fisherman

Awards:

Won 3 Oscars. Another 9 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Roy Scheider	...	Brody
Robert Shaw	...	Quint
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Hooper
Lorraine Gary	...	Ellen Brody
Murray Hamilton	...	Vaughn
Carl Gottlieb	...	Meadows
Jeffrey Kramer	...	Hendricks (as Jeffrey C. Kramer)
Susan Backlinie	...	Chrissie
Jonathan Filley	...	Cassidy
Ted Grossman	...	Estuary Victim
Chris Rebello	...	Michael Brody
Jay Mello	...	Sean Brody
Lee Fierro	...	Mrs. Kintner
Jeffrey Voorhees	...	Alex Kintner
Craig Kingsbury	...	Ben Gardner
Robert Nevin	...	Medical Examiner (as Dr. Robert Nevin)
Peter Benchley	...	Interviewer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chris Anastasio	...	Out of Towner (uncredited)
John Bahr	...	Beach Guitarist (uncredited)
Gilbert Brand	...	Victim (uncredited)
Allison Caine	...	Additional Townswomen (voice) (uncredited)
Jean Canha	...	Fat Lady (uncredited)
Edwin C. Carlson	...	Man with Goff (uncredited)
Henry Carreiro	...	Felix (uncredited)
Robert Carroll	...	Mr. Polk (uncredited)
Edward Chalmers Jr.	...	Mr. Denherder (uncredited)
Robert Chambers	...	Charlie (uncredited)
Denise Cheshire	...	Swimming Chrissie - First Victim (uncredited)
Fritzi Jane Courtney	...	Mrs. Taft (uncredited)
Gregory S. Dole	...	Sonar Operator (uncredited)
Cyprian R. Dube	...	Mr. Posner (uncredited)
Stephen Earle	...	Converted Extra (uncredited)
David Engelbach	...	Research Assistant (uncredited)
Dorothy Fielding	...	Girl in Music Store (uncredited)
Francis A. Frank	...	Boat Rental Man (uncredited)
Brendan Gallagher	...	Man with Dynamite (uncredited)
Elizabeth K. Gifford	...	Island Wife (uncredited)
Willis B. Gifford	...	Man (uncredited)
Alston Goff	...	Lynwood Shop Keeper (uncredited)
Paul Goulart	...	Clarinet Player in Music Store (uncredited)
Beardsley Graham	...	Mainlander (uncredited)
Eleanor L. Harvey	...	Motorboat Skipper (uncredited)
Mike Haydn	...	Bonfire Guitarist (uncredited)
Richard P. Hewitt	...	Walter (uncredited)
Carla Hogendyk	...	Artist (uncredited)
Walter Hooper	...	Harry (uncredited)
Janice T. Hull	...	Lady Fisherman (uncredited)
Stephanie Hull	...	Swimming Girl (uncredited)
Wayne Iacono	...	Spotter (uncredited)
Duncan Inches	...	Townsperson (uncredited)
Joseph G. Kraetzer	...	Local Merchant (uncredited)
Joe La Creta	...	Barwood (uncredited)
William Lymon	...	Ensign (uncredited)
Belle McDonald	...	Mrs. Posner (uncredited)
Phil Murray	...	Mr. Taft (uncredited)
Philip Norton	...	Mr. Stands (uncredited)
William O'Gorman	...	Man with Dynamite (uncredited)
William Pfluger	...	Sailboat Skipper (uncredited)
Donald Poole	...	Frank Silva - Harbor Master (uncredited)
Steven Potter	...	Man with Dog (uncredited)
Beverly Powers	...	Topless Swimmer (uncredited)
Ayn Ruymen	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Christopher Sands	...	Lifeguard (uncredited)
Henry E. Scott III	...	Man with Rifle (uncredited)
Peggy Scott	...	Polly (uncredited)
John Searle	...	Converted Extra (uncredited)
Steven Spielberg	...	Amity Point Lifestation Worker (voice) (uncredited)
Joy Stuart	...	Woman Tourist #1 (uncredited)
Jerome S. Tartar	...	Boat Captain (uncredited)
Julie Taylor	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Paul G. Thibodeau	...	Fisherman in Boat (uncredited)
Rex Trailer	...	Scout Master (uncredited)
Paul F. Tremblay	...	Deputy #2 (uncredited)
Hershel West	...	Salvatore (uncredited)
Robert Whelden Jr.	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Alfred Wilde	...	Harry Wiseman (uncredited)
Dick Young	...	Pratt (uncredited)

Directed by
Steven Spielberg

Writing credits
Peter Benchley		(screenplay) and
Carl Gottlieb		(screenplay)
Peter Benchley		(based upon the novel by)
John Milius		Indianapolis monologue (uncredited)
Howard Sackler		Indianapolis monologue (uncredited)
Robert Shaw		Indianapolis monologue (uncredited)

Produced by
David Brown	....	producer
Richard D. Zanuck	....	producer

Original Music by
John Williams

Cinematography by
Bill Butler		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Verna Fields

Production Design by
Joe Alves		(as Joseph Alves Jr.)

