Jaws (1975)

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers:

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

Release Date:

20 June 1975 (USA)

Genre:

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 | Beach | Island | Mayor | 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
Dr. Robert Nevin	...	Medical Examiner
Peter Benchley	...	Interviewer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chris Anastasio	...	Out of Towner (uncredited)
John Bahr	...	Beach Guitarist (uncredited)
Allison Caine	...	Additional Voices (voice) (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)
Cyprian R. Dube	...	Mr. Posner (uncredited)
Paul Goulart	...	Clarinet Player in Music Store (uncredited)
Mike Haydn	...	Bonfire Guitarist (uncredited)
Duncan Inches	...	Townsperson (uncredited)
Belle McDonald	...	Mrs. Posner (uncredited)
Donald Poole	...	Frank Silva, Harbor Master (uncredited)
Ayn Ruymen	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Peggy Scott	...	Polly (uncredited)
Steven Spielberg	...	Amity Point Lifestation Worker (voice) (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

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)

Art Department
Thomas Wright	....	production illustrator (uncredited)

Sound Department
John R. Carter	....	sound
Robert L. Hoyt	....	sound (as Robert Hoyt)
Gregory King	....	sound re-recording mixer (25th anniversary release)
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)
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)
Colin C. Mouat	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Patrick O'Sullivan	....	sound editor (2000 restoration) (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
Kevin Pike	....	special effects assistant
Roy Arbogast	....	special mechanical effects (uncredited)
Richard S. Edwards	....	explosive expert (uncredited)
Richard Stutsman	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Eddie Surkin	....	special effects crew (uncredited)

Stunts
Richard E. Butler	....	stunts (uncredited)
Howard Curtis	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ted Grossman	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Frank James Sparks	....	stunt double: Richard Dreyfuss (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	....	underwater photographer: live shark footage (as Ron)
Valerie Taylor	....	underwater photographer: live shark footage
Vito Carenzo	....	grip (uncredited)
James A. Contner	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Louis Goldman	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Fred Schuler	....	additional camera operator (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)

Editorial Department
William C. Carruth	....	assistant 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)

Other crew
Charlsie Bryant	....	script supervisor
William S. Gilmore	....	production executive (as William S. Gilmore Jr.)
Fred Zendar	....	technical advisor (as Manfred Zendar)
Al Ebner	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Rick Fields	....	assistant: Mr. Spielberg (uncredited)
Ron Veto	....	underwater diver (uncredited)

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

Production Companies

• Zanuck/Brown Productions (for)
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1975) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corp. (1975) (UK) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1976) (France) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1979) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• 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 Studios Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• CIC Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Prem'er Video Fil'm (Russia) (VHS)
• Universal Home Video (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Canada (2000) (Canada) (DVD) (as Universal Studios Home Video Canada)

Special Effects

• Universal Title (optical effects)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies (uncredited)
• Cinematique  cosmetics
• Decca Records  soundtrack released by
• 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
• 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
• Varèse Sarabande  score album released by

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) | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Denmark:15 | France:-12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15 | 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) | USA:PG (Certificate #24175) | West Germany:16 | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

American Legion Memorial Bridge, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Zanuck/Brown Productions

Trivia:

Robert Shaw could not stand Richard Dreyfuss and they argued all the time, which resulted in some good tension between Hooper and Quint.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Hooper, Brody and Quint are preparing the cage for Hooper's confrontation with the shark, overhead shots show that the deck of the boat is dry. But scenes before and after show a few inches of water in the boat, a result of the shark battering in the Orca's side.

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 "Northern Exposure: Sex, Lies and Ed's Tapes (#1.6)" (1990)

Soundtrack:

Spanish Ladies

Not your average fish story...

Widely regarded as the film that began the "summer movie blockbuster era", JAWS (1975) was also rightfully one of the year's most critically acclaimed movies. It was also the recipient of an Academy Award Nomination for Best Picture and a winner of Oscars for film editing (Verna Fields) and music score (John Williams). One of the reasons the film received no acting nods is that everyone involved is so good, how could one single out just one or two? (I personally feel Robert Shaw should have gotten a Best Actor nomination, however). Roy Scheider is wonderful as New York cop Martin Brody, who has relocated to a small coastal island town, only to have his bad case of "aquaphobia" put to the ultimate test. Richard Dreyfuss is perfectly cast as a shark expert and provides some truly funny comic bits along the way. Lorraine Gary (who director Steven Spielberg says was the first person to be cast for the film) does an excellent job of being the concerned wife and mother. Finally, there's Murray Hamilton, who gives one of the best performances of his career as Mayor Vaughn, who seems to be more concerned about the economy of the town than the safety of the residents. In a way, Vaughn is really the film's villain. Solid cast indeed. The screenplay (by Peter Benchley and Carl Gottlieb) is tight and well-written, as is Spielberg's direction. Whether it was the mechanical shark's failure to operate correctly or Spielberg's decision to simply see less of the shark until the end of the film, the "less is more" idea works perfectly, particularly in the opening scene, which is chilling to this day.

One thing I do want to add: if you choose to watch this film at home, do yourself a favor and rent or buy the WIDESCREEN version. The full-screen pan and scan version is a travesty that ruins the great camerawork that Spielberg and cameraman Bill Butler made. I always recommend the widescreen version but it is especially important for JAWS.

No offense to fans of ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, but this is the film that should have taken home the Oscar gold. Grade: A+