125 minute feature film starring Richard Dreyfuss and Roy S cheider.
Steven Spielberg's film is generally considered one of the scariest movies ever made. The frightfest is based on the book by Peter Benchley, son of author Nathaniel and grandson of author Robert Benchley. The plot is simple: The tourist season of a resort island is devoured by a great white shark. The ensuing "fishing trip" to catch the monstrous man-eater is filmed with power and suspense and plenty of scares that has had audiences jumping out of their seats for decades--and staying out of the water.
From the best-selling novel by Peter Benchley, Steven Spielberg directed this thrill ride of terror. During the height of beach season, the Massachusetts resort town of Amity Island is terrorized one summer by surprise attacks from a great white shark. Three unlikely partners team up to hunt down the rogue and destroy it: the new chief of police from New York (Roy Scheider), a young university-educated oceanographer (Richard Dreyfuss), and a crusty old-time fisherman (Robert Shaw). The film shoot was notoriously difficult for the young Spielberg, who had directed only one feature film before JAWS. The mechanical shark seldom operated correctly, and Spielberg was frequently forced to create the idea of terror without actually showing the shark. However, after the film premiered it went on to become the highest-grossing film of all time--surpassing THE GODFATHER and becoming the first film to gross more than a hundred million dollars. Composer John Williams created the score to JAWS, which has since become a well-known theme of impending doom. Ron and Valerie Taylor were responsible for filming live sharks in Australia; their sequences were later mixed with footage of the mechanical shark.
Theatrical release: June 20, 1975.
The film was shot on location on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts.
Estimated budget: $12 million.
The film grossed more than $260 million at the domestic box office and nearly $475 million worldwide.
JAWS was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture and John Williams won an Oscar for his original score.
For the scene of Richard Dreyfuss fighting the shark from inside a cage, the crew used a very short stunt diver to make the shark seem abnormally large.
The famous shot of a head popping out of a hole in a sunken boat was shot in editor Verna Field's pool and was inserted by Spielberg after the film was completed.
JAWS is number 48 on the American Film Institute's list of America's 100 Greatest Movies.
One early title for the film was STILLNESS IN THE WATER.
The film was supported by an enormous public-relations campaign. According to Newsweek, "Like the novel, the movie was launched with an almost unprecedented promotional campaign, complete with cross-country tours by stars and $700,000 worth of prime-time TV time to trumpet the release in 450 theaters throughout the land." The film became the highest-grossing film of all time until STAR WARS surpassed it two years later. JAWS spawned three sequels: JAWS 2, JAWS 3-D, and JAWS 4--THE REVENGE, as well as countless imitators.
Jaws Quotes/Excerpts:
"You're gonna need a bigger boat."--Chief Brody (Roy Scheider, who ad-libbed the line) to Quint (Robert Shaw)
Jaws Reviews:
"...One of the most effective thrillers ever made....One of the remarkable things about the picture is its relatively muted tone..."
-- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
"...The phenomenon that invented 'the summer movie'..."
-- Mike Clark, USA Today
"...This fishy thriller is still Steven Spielberg's best movie..."
-- George Kiritopoulos, Total Film
"...It pretty much rewrote the rules for the modern-day blockbuster..."
-- Entertainment Weekly Staff, Entertainment Weekly
Jaws DVD (1975) Widescreen; Additional Footage; Soundtrack English; Soundtrack French; Soundtrack Spanish; English Subtitles; Spanish Subtitles; French Subtitles; DVD Included
Spielberg at his best Jaws has often been noted as the first Hollywood Blockbuster film and I agree completely. It is one of the highest box office films ever and the first and greatest shark movie of all time. I never thought watching a film about a man-eating shark would make me scared to go into the deep end of the beach. That's exactly what it has done. Spielberg juggles humour with suspense and plenty of scary scenes which make this film one of the most appreciated films ever made which can be enjoyed by the whole family. This film made Spielberg famous and revolutionised film into the adventure era where summer Blockbusters were becoming a big hit. Spielberg has directed some of the greatest films in history. Jurassic Park, E.T, Saving Private Ryan, A.I, still nothing comes close to this classic. This was and will always be his greatest film based on the simple fact of its tremendous contributions to cinema and the impact it has had on modern cinema and summer Blockbusters. It has also made the beach very popular with people playing shark games all the time. I highly advice this film for anybody who appreciates cinema. The music score alone is enough for you to want to buy this film. DA DUM DA DUM DA DUM. Submitted by Joey 34 (L.A California) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 2 of 2 found this helpful.
Classic There is no way this movie and classic can't be in the same sentence! The suspense in this movie is unreal, the music fits perfect will the attack scenes. Richard Dreyfuss, Roy Scheider and Robert Shaw all play great roles. Time after time, year after year this movie will never get old keeping you on the edge of your seat everytime you hear that music. One of the all time greatest movies ever made. Submitted by tharealest0431 (Greensburg, PA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
One of the greatest Jaws is one of the greatest films of all time. I consider this to be Steven Spielbergs greatest movie and the actors were truly great in this film. This film made huge money and is considered to be the greatest shark flick of all time. It will always remain that way. There have been so many shark movies which try to impersonate Jaws, such as all of its sequals, Deep Blue Sea, Open Water, still nothing comes close to the suspence and thrill of Jaws. OWN THIS DVD Submitted by Kenny (New York, New York) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
fascinating The characters were great,the shark was great.I've watched this movie dozens of times and I loved how the shark died at the end.Roy Schieder,
RobertShaw,and Richard Dreyfuss fascinated me with this movie,I
thank Steven Spielberg for this movie. Submitted by Landon (Morganfield,KY,U.S.A.) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
My second favorite movie. "Jaws" is my second favorite movie and it is one of the best movies of the 1970s. A police chief (Roy Scheider), a sailor (Robert Shaw), and a marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss) board on the Orca, which is a boat, to kill the giant great white shark, that has eaten people on the beach water in Amity Island. The fact is that this movie is rated PG. It should be rated PG-13, because it has violence and may not be appropriate for young ones to watch it. But, it is a cinematic masterpiece. I have this movie on DVD and I am glad to own it. Submitted by a reviewer (United States) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Region 1 Snap Case Single Side - Dual Layer Anamorphic Widescreen - 2.35 Letterbox - 2.35 Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 - English Subtitles - English - Optional Additional Release Material: Making Of Behind the Scenes Alternate Scenes: Deleted Scenes/Outtakes Trailers: Original Theatrical Trailer Parental Control Documentary: SHARK WORLD Interactive Features: Interactive Menus Trivia Game Text/Photo Galleries: Production Art Stills/Photos: Production Stills Publicity Storyboard DVD-ROM Features: Weblinks Screen Saver
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