JAWS (1975, USA, 124m, 12) *****
Adventure, Horror, Thriller
dist. Universal Pictures (USA), Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (UK); pr co. Zanuck-Brown Productions / Universal Pictures; d. Steven Spielberg; w. Peter Benchley, Carl Gottlieb (based on the novel by Peter Benchley); pr. David Brown, Richard D. Zanuck; ph. Bill Butler (Technicolor | 2.35:1); m. John Williams; ed. Verna Fields; pd. Joe Alves.
cast: Roy Scheider (Brody), Robert Shaw (Quint), Richard Dreyfuss (Hooper), Lorraine Gary (Ellen Brody), Murray Hamilton (Vaughn), Carl Gottlieb (Meadows), Jeffrey Kramer (Hendricks), 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), Peter Benchley (Interviewer)..
When a young woman is killed by a shark while skinny-dipping near the New England tourist town of Amity Island, police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) wants to close the beaches, but mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) overrules him, fearing that the loss of tourist revenue will cripple the town. Ichthyologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and grizzled ship captain Quint (Robert Shaw) offer to help Brody capture the killer beast, and the trio engage in an epic battle of man vs. nature. Brilliantly filmed and edited with not a minute of screen time wasted. It was credited as the movie that created the summer blockbuster, but this remains an everyman movie full of thrills. Spielberg’s inventive framing and decision to leave the shark largely unseen until the final act demonstrate his astute approach to genre direction. Great performances from Shaw, Scheider and Dreyfuss and a memorable music score from Williams help to heighten the tension. The movie remains today a textbook example of how to shoot a thriller and maximise character empathy. The extended TV version runs to 130m. Followed by three sequels beginning with JAWS 2 (1978).
AA: Best Sound (Robert L. Hoyt, Roger Heman Jr., Earl Madery, John R. Carter); Best Film Editing (Verna Fields); Best Music, Original Dramatic Score (John Williams)
