Jaws (1975)

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers:

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

Release Date:

20 June 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

The Nation's No.1 Best-Selling Book now the Screen's Super-Thriller

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 | Island | Great White Shark | Mayor | Beach

Awards:

Won 3 Oscars. Another 9 wins & 14 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)
Wally Hooper Jr.	...	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		(novel)

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

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)
George Fredrick	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Walter A. Gest	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
William Griffith	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Roger Heman Jr.	....	sound (uncredited)
Earl Madery	....	sound (uncredited)
John McDonald	....	boom man (uncredited)
Colin C. Mouat	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Dennis C. Salcedo	....	optical sound recordist (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 photographer (as Rexford Metz)
Ron Taylor	....	camera operator: live shark footage
Valerie Taylor	....	camera operator: live shark footage
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)
Lorenzo Porricelli	....	driver (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 Zanuck/Brown)
• Universal Pictures (uncredited)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1975) (USA) (theatrical) (as Universal)
• 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) (30th. Anniversary Edition)
• 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)
• Cinéma International Corporation (CIC) (1975) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1985) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (2007) (Argentina) (DVD) (1-disc edition)
• Argentina Video Home (2012) (Argentina) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (Universal's 100th Anniversary Collector's Edition)
• CIC Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• CIC Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Esselte CIC Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Nordisk Film (2000) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Prem'er Video Fil'm (Russia) (VHS)
• Universal Home Video (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (Universal's 100th Anniversary Collector's Edition)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2008) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2011) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2012) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2012) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies (uncredited)
• Cinematique  cosmetics
• Decca Records  soundtrack (uncredited)
• MCA Records  soundtrack (uncredited)
• National Geographic Society  the producers gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of (as The National Geographic Society)
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• The Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University  the producers gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of
• Universal Title  titles and optical effects
• Varèse Sarabande  score album (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:

Argentina:18 (original rating) | Australia:M | Denmark:15 | France:-12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:12 | Israel:PG | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:14 (orginal rating) (1975) | 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 | 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 | 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

Filming Locations:

Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Zanuck/Brown Productions

Trivia:

The scene where the head pops out from under the boat was not originally scripted. Director Steven Spielberg says he "got greedy" after he saw the preview audience's reaction to the scene where the shark jumps out behind Brody's head and wanted "one more scare."

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene where the two fisherman are trying to catch the shark with the holiday roast on the pier, it is very dark outside yet when it cuts to Brody (the scenes go back and forth proving that it takes place in the same evening), it is still very light outside.

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:

Referenced in "Stargate: Atlantis: Hide and Seek (#1.2)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Spanish Ladies

One of the Greatest Thrillers Ever Made

'Jaws' is the original summer blockbuster, setting the standard by which all others are measured. It's the Michael Jordan of cinema: there will never be another 'Jaws,' simply because the film so profoundly changed the way movies are made and marketed.

Based on Peter Benchley's bestselling novel, 'Jaws' centers around the fictional North Atlantic resort island of Amity, which finds itself terrorized by an enormous great white shark. Our hero is Martin Brody, a New York cop who took the job as Chief of the Amity PD to get his family out of the city and then finds himself in the midst of an unprecedented crisis none of his prior experience has prepared him for. The remains of young Christine Watkins are found on the beach, the apparent victim of a shark attack(Chrissie Watkins' death scene at the opening of the movie is one of the most legendary in the history of film). Chief Brody wants to close the beaches, but is refused permission by Mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) and the Amity selectmen, all of whom fear that news of a shark attack off of Amity will threaten the summer tourist trade, on which the town depends for its very survival. The Mayor and his lackies persuade Chief Brody that such incidents are always isolated, and, inexperienced in such matters, he grudgingly agrees to keep quiet.

Consequently, the shark kills again (and again), and Chief Brody eventually finds himself dealing both with his own moral guilt for agreeing to hush up the first shark attack and with an enormous human and social catastrophe which appears to be his sole responsibility. Help comes first in the form of Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss, in the role that propelled him to stardom), an icthyologist and oceanographer dispatched to Amity to lend his expertise. Together, Hooper and Brody struggle in vain against both the shark and Mayor Vaughan, who is certain that keeping the beaches open for the sake of the town's economy (and his own real-estate business) is worth the gamble.

Finally, Brody and Hooper charter an expedition with the enigmatic, vaguely malevolent Quint (Robert Shaw), Amity's most feared and respected shark hunter, to find and kill the shark and save the town from financial disaster. What ensues is an epic, archetypal man vs. beast quest that would make Herman Melville and Joseph Campbell proud. Our shark, it turns out, is way above average size, terrifically swift and powerful, and uncannily smart, to boot. Hooper, the scientist, is awestruck at having encountered the Bigfoot of the sea; Quint, the crafty fisherman with a serious chip on his shoulder against sharks, realizes he has met the ultimate test of his skills; Brody, who swims poorly and is afraid of water, must overcome abject fear and disorientation just to maintain his composure.

Robert Shaw's Quint is one of the greatest anti-heroes the movies have ever seen. He is funny and frightening all at once, and the famous soliloquy in which he recalls the tragic sinking of the USS Indianapolis--where, over the course of a week waiting for rescue, at least 90 US Navy personnel died from shark attack wounds--is one of the most chilling and unforgettable performances ever committed to film.

'Jaws' is the movie that made Steven Spielberg's career, and it's among his finest. It's easy to forget because of his enormously successful blockbusters that Spielberg is a phenomenally skillful and artful director. His timing is superb, he mixes horror with comedy to brilliant effect, he gets great performances out of his actors, and his love for special effects has never overwhelmed his understanding of the importance of story and character.

That said, the most brilliant aspect of 'Jaws' was a serendipitous accident.

The special effects team had yet to fully troubleshoot 'Bruce,' the mechanical shark, by the time filming was to begin. Under tight budget restraints and enormous studio pressure, Spielberg had no choice but to press on while his crew labored vainly to make the shark work in the cold and corrosive north Atlantic seawater. To compensate for the absence of the non-functional fake shark, Spielberg used shots from the shark's point of view and John Williams' famous two-note theme to create the illusion of the shark's presence in the early scenes. Fortunately the crew was ultimately able to get Bruce into operational status in time to film the big showdown, and some of the scenes are filled in with live-shark footage filmed by Australian underwater video pioneers Ron and Valerie Taylor. Consequently, the audience's fear is magnified by the fact that, for the majority of the film, they cannot see the shark, creating suspense towards the climax of the confrontation between man and beast on Quint's fishing boat.

'Jaws' succeeds on almost every level. It is terrifying without being grotesque, and spectacular without being unbelievable (if the shark looks a little fake, remember that, at the time 'Jaws' was released, 'Space Invaders' was on the cutting edge of computer graphics design and there was no such thing as 'Shark Week on the Discovery Channel'). Roy Scheider's Brody is a quintessential everyman, an average guy beset by fear and guilt who finds himself in extraordinary circumstances and rises to the occasion. Dreyfuss' Hooper is brash and brave enough not to come off as nerdy or self-righteous, and his friendship with Brody becomes the backbone of the movie (Spielberg and screenwriter Carl Gottlieb wisely deviated from the novel in regards to the character of Hooper, who was originally Brody's nemesis). Robert Shaw's Quint is a modern-day Captain Ahab, a worthy foe for the malevolent shark. The suspense is potent and the action thrilling, but the humor, emotion, and character development make this movie much more than a summer blockbuster.