Set Decoration by
John M. Dwyer		(set decorations)

Makeup Department
Del Armstrong	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Verne Caruso	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Jim Gillespie	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
James Fargo	....	unit production manager (as Jim Fargo)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Barbara Bass	....	second assistant director
Tom Joyner	....	first assistant director
Joe Alves	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Verna Fields	....	second unit director (uncredited)
L. Andrew Stone	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Mike May	....	leadman (uncredited)
Frank Nifong	....	prop master (uncredited)
William A. Petrotta	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Thomas J. Wright	....	production illustrator (uncredited)

Sound Department
John R. Carter	....	sound
Robert L. Hoyt	....	sound (as Robert Hoyt)
Thomas E. Allen	....	sound (uncredited)
Norval D. Crutcher III	....	sound effects editor (2000 restoration) (uncredited)
George Fredrick	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Gary S. Gerlich	....	sound supervisor (2000 restoration) (uncredited)
Walter A. Gest	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
William Griffith	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Roger Heman Jr.	....	sound (uncredited)
William Hooper	....	sound effects editor (2000 restoration) (uncredited)
Andy Koyama	....	2001 restoration sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Richard LeGrand Jr.	....	supervising sound editor (2000 restoration) (uncredited)
Earl Madery	....	sound (uncredited)
John McDonald	....	boom man (uncredited)
Colin C. Mouat	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Patrick O'Sullivan	....	sound editor (2000 restoration) (uncredited)
Dennis C. Salcedo	....	optical sound recordist (uncredited)
Walter Spencer	....	dialog editor: restoration (uncredited)
Roger Sword	....	sound editor (uncredited)
James Troutman	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Robert A. Mattey	....	special effects
Roy Arbogast	....	special mechanical effects (uncredited)
Tim Baar	....	special effects (uncredited)
Johnny Borgese	....	special effects (uncredited)
Richard S. Edwards	....	explosive expert (uncredited)
Richard O. Helmer	....	special effects (uncredited)
Conrad Kromm	....	special effects (uncredited)
Stanley Mahony	....	special effects (uncredited)
Kevin Pike	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Harry Shepherd	....	special effects (uncredited)
Charles Spurgeon	....	special effects (uncredited)
Richard Stutsman	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Eddie Surkin	....	special effects crew (uncredited)
Gary Wood	....	special effects (uncredited)
Michael Wood	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Richard E. Butler	....	stunts (uncredited)
Howard Curtis	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ted Grossman	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Frank James Sparks	....	stunt double: Richard Dreyfuss (uncredited)
Dick Warlock	....	stunt double: Richard Dryfuss (uncredited)
Fred Zendar	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dick Ziker	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Chapman	....	camera operator
Rexford L. Metz	....	underwater photography (as Rexford Metz)
Ron Taylor	....	live shark footage filmed by (as Ron)
Valerie Taylor	....	live shark footage filmed by
Sandy Brooke	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Vito Carenzo	....	grip (uncredited)
Joe Cole	....	best boy (uncredited)
James A. Contner	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Tony DeGeorge	....	second grip (uncredited)
Tim Evans	....	lamp operator (uncredited)
David Fay	....	dolly grip (uncredited)
Louis Goldman	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Jake Jarrell	....	lamp operator (uncredited)
Harry Jukes	....	generator operator (uncredited)
Guy Polzel	....	key grip (uncredited)
Peter Salim	....	camera assistant (uncredited)
Fred Schuler	....	additional camera operator (uncredited)
William Tandrow	....	lamp operator (uncredited)
Bill Tenny	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Ronald Vidor	....	underwater camera operator (uncredited)
Dennis Young	....	underwater grip (uncredited)
Ron Zarilla	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Shari Rhodes	....	location casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Louise Clark	....	wardrobe: women (uncredited)
Robert Ellsworth	....	wardrobe: men (uncredited)
Irwin Rose	....	wardrobe: men (uncredited)

Editorial Department
William C. Carruth	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Rick Fields	....	apprentice film editor (uncredited)
Jeff Gourson	....	assistant film editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Bob Bain	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)
Joseph Glassman	....	music editor (uncredited)
Tommy Johnson	....	musician: tuba soloist (uncredited)
Paul Kegg	....	musician: cello (uncredited)
Steven Spielberg	....	musician: clarinet in orchestra (uncredited)
John Williams	....	conductor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Mel Bingham	....	transportation captain (uncredited)

Other crew
Charlsie Bryant	....	script supervisor
William S. Gilmore	....	production executive (as William S. Gilmore Jr.)
Fred Zendar	....	technical advisor (as Manfred Zendar)
Nick Chiarolanzio	....	location auditor (uncredited)
Al Ebner	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Rick Fields	....	assistant: Mr. Spielberg (uncredited)
Helen Jackson	....	nurse (uncredited)
Ron Veto	....	underwater diver (uncredited)
Danny Young	....	timekeeper (uncredited)

