As “Jaws” celebrates its 50th anniversary, Hollywood has united to applaud Steven Spielberg’s revolutionary film. Movies like “Jaws” are often described as a B-movie made with A-level talent. Since its debut back in 1975, it has created an indelible mark on movie history. Yet the movie is proudly packed with a screenplay full of promise. Robert Shaw was the original composer, and the combination of that ruggedness and savagery was exactly what the film needed.
Our beloved shark, affectionately dubbed Bruce, rises to the occasion as the film’s biggest star. Spielberg’s masterful direction transformed what could have been a simplistic monster flick into a gripping tale of survival and human fear. It’s John Williams’ haunting score, only the second he ever created for a feature film, that truly ratchets up the horror lurking in the story.
The iconic score includes the now instantly recognizable da-dum… da-dum… theme that signals to us all that danger is close at hand. Composer Hans Zimmer recently noted the brilliance of this musical motif, stating, “These two notes, E and F, are so close together, they sort of clash.” This deceptively simple but masterful arrangement lays the groundwork for powerful audience responses. It raises the stakes in terms of suspense for the entire film.
Director Leigh Whannell, who looked to “Jaws” as a guide while making “The Invisible Man,” lauded the film’s direction. He went on to detail why Spielberg’s approach to family dramas was nothing short of masterful, nailing that undefinable quality that knows no genre. Whannell’s heartfelt gratitude is just further proof that “Jaws” is still haunting filmmakers of all ages.
Screenwriter David Koepp, who had just worked with Spielberg on “Jurassic Park,” had the same faith in the screenplay’s magic. He reflected on how Shaw’s pen had all but written the script for a story that has stretched the test of time for over 56 years. That depth gave freedom to actors to bring nuance to performances that made them relatable and iconic.
In memoriam to late actor Roy Scheider’s interpretation of Chief Brody, Simon Pegg honored him. He explained how this performance really added to the film’s accessibility. Pegg went on to discuss how Scheider’s everyman performance truly embodied the role of an everyman hero. This depiction helped make him human and very much unlike previous superhero archetypes.
“The reason that scene is so important and works so well is because your imagination takes over, but you need a really good actor to pull it off,” – John Milius