“Here’s to Swimmin’ With Bow-Legged Women…” – Captain Quint

In the summer of 1975, a ferocious great white shark swam into cinemas and, by extension, cinematic history, as Jaws, directed by a then-relatively unknown Steven Spielberg, didn’t just terrify cinemagoers; it changed the film industry forever in more ways than one.

Now, decades on, amid its 50th anniversary, it’s hard to imagine a world without it, not simply because of John Williams’ iconic original score or the unforgettable characters, but because Jaws was essentially the first summer blockbuster. Before the film’s release, summer wasn’t considered prime time for big-budget releases, but rather a dumping ground for lower-tier films. Nevertheless, Universal Pictures took a gamble with Spielberg’s shark-centric cliffhanger. This gamble paid off in a big way when Jaws hit cinemas on June 20th, 1975, instantly becoming a box office phenomenon, grossing over $470 million worldwide, equivalent to around £1.8 billion today when adjusted for inflation. It became, for a time, the highest-grossing film ever made until the then-titled sci-fi blockbuster Star Wars arrived in 1977. Still, half a century on, Jaws certainly hasn’t lost its bite.

Beginning life as a relatively short yet commercially successful novel, written by the late American writer Peter Benchley and published by Doubleday in 1974, Jaws recounts the story of an enormous great white shark preying upon the fictional coastal town of Amity, a tourist hotspot located on the south shore of Long Island, halfway between Bridgehampton and East Hampton, prompting a local police chief, a marine biologist, and a crusty fisherman to track it down. The novel grew out of Benchley’s increasing interest in shark attacks after he read about the exploits of Frank Mundus, an author and shark angler-turned-conservationist from Montauk, New York, thought to be the inspiration for the character of Captain Quint.

Although the adaptation wasn’t particularly faithful to his best-selling novel, as it streamlines the plot, focuses more on the hunt for the shark, and significantly alters some characters and subplots, Benchley’s mixed feelings towards the film were not a result of this. Instead, while he acknowledged the film’s success and massive influence on pop culture, he also expressed some regret for the portrayal of sharks his work had brought about, specifically the exaggerated depiction of them as purely murderous beasts, as Benchley was, in actuality, a passionate advocate for shark conservation and ocean preservation, co-founding the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards, which honours individuals and organisations making substantial contributions to marine conservation.

While the premise of Jaws is simple yet compelling, what truly turned the story into something extraordinary was Spielberg’s guidance. Ironically, one of the most influential choices he made during production came out of pure necessity, as the animatronic shark, nicknamed; “Bruce,” after Spielberg’s attorney, continually malfunctioned on set, leading the aquatic killer to be absent from many scenes. As a result, rather than relying on the animatronic, Spielberg employed suggestion, sound design, and innovative cinematography to build tension, often placing the audience in the position of the shark through filmmaking techniques, such as submerged P.O.V. shots. However, Jaws is, of course, best known for its brilliant two-note theme by legendary composer John Williams, a nerve-wracking piece now etched into pop culture and instantly recognisable to most. Much like the shark itself, Williams’ score functions as an ominous, underlying presence for the majority of the film’s runtime, audibly characterising the ocean as a place of dread where any ripple could spell doom, serving as a stark contrast to Amity’s amiable summer spirit. Through these aspects and others, Jaws demonstrated the power of suggestion over spectacle, a quality that even modern blockbusters haven’t quite recaptured despite their access to contemporary visual effects.

What gives Jaws its staying power isn’t just its clever filmmaking; it’s also its characters, as the late Roy Scheider portrays Police Chief Brody as the perfect everyman, caught between his fear of the ocean and his responsibility to protect his town and its residents, whilst Richard Dreyfuss brings humour and intelligence to the film as the marine biologist and oceanographer Matt Hooper. However, the late Robert Shaw’s Captain Quint is perhaps the most widely admired of the trio, harbouring many memorable moments, including the celebrated scene where he chillingly recounts his ventures during World War II and the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis, the ship he was aboard. Together, the three form a triad that grounds the story in real, human stakes, their boat-bound journey to pursue the shark forcing the characters to face their fears, confront their trauma, and earn each other’s respect. That is, before the film shifts back to nail-biting suspense for its final explosive moments, where the shark is blown to bits in spectacular fashion, thanks to the oxygen tank lodged in its teeth.

In the decades since its release, Jaws has left an enormous wake, with the film frequently being cited for reshaping the public perception of sharks (for better and for worse), causing shark phobia to rise amongst the general populace as U.S. beach attendance rapidly declined. Then, there’s the pop culture impact, where it’s difficult to overstate just how deeply Jaws burrowed into the cultural imagination, with the previously mentioned score by John Williams becoming a musical shorthand for looming danger in almost all media, getting utilised, spoofed and referenced in everything from The Simpsons to Finding Nemo (2003). Moreover, in addition to spawning multiple sequels (of varying quality), revolutionising how films were marketed, and turning Steven Spielberg into one of the most influential filmmakers of all time, Jaws bears one of the most well-known posters in cinematic history, with the image of the shark ominously approaching a swimming woman becoming almost iconic as the film itself, likely peddling countless copies to avid cinephiles, alongside the rest of the film’s varied merchandise, i.e. t-shirts, comic books, toys, video games, records, mugs and even inflatable sharks.

This legacy even led to a handful of real-world experiences, as Universal Pictures took it upon themselves to let fans step into the world of Jaws, bringing the film to life via attractions at many of their renowned theme parks worldwide, starting with an attraction at Universal Studios Florida in 1990. This attraction allowed guests to board a tour boat through Amity, only to be ‘attacked’ by a massive, animatronic shark rising from the water, complete with fire effects, water splashes and close calls. Although the attraction did close in 2012 to make space for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley, an immersive area based on the Harry Potter franchise, the Jaws attraction was immensely popular and beloved even after its many years of operation.

In summary, it’s incredibly impressive that exactly fifty years later, Jaws still thrives, not only as a film, but as a piece of widespread pop culture, with even those who haven’t watched the classic blockbuster being well aware of its existence. Jaws remains unnerving, thrilling, and strangely beautiful in its pacing and simplicity, standing as an iconic flick you can watch today and feel that same sense of creeping dread audiences felt in 1975, declaring the film a strong testament to storytelling, craftsmanship and the belief that sometimes, what you don’t see is what stays with you the longest. Consequently, however, all these years later, the water doesn’t feel all that safe…