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Jaws (1975) directed by Steven Spielberg

CastRobert Shaw as Quint

Richard Dreyfuss as Matt HooperLorraine Gary as Ellen Brody

Murray Hamilton as Mayor Larry Vaughn

CrewDirector: Steven Spielberg

Producers: David Brown and Richard D. ZanuckWriters: Peter Benchley and Carl Gottlieb (screenplay)

and Peter Benchley (novel)Editor: Verna Fields

Director of Photography: Bill ButlerMusic: John Williams

Distribution/Studio Company: Universal PicturesMPAA Rating: PG

Running Time: 124 minutes

Background and Introduction to Jaws

The scariest horror films are ones that prey on realism, and the greatest disaster films are based on disasters that

occur frequently. Jaws combines both genres perfectly. We read about shark attacks nearly every summer, and be honest: How many of you have thought of an animal attack while on the beach or out in nature? This fear may have been instilled due to thrillers like Jaws.

Loosely based on the real life Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916, Jaws was written by Peter Benchley. After learning the true nature of sharks in wild life years later, Benchley said he would have never written the novel. After submitting a few failed adapted screenplays, Benchley bowed out of the project and playwright Howard Sackler polished the work as an uncredited writer. With the new script in tow, producers signed Spielberg to direct even though his first feature length film had been released. With one of the most recognizable musical scores in film history thanks to John Williams, who was also unknown at the time, Jaws became a landmark film in motion picture history. The film’s popularity catapulted Spielberg and Williams to stardom, and the duo continue to work together on future projects today.

Despite being plagued with an abundance of technical flaws in production, Jaws was tremendously successful both critically and commercially and it was the first film to coin the term “blockbuster,” for the film’s queue lines stretched (busted) beyond city blocks. It was also the first film to apply the concept of “wide release” (mass distribution across the nation at the same time) in its distribution pattern, which created the new paradigm of distributing and marketing major motion pictures simultaneously, a business practice which continues today.

Jaws and Star Wars are considered by film historians to have marked the beginning of the new business paradigm in American filmmaking, the beginning of the end of the New Hollywood period, the beginning of “high concept” films, and the beginning of movie studios distributing their big-release action and adventure pictures during the summer. Jaws revolutionized how future movies were made (especially films in the genres of adventure and horror), and it became the model for many movies to come.

Name: __________________________Period: ________ Date: _______________ Due: _______________

Comprehension Questions

Directions: Answer the following questions as you watch the film.

1. The opening scene is one of the most shocking scenes in cinema history. What cinematic techniques does Spielberg employ (e.g. music, color, texture, voice, and editing) to both prepare and shock us?

2. Police Chief Martin Brody is portrayed differently from some of the other authority figures we have seen in other movies this year. What differentiates this police officer from others we have seen?

3. Besides the shark, who is the antagonist? Why is this person an obstacle to the protagonist?

4. What fear does Chief Brody have to conquer in order to solve his central conflict?

5. Quint and Hooper compare scars to size up their masculinity. In doing so, they bond together. What about this act defines what it means to be a man to these men?

6. Quint’s recounting of the U.S.S. Indianapolis is true. Research it online. When you hear Quint recount this story, does your opinion of him change? Why or why not? Is he still a stereotypical fisherman, a revenge-seeking lunatic, or someone else? Explain.

7. Why does Quint break the radio, preventing them from being able to communicate with anyone?

8. Certainly, the central conflict of Jaws is man vs. nature. Explain how man vs. self and man vs. man are evident in this movie, too.

2.

Discussion Questions

Directions: Answer the following questions after you watch the film. We’ll discuss them in a seminar.

1. One of the themes of Jaws is “Materialistic consumption (i.e. money) shouldn’t drive one’s life." Explain how the people of Amity Island forget that money isn’t everything.

How is Quint a stereotype of a fisherman? What characteristics does he possess that showcase this stereotype?

3. Jaws' musical score, written by John Williams, is one of the most famous scores of cinema history. How does Horner adjust the pitch, volume, and tempo of the score to the suspense of the film?

4. Jaws is the first film we’ve seen that can be considered a “creature feature.” Creature features are movies that feature monsters or aliens that terrorize a group of people. Typically, monsters are a manifestation of our inner fears. What fears does Jaws manifest? Why?

5. Roughly, Spielberg shot twenty-five percent of the film from water level to provide the viewers the perspective as if they were treading water. What is the effect of these shots on you? Are there other shots that Spielberg employs that heighten the suspense?

Genre Study

Jaws is a film in the genre of horror thriller. Look at the definitions of both genres by themselves and then the hybrid definition of both genres, which is provided by Wikipedia.

Horror films are movies that strive to elicit responses of fear, horror and terror from viewers. Their plots frequently involve themes of the supernatural. Horror movies also usually include a central villain.

