Awarded the position of second most thrilling movie of all-time, (in AFI's 100 Years. . . 100 Thrills) and causing fear and panic to cover beaches world wide, Jaws is considered to be the start of the 'summer blockbuster' trend. It's success over the $100 million mark, in addition to the 3 Oscar wins and a 'Best Picture' nomination, caused Universal to create 3 [really, really bad] sequels. Of course, there are many things that attribute this film to fame; the novel it is based on (see PART II), the acting, the special effects, but mostly the fear that was created by director Steven Spielberg. Although the line between movie and film is very thin, especially for Jaws, Spielberg just makes the mark of film for this thriller. (Interestingly enough, composer John Williams is the only person who worked on Jaws and refers to it as a film.) While movies generally are made for only entertainment (or money), films usually have deeper meanings behind them, and are filled with hidden messages. Jaws may not have many, but the ones it does have takes a 'bite out of you'.
The friendly island of Amity is home to gorgeous beaches, filled with sand, water, and something much worse then tourists. A deadly 25 foot Great White Shark has infested the waters around Amity, risking the oncoming summer tourist season. Since the town is so small, it depends on the money raked in during this time to ensure it's survival in the winter. However, with one death already caused by this Leviathan, the town becomes threatened, and Chief Brody (Roy Scheider), the protagonist, becomes pressured on what to do. Unable to close the beaches due to the necessary income, the beaches remain open . . . causing the second and third deaths.
Alex Kintner (Jeffrey Voorhees), the second victim of this Great White, is the start of the great panic that attracts people from all over. The Kintner mother offers a reward of $3000 to whoever can slay the monster; and this is when the real feeding frenzy begins. Guns, chum, and loud insults fly across boat to boat, resulting in the shark's third meal. Now serious, the town of Amity hires local shark hunter, Quint (just Quint) (Robert Shaw), to destroy the monster and save the beaches. Along for the boat ride is Chief Brody and Marine Biologist Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss). The difference in opinions cause great animosity between the characters (fueled by the real hatred of the actors), and the fear spread around by Spielberg reels the audience into a film they cannot escape.
While the special effects in Jaws are hailed for being incredible (for its time), the real fear is brought out from the magnificence of John Williams' music. Universal executives highly criticized the film when first viewing it without the soundtrack. After 'much improvement' (the addition of non-diegetic sound), Universal hailed this film as a great work of art. Even years later, the famous two note tune creates a sense of fear whenever heard. The theme from Jaws has become a metonymy for a giant shark, which itself has become a metonymy for fear. Indeed, this can be proven through many instances in the film. Whenever the shark is present, John Williams' famous soundtrack can be heard. (Which become very useful, for the shark often broke. Realizing that a mechanical shark cannot be always used, Spielberg replaced the sight of a shark with the sound of one.) During the fourth of July, a few boys play a practical joke by using a cardboard cutout in the shape of a dorsal fin to spread panic. It is obviously a fake for the lack of a critical thing; a theme song. The awkwardness caused by the lack of a fear inducing song gives audiences the foreboding feeling that this is not real. However, when the real shark appears, the familiar song returns, fear returns to the audience, revealing the fourth death of the Great White.
Another aspect that causes fear in Jaws is the non-sight of the shark. While completely accidental, Spielberg often uses metonymys to represent the shark. (Remember, the shark often broke) Everything from barrels to even the point of view of the shark itself creates the illusion that a 25 foot eating machine is somewhere beneath the water. The fear is greatly enhanced from this, especially when viewing the shark for the first time. Failing to show the monster for the entire first half of the film, the audience (literally) jumps when the shark jumps at them. If all went according to plan, Spielberg has been quoted saying that the film would be "cheesy".
Spielberg has often been quoted in saying that his greatest fear was that a sight of land would be caught by the camera. This is a stroke of genius, for the audience feels safe, near home, when the shore is seen. This is what made Martha's Vineyard, the filming location, such a pristine place to create Jaws. 12 miles away from shore, the sandy bottom of the ocean lied only 30 feet away. This gave the filming crew an opportunity to film far from shore, while able to use the mechanical shark on the ocean floor.
While fear is the aspect that drove this film to fame, its themes are what drove it to the title of film. Chief Brody is obsessed with saving people. When the entire town is bent towards keeping the beaches (the buffet) open, Brody is fighting to close them. The town thinks only of money, of the income that the beaches will rake in. However, Brody is interested in the lives of the people, and eventually becomes the one to destroy the king of sharks. Spielberg, realizing this, added more to Brody's character in his film. Before the three fishermen discover the shark for the first time, Brody is practicing a knot called the bowline. While having many uses, the bowline creates a strong loop, that will never slip; a very useful characteristic for lifelines. Spielberg, with his Eagle Scout knowledge, causes Brody to tie this knot in order to practice his 'saving skills'.
Another theme addressed in this film is what humans innately do during a crisis. Many of the citizens of Amity worry of the insignificant things, like money. No one cares that lives are at risk, as long as 'public opinion' remains beneficial. Few people (in fact, only Brody) are shown to care about the people of Amity, and Brody is listened to four people too late.
Jaws, the box office hit based on the best selling novel (see PART II), is a film that will be remembered for all time. The amazing fear created is the main reason that this film was so successful. To back up the fear it created, Spielberg used techniques such as wonderful themes and an amazing composer to ensure this film will be a masterpiece forever.
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