IMDb > Jaws (1975)
Jaws
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Jaws (1975) -- When a gigantic great white shark begins to menace the small island community of Amity, a police chief, a marine scientist and grizzled fisherman set out to stop it.
Jaws (1975) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer (Flash)
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Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Steven Spielberg
Writers:
Peter Benchley (screenplay) and
Carl Gottlieb (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Jaws on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
20 June 1975 (USA) more
Genre:
Thriller more
Tagline:
The Nation's No.1 Best-Selling Book now the Screen's Super-Thriller more
Plot:
When a gigantic great white shark begins to menace the small island community of Amity, a police chief, a marine scientist and grizzled fisherman set out to stop it. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Won 3 Oscars. Another 9 wins & 13 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(178 articles)
How Paranormal Activity became a frightening success
 (From The Guardian - Film News. 20 November 2009, 4:10 PM, PST)
Boos! & Whoop-doos!: An Evil Bunny Trash Town Called Liquor!
 (From MovieWeb. 18 November 2009, 9:26 AM, PST)
User Comments:
Spielberg at the top of his game more (741 total)
US TV Schedule:
Mon. Nov. 307:30 AMHBO   

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Roy Scheider ... Brody
Robert Shaw ... Quint

Richard Dreyfuss ... Hooper
Lorraine Gary ... Ellen Brody
Murray Hamilton ... Vaughn

Carl Gottlieb ... Meadows
Jeffrey Kramer ... Hendricks (as Jeffrey C. Kramer)
Susan Backlinie ... Chrissie
Jonathan Filley ... Cassidy
Ted Grossman ... Estuary Victim
Chris Rebello ... Michael Brody
Jay Mello ... Sean Brody
Lee Fierro ... Mrs. Kintner
Jeffrey Voorhees ... Alex Kintner
Craig Kingsbury ... Ben Gardner
Dr. Robert Nevin ... Medical Examiner
Peter Benchley ... Interviewer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Chris Anastasio ... Out of Towner (uncredited)
John Bahr ... Beach Guitarist (uncredited)
Allison Caine ... Additional Voices (voice) (uncredited)
Robert Carroll ... Mr. Polk (uncredited)
Edward Chalmers Jr. ... Mr. Denherder (uncredited)
Robert Chambers ... Charlie (uncredited)
Denise Cheshire ... Swimming Chrissie, First Victim (uncredited)
Fritzi Jane Courtney ... Mrs. Taft (uncredited)
Cyprian R. Dube ... Mr. Posner (uncredited)
Paul Goulart ... Clarinet Player in Music Store (uncredited)
Mike Haydn ... Bonfire Guitarist (uncredited)
Duncan Inches ... Townsperson (uncredited)
Belle McDonald ... Mrs. Posner (uncredited)
Donald Poole ... Frank Silva, Harbor Master (uncredited)
Ayn Ruymen ... Nurse (uncredited)
Peggy Scott ... Polly (uncredited)

Steven Spielberg ... Amity Point Lifestation Worker (voice) (uncredited)
Alfred Wilde ... Harry Wiseman (uncredited)
Dick Young ... Pratt (uncredited)
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Directed by
Steven Spielberg 
 
Writing credits
Peter Benchley (screenplay) and
Carl Gottlieb (screenplay)

Peter Benchley (based upon the novel by)

John Milius  Indianapolis monologue (uncredited)
Howard Sackler  Indianapolis monologue (uncredited)
Robert Shaw  Indianapolis monologue (uncredited)

Produced by
David Brown .... producer
Richard D. Zanuck .... producer
 
Original Music by
John Williams 
 
Cinematography by
Bill Butler (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Verna Fields 
 
Production Design by
Joe Alves  (as Joseph Alves Jr.)
 
Set Decoration by
John M. Dwyer 
 
Makeup Department
Del Armstrong .... makeup artist (uncredited)
Verne Caruso .... hair stylist (uncredited)
Jim Gillespie .... makeup artist (uncredited)
 
Production Management
James Fargo .... unit production manager (as Jim Fargo)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Barbara Bass .... second assistant director
Tom Joyner .... first assistant director
Joe Alves .... second unit director (uncredited)
Verna Fields .... second unit director (uncredited)
 