Thrillers are characterized by fast pacing, frequent action, and resourceful heroes who must thwart the plans of more-powerful and better-equipped villains. Literary devices such as suspense, red herrings and cliffhangers are used extensively.

In horror thrillers, conflict between the main characters is mental, emotional, and physical. What sets the horror thriller apart is the main element of fear throughout the story. The main character(s) is not only up against a superior force, but they are or will soon become the victims themselves and directly feel the fear that comes by attracting the monster's attention. Other well-known examples are Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, Thomas Harris' The Silence of the Lambs, Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later, or any of the Saw films.

Directions: Answer the following questions of genre study based on your viewing of Jaws.

1. What are some of the conventions (widely used and accepted devices, practices, or techniques) of horror thrillers that Jaws exemplifies in style, subject matter, and values?

a. What conventions of style in fantasy films does Jaws exhibit? For example, what techniques (e.g. camera shots or camera movement) does Jaws use? Look closely at the scenes where the shark attacks.

b. What conventions of subject matter in horror thrillers does Jaws exhibit?

c. What conventions of values in horror thrillers does Jaws exhibit? What lessons does Jaws teach or what behaviors does the film approve?

2. Horror thrillers have been criticized for graphic violence and dismissed as low budget B-movies and exploitation films. Is Jaws such a film? Make an argument criticizing or defending Jaws.

3. A red herring is a narrative element intended to distract the reader from a more important event in the plot, usually a twist ending. In film, the red herring element is usually conveyed visually. When is a red herring used in Jaws?

A study in character development and all sorts of other cool literary devices!

#1) As you watch this movie, pay attention to the development of the 3 major characters. I have given you a description of each, give details and examples from the movie that help to develop these characters.

BRODY

A quiet and brooding man with a strong set of morals – a sense of right and wrong.

A man who is haunted by his own fears, and by his own conscience.

Under the surface, he is more loving and caring than he might appear.

*He is definitely the “outsider” – in both the town,

and with his 2 shipmates.

details & examples from the movie about Brody

MATT HOOPER

A conscientious and dedicated scientist. Some might call him a little obsessive when it comes to sharks.

He comes from a family with a lot of money. But is he spoiled?

He is keenly interested in technology.

He has more in common with Quint than he does with Brody.

details & examples from the movie about Matt

QUINT

A man with many demons that haunt him. He is also a bit of an outsider in the town. He is very much a loner,

preferring his own company to that of others.

He has been referred to as a little “nutty.” Has a sense of humor – but

often at other people’s expense.

details & examples from the movie about Quint

#2) Use of foreshadowing.There are many examples of foreshadowing in this movie. List as many as you see. Some are ‘visual”, but not all!

#3) Symbolism.

a) What do the yellow barrels symbolize? *hint, they symbolize different things at different times….

b) What does the shark symbolize for Quint?

c) What does Hooper’s “lack of spit” near the end of the movie symbolize?

#4) The movie creates different moods at different times. Remember that “mood” applies to the emotion that YOU feel, not those of the characters.

a) What is the mood created when the girl is swimming?

b) How is this mood created?

c) There are two different moods (almost like they are layered) during the scene where Brody’s family is relaxing on the beach. Explain each mood and how each is created.

1.

2.

#5) There are a couple of flat stereotypical characters in this story. One of them is Mayor Vaughn. What kind of stereotype is he – support this with details from the movie.

#6) There is a very obvious form of “irony” in the movie – it has to do with the reasons that Brody moved his family to Amity in the first place.Explain.

#7) There are two MAIN “physical” settings in this movie. Describe each – and try to explain how each of the settings is very important to the “Mood” of the story.

1-

Important to mood:

2-

Important to mood:

#8) Why is the time of year or season (also a part of setting) important in this story?

#9) There is one major “flashback” that occurs. a) Briefly describe it.

b) How does this flashback contribute to the character development of Quint, and what makes this flashback so important to the plot

#9) Give 2 possible “themes” in this movie. Express each theme in one sentence.

Theme 1:

Theme 2:

•Action • Adventure • Animation (American anime, computer animation) • Avant-garde • Biographical • Children • Comedy • Crime • Disaster • Documentary • Drama • Economics • Epic • Exploitation • Fantasy • Heist • Horror  • Independent short • Mockumentary • Musical • Mystery • Religious • Romance • Science fiction • Snuff • Sports • Superhero • Thriller • War • Western (Spaghetti Western)

#10) In which “genre” would you most likely categorize this movie? Why?

#11) Answer 1 of the following questions in at least 3 paragraphs.

A) Once the mayor convinces 1 family to get in the water, everyone feels safe to get in. What message does this end about group logic? What are of some other examples when this happens?

B) When there is believed to be a shark in the water everyone rushes out trampling others, only concerned for their own safety. What message does this send about fear? What are of some other examples when this happens?

C) Should the mayor be considered a villain? Why or why not?