Thanks
Leonard J.V. Compagno	....	the producers gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of (as Mr. L.J.V. Compagno of The Department of Biological Sciences Stanford University)

Production Companies

• Zanuck/Brown Productions (as A Zanuck/Brown Production)
• Universal Pictures (uncredited)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1975) (USA) (theatrical) (as Universal®) (An MCA Company)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1975) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corp. (1975) (UK) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1976) (France) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1979) (USA) (TV)
• DiscoVision (1981) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MCA Home Video (1984) (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1996) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Universal Pictures Canada (2000) (Canada) (DVD) (as Universal Studios Home Video Canada)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-edited)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Argentina) (all media) (re-release)
• Cinéma International Corporation (CIC) (1975) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (19??) (Argentina) (VHS)
• CIC Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• CIC Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Esselte CIC Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Prem'er Video Fil'm (Russia) (VHS)
• Universal Home Video (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies (uncredited)
• Cinematique  cosmetics by
• Decca Records  soundtrack released by (uncredited)
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.®)
• MCA Records  soundtrack released by (uncredited)
• National Geographic Society  the producers gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of (as The National Geographic Society)
• The Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University  the producers gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of
• Universal Title  titles and optical effects
• Varèse Sarabande  score album released by (uncredited)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

124 min | USA:130 min (TV version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (1995) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Iceland:16 | Spain:T | USA:TV-14 | Brazil:14 | New Zealand:M | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Peru:14 | Chile:TE | Italy:T | UK:PG (tv rating) | Argentina:13 (re-rating) | USA:TV-14 (TV rating) | UK:12A (theatrical re-release) (2012) | Ireland:12A | Argentina:18 (original rating) | Australia:M | Denmark:15 | France:-12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:12 | Israel:PG | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 (video rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Sweden:15 | Taiwan:GP | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) (1993) (2000) | USA:PG (Certificate #24175) | West Germany:16 | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Zanuck/Brown Productions

Trivia:

The film was simultaneously shown in 490 theaters on its opening weekend, the first time for Hollywood, setting the standard for subsequent films. The film was originally booked in about 1000 theaters, but MCA executive Lew Wasserman wanted that cut back, saying he wanted lines at the box office.

Goofs:

Continuity: Quint's fishing chair on the Orca disappears and reappears periodically.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Tom Cassidy:What's your name again?
Christine 'Chrissie' Watkins:Chrissie.
Tom Cassidy:Where are we going?
Christine 'Chrissie' Watkins:Swimming

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo: The Day That Shark Ate Lobo (#1.0)" (1979)

Soundtrack:

I Honestly Love You

"You yell barracuda, everybody says, 'Hunh, what?' You yell shark, and we got a panic on our hands on the Fourth of July."

This is the movie that started it all. I'm not talking about the Hollywood blockbuster, or the insane madness that sent thousands of misunderstood Great Whites to their deaths, I'm talking about the beginning of my interest in movies. This is the movie that did it. I couldn't tell you how old I was when I first saw it, but I do remember this is the movie I made my parents rent time and time again when we went to the video store. This is the movie that drove my parents and some of my friends nuts while I watched it day after day after day when my mom gave it to me for Christmas. This is the movie that made me want to turn a real interest in the movies from just a hobby and into a career. For that, I owe Spielberg, Benchley, Scheider, Shaw, Dreyfuss, Williams, Fields and everyone else a sincere and heart-felt thank you. I own this movie on every format in which it is available. I love it that much. I've probably seen it between 200 and 300 times. I guess you can say it is an obsession. A sick obsession. The plot, the pacing, the editing, the score, the acting, and, oh yes, the shark. Who cares that is fake? By the time we finally get to see it, do we care? Truly, a more suspenseful movie was never made. Several come close, but none quite reaches the primal level the JAWS does. No other film so effectively taps into our fear of the unknown, and then gives it a riveting score to boot. No other movie grips us so strongly with heart stopping suspense that we find ourselves nearly falling off our seats. And no other movie leaves us feeling so spent and wasted after a viewing. And the reason for all the fear, suspense and emotional withdrawal is not top-notch special effects. It was the mid-70's. You can barely apply top -notch to anything of that era. The reason the movie does all that to us is that it is a great story. It is filled with real people, who have real jobs, and who have real fears. And who must now confront a real shark. Can you think of anything more terrifying that getting on a rickety, leaky boat to kill a 25-foot shark when you already have a paralyzing fear of the water? I can't. And Martin Brody sure can't. And so, no matter what ranking JAWS may get on AFI's list of the 100 greatest movies, or TV Guides list of the top 50 movies, or any list for that matter, JAWS will always come in number one on mine. Steven, Peter, Roy, Robert, Richard, John, and Verna -- thank you. Not for just giving me a sense of direction in my life, not for just making me want to be a screenwriter, but also for making a movie that still thrills me as much now when I watch it as when it did when I saw it for the very first time.