Jaws
A classic thriller about a giant great white shark terrorising a beach community. A sheriff, a biologist, and a rugged seafarer join forces to stop the monster.
To mark its 50th anniversary, the blockbuster of all blockbusters returns to cinemas this summer. There’s little left to add about the plot of Jaws beyond the brief summary above. The film catapulted then 26-year-old director Steven Spielberg’s career into overdrive – even though he initially tried to back out of the project. Spielberg feared he would never be taken seriously again after making what he himself called a ‘straightforward popcorn movie’. On top of that, the budget spiralled wildly out of control, partly because the specially designed mechanical sharks rarely functionied properly. Add to that the on-set tensions between the notoriously drunk macho shark hunter Robert Shaw and biologist Richard Dreyfuss, and it’s clear the production was anything but smooth sailing.
Yet the final result exceeded all expectations. Jaws smashed box office records and proved Spielberg to be a master storyteller of Hitchcockian stature. At the same time, it radically altered the public image of sharks worldwide – something the director has since expressed deep regret over. The film also sparked ongoing debate about its underlying themes. Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro viewed it as a Marxist parable, pointing to the mayor of Martha’s Vineyard who initially prioritises economic interests over public safety. Professor of women’s studies Jane Caputi considered the film deeply misogynistic. And then there’s the theory that Jaws symbolises divine retribution for America’s dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Spielberg himself dismissed such interpretations: ‘It’s a film about a shark.’ (jc)