Art Department
Thomas Wright .... production illustrator (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
John R. Carter .... sound
Robert L. Hoyt .... sound (as Robert Hoyt)
Gregory King .... sound re-recording mixer (25th anniversary release)
Norval D. Crutcher III .... sound effects editor (2000 restoration) (uncredited)
George Fredrick .... sound editor (uncredited)
Gary S. Gerlich .... sound supervisor (2000 restoration) (uncredited)
Walter A. Gest .... adr recordist (uncredited)
Roger Heman Jr. .... sound (uncredited)
William Hooper .... sound effects editor (2000 restoration) (uncredited)
Andy Koyama .... 2001 restoration sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Richard LeGrand Jr. .... supervising sound editor (2000 restoration) (uncredited)
Earl Madery .... sound (uncredited)
Colin C. Mouat .... sound editor (uncredited)
Patrick O'Sullivan .... sound editor (2000 restoration) (uncredited)
Walter Spencer .... dialog editor: restoration (uncredited)
Roger Sword .... sound editor (uncredited)
James Troutman .... sound editor (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Robert A. Mattey .... special effects
Kevin Pike .... special effects assistant
Roy Arbogast .... special mechanical effects (uncredited)
Richard S. Edwards .... explosive expert (uncredited)
Richard Stutsman .... special effects technician (uncredited)
Eddie Surkin .... special effects crew (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Richard E. Butler .... stunts (uncredited)
Howard Curtis .... stunts (uncredited)
Ted Grossman .... stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Frank James Sparks .... stunt double: Richard Dreyfuss (uncredited)
Fred Zendar .... stunts (uncredited)
Dick Ziker .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Chapman .... camera operator
Rexford L. Metz .... underwater photographer (as Rexford Metz)
Ron Taylor .... underwater photographer: live shark footage (as Ron)
Valerie Taylor .... underwater photographer: live shark footage
Vito Carenzo .... grip (uncredited)
James A. Contner .... assistant camera (uncredited)
Louis Goldman .... still photographer (uncredited)
Fred Schuler .... additional camera operator (uncredited)
Ronald Vidor .... underwater camera operator (uncredited)
Dennis Young .... underwater grip (uncredited)
Ron Zarilla .... assistant camera (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Shari Rhodes .... location casting
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Louise Clark .... wardrobe: women (uncredited)
Robert Ellsworth .... wardrobe: men (uncredited)
 
Editorial Department
William C. Carruth .... assistant editor (uncredited)
Jeff Gourson .... assistant film editor (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Bob Bain .... musician: guitar (uncredited)
Joseph Glassman .... music editor (uncredited)
Tommy Johnson .... musician: tuba soloist (uncredited)
Paul Kegg .... musician: cello (uncredited)
Steven Spielberg .... musician: clarinet in orchestra (uncredited)
John Williams .... conductor (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Charlsie Bryant .... script supervisor
William S. Gilmore .... production executive (as William S. Gilmore Jr.)
Fred Zendar .... technical advisor (as Manfred Zendar)
Al Ebner .... unit publicist (uncredited)
Rick Fields .... assistant: Mr. Spielberg (uncredited)
Ron Veto .... underwater diver (uncredited)
 
Thanks
Leonard J.V. Compagno .... the producers gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of: The Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University (as Mr. L.J.V. Compagno)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial EffectsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
124 min | USA:130 min (TV version)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Portugal:M/12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (1995) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Iceland:16 | Spain:T | USA:TV-14 | Brazil:14 | New Zealand:M | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Denmark:15 | France:-12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15 | Israel:PG | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 (video rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Sweden:15 | Taiwan:GP | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) | USA:PG (Certificate #24175) | West Germany:16 | Finland:K-16
Filming Locations:
American Legion Memorial Bridge, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, USA more
Company:
Zanuck/Brown Productions more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Voted #5 On Empire's 500 Greatest Movies Of All Time (September 2008) more
Goofs:
Factual errors: Great White Sharks cannot move backwards once their gills are under water, as seen towards the end of the film. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Tom Cassidy: What's your name again?
Christine 'Chrissie' Watkins: Chrissie.
Tom Cassidy: Where are we going?
Christine 'Chrissie' Watkins: Swimming
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (2003) more
Soundtrack:
Spanish Ladies more

FAQ

How does the movie end?
Does Chief Brody say "We're gonna need a bigger boat"?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
more

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
36 out of 57 people found the following comment useful.
Spielberg at the top of his game, 11 November 2003
10/10
Author: MF210 from Baltimore

My Rating: **** out of ****.

Steven Spielberg is one of the best American directors working today. He has made many films that have been hailed as classics. Yet before the Dinosaurs, Holocaust, Peter Pan, UFO's, and Indy there was the Shark. Jaws represents one of the masterpieces on Spielbergs resume. It is also probably the "Quintessential Spielberg Film."

Jaws was very popular when released, it was the gighest grossing film of 1975. It spawned three sequels, which were all inferior. In fact, no film about Sharks or any killer fish has been able to come close to the level of Jaws.

The genius in Jaws is its ability to build suspense. The Shark is never really shown till near the end of the film. When ever the Shark is approaching its victims, we get the Sharks point of view, instead of seeing the Shark. These POV shots combined with John Williams very effective score, make the scenes when the Shark is about to devour his victims much more effective.

Evry actor does a nice job with their performances. Roy Scheider brings Martin to life. Martin is not a showy character but Scheider is able to make us like him. Richard Dreyfuss exhibits energy in his performance as Matt Hooper. Robert Shaw is very effective as Quint, that Indiannapolis speech is still very chilling to me. Lorraine Gary and Murray Hamilton also give solid support.

People always talk about how fake the Shark looks. I think its passable but today it would definitely be done by CGI. However, the Shark is not seen that much in the film so its not that big of a deal.

I would like to say Jaws is Spielbergs best film, Schindlers List closely follows. But I would like to see Close Encouners and the Indiana Jones films again. I did not like Close Encounters the first time, and I like the Indiana Jones films but they never stood out to me. If these films dont surpass Jaws, then it is definitely Spielberg's best film.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Jaws (1975)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Mrs Kintner should have slapped the mayor too mc7791
Who was the original director? thrawn8614
The 'Things I've learned from watching Jaws' thread Miss-M
Rob Zombie should direct a remake of this... GreatWhiteApeofBarsoom
What was Quint Eating? terpsfan7649
Has anyone seen this in theaters? Reddragon840021
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