1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- Jaws

#628- Jaws (1975)
Starring: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss
Directed by: Steven Spielberg


Plot Summary: When a young woman is attacked by a killer shark, panic begins to spread along Amity Island. Not wanting to interfere with the incoming tourist season, the mayor decides to not close the beach. When the shark returns and kills a young boy, Police Chief Martin Brody goes on a manhunt to kill the creature before it attacks the town again. In order to properly track the monstrous shark, Brody enlists the help of marine biologist Matt Hooper and shark hunter Quint. After they've been out on the water for a while, the shark reappears and it is there that Brody realizes they are going to need a bigger boat.


When you talk about greatest filmmakers, it's not too long before you find Steven Spielberg's name inching towards the top of the list. He's one of the most celebrated directors of all-time thanks to his imagination and dedication in bringing so many memorable visions to life. The man has brought us historical pieces, movies on aliens, giant dinosaurs, and so much more. Our topic of conversation today is a killer shark in the film that was Spielberg's first hit film and has been called one of the first summer blockbusters in history: Jaws. This film broke box office records (in fact, it was the highest grossing film at the time) and without it, Spielberg would never be the household name he is today.

The film may be titled after the shark, but it actually follows three humans who try to hunt the shark, including Police Chief Martin Brody, played by Roy Scheider. We get a very early impression of the kind of man Brody is thanks to some short interactions with his family and his dedication to his job. He may not be an expert on sharks like the other two protagonists, but his top concern is making sure the townsfolk are safe from the killer shark. Even when he is told that the beach won't be closed, he is held responsible (both by himself and some of the townsfolk) when the shark kills a kid. Then, when he imagines the danger his family could be in, he can't take it any longer. He's such a noble character and the audience is able to root for him since he's out there to do the right thing. And of course, he delivers two of the films greatest lines, the obvious being "you're gonna need a bigger boat," but my personal favorite being "smile, you son of a..."

In order to track the shark, Brody enlists the help of Quint, played by Robert Shaw. Quint has arguably one of the most memorable moments in the movie by giving a monologue about the shark's eyes, and he's just an enigma to see on film. From the way he dresses, to the way he talks, Quint is an aesthetically memorable shark hunter that goes along perfectly with the Jaws folklore. He also has the sharpest tongue of the three mains, always able to have some form of insult or criticism ready to go, which might surprise a lot but remember that he's an expert on hunting sharks so he believes he knows best.

Richard Dreyfuss plays oceanographer Matt Hooper, who originally thinks he knows better than Quint and makes him look like a hotshot. Thanks to a really well done scene where the swap stories about scars, there's a real sense of fellowship on display with these three characters that I really enjoy. Quint adds a lot of quirky humor to the discussion scenes with Brody and Quint. Of the three main characters, Quint is the least memorable but he offers a lot of fun character moments. He is also certainly the voice of reason in trying to inform Brody and the mayor the amount of danger the city will be in unless the shark is taken care of. He's almost like a spokesperson for the shark, heightening the danger that the shark brings with him.

The actual shark is a pretty dated special effect, but it's the thought that counts. The shark is introduced in one of the most iconic opening scenes in film history. Thanks to the camera shots that prove less is more in showing the shark, and a haunting theme by the great John Williams, the shark was able to make an immediate impact and scared audiences to the point where it was pretty understandable if they wanted to stay out of the water during the summer of '75.

Jaws really had a lasting impact on film and is a real game changer since it introduced Spielberg to the general public. Even if you've never seen the film, you know the basic premise of the killer shark that terrorizes the ocean for a small town. There are tons of memorable scenes and lines that moviegoers should be able to appreciate and discuss, and the only negative about the film was that it set the bar so high for Spielberg that it was difficult for him to top himself with every film. There are tons of films he has made though that are synonymous with his career that are featured on this list, and even a few underrated flicks on display, so let's continue the next two months by diving into one of the most important movie portfolios in history and celebrate the career of Steven Spielberg.


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Don't be too critical of the dated shark effects, and Jaws should be pretty enjoyable to watch. The human characters are engaging enough, and there is a definite feeling of fear that audiences can latch onto since there is a chance it could happen in real life. If you love Spielberg, horror, or film in general, this is one worth checking out and owning in your DVD collection.

Jaws and movie images are copyrighted by Universal Pictures