The Jaws Thread

[Mel O'Drama]

This week marks the 40th Anniversary of Jaws 2, which opened in cinemas on 16th June 1978...

Which means this year is the 45th Anniversary. How time flies.

I commemorated the occasion by watching this series of 45th Anniversary interviews with many of those involved including both directors, Joe Alves, Jeffrey Kramer and most of the kids. It's good to get some more details and memories from them, and to see how fondly they view that time.

It's especially gratifying to know that they're still all good friends and to hear about their recent impromptu reunion at a restaurant, attended by even Lorraine Gary and Sid Sheinberg. With this in mind, it's a bit of a a shame that the virtual interviews couldn't have been a group one (or a series of smaller groups) as I'd dearly love to see them interact with one another.

Over the last couple of evenings I also watched the film itself and the bog standard Making Of that appears on the same disc (both of which, of course, I've watched countless times.

Well, last night I did it and dived into Jaws 2 for the first time in at least three years. It could be as long as four or five years!!

Gosh - was it really only last year I last watched? This perhaps helps explain why this weekend's viewing felt particularly underwhelming.



Many of my views from recent rewatches still stand. In lieu of repeating myself I'll simply quote myself and say that most of these statements went double for me this time round:

Believe it or not, Jaws 2 is the sequel that disappoints me most on rewatches, because unlike the third and fourth it's the one that could have been great if it hadn't taken so many wrong turns (don't get me started on Scarface The Shark ).

Jaws 2, for me, is really about a potential that's never quite met. It's really strong in places and it could have been the film I used to think it was when I was younger (if that makes any sense).

the only remaining Hancock shot in the film (the boats moving in the harbour at night and the shark fin appearing) looked absolutely stunning with its blue filtered hue. I think his version of Jaws 2 would have been a fantastic looking film.

Watching The Making Of..., I felt annoyance watching David Brown saying how "ill-equipped" Hancock was for this film and how he "left" the film as though he'd bailed instead of being sacked.

after it was retooled the story ended up a retread of the first film, hitting many of the same beats as Jaws.

Apart from feeling at times like a remake, it's also less plausible that Larry Vaughn and the townspeople would be so quick to dismiss Martin's claims this time, and that Martin would end up mano a mano with a Great White for a second time.

I also think the shark looks worse with its burns and scars and huge underbite, which is made worse because it's shown far too much.

Another problem I have with The Making Of is that it highlights the worst parts of the film - showing the shark a lot; giving the shark a villainous scar; putting a saddle on the shark to shoot the POV shots; the shark outrunning the speeding waterskier; that laughable moment where the fake shark smacks into the boat and its mouth bends, showing off the hydraulic machinery inside - and attempts to spin them as golden assets that made this a great film.

Jackie has to be the most annoying character in the whole franchise. The screaming. The histrionics. Last night, chants of "Feed her to the shark! Feed her to the shark!" could be heard from the O'Drama sofa (to no avail, sadly).

Well, last night it was amended to "Eat her up! Eat her up!", but the sentiment was still there.

It struck me, too, that most of the kids overacted when it came to the final act. All the shark had to do was wave a friendly fin from a mile away, and they were "Oh my Gaaaard"ing and screaming like nobody's business.

This was the biggest struggle for me last night. The way the kids went from 0-100 at the drop of a hat really pulled the film down. Due to this, it peaked too soon and had nowhere to go. And the bloody screaming is beyond irritating. The older I get, the less tolerance I have for it. Give me the first film's quiet desperation any day!

That said, I found the young ensemble surprisingly engaging in the first part of the film. Keith Gordon and G. Thomas Dunlop seem to get better each time I watch. Gary Springer, too, is very engaging, as is Billy van Zandt. Even characters who usually feel more peripheral, such as Patrick, Brooke and Lucy really worked for me.

Watching the 2023 interviews with the cast helped a little.


All the same, last night felt like a reinforcement that - for me at least - the concept of Jaws 2 is far superior to the film, and my disappointment in it deepens with each rewatch. I feel fairly certain I won't watch the film again until the 50th anniversary. And then I'll probably dislike it even more.

The Hank Searls novel and the Marvel Super Special (both based on the John Hancock version of the film) are both absolutely wonderful. While we'll almost certainly never see John Hancock's Jaws 2 as filmed back in 1977, I'm now wondering if some kind of animated version based on the original screenplay could bring it to life. Perhaps paired with a similar project based upon Benchley's Jaws book. Well, I can dream... In the meantime, I think I may dig out that Marvel Super Special and dive in.

 

[Richard Channing]

I've been enjoying a few of this guys videos recently (Alien, Bond, Terminator) and they are always well researched, exhaustive and fun. This one is no exception.

 

[Crimson]

Not directly connected to JAWS, but I started the summer reading the novel SILENT CAME THE MONSTER. This is a (not very) fictionalized account of the Jersey shore shark attacks of 1916 -- which, in turn, were the inspiration for the novel JAWS. The book reads like an unofficial prequel to the most famous shark story. One of the problems with the sequels -- and, indeed, all subsequent shark attack films -- is that JAWS covered all the bases. What else is left, other than repetition? I thought the novel had some nice angles to the tale, most notably that it was set at a time when sharks were barely understood.

I live about an hour from where those 1916 shark attacks occurred and there were several great white sightings and a few minor shark attacks this year along the coast. None of this stopped me from going into the ocean a lot this year, but I had the JAWS theme in my head the entire time.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I started the summer reading the novel SILENT CAME THE MONSTER. This is a (not very) fictionalized account of the Jersey shore shark attacks of 1916

I'm really glad you've mentioned this because I had no idea there was a new book on this subject.

I've read Close To Shore and Twelve Days Of Terror many times each. The former book is probably similar to Silent Came The Monster: a linear telling of the events with some filling in of gaps here and there. It paints a very vivid picture of the time and place (with the war, the polio epidemic, etc.) as well as describing the events clearly. Twelve Days Of Terror is a truly fascinating read as it goes into much more analysis and forensic stuff, as well as diverging to discuss other similar series of shark attacks.

I'm sure I could be persuaded to read a fictionalised version. That said, I struggled with the 12 Days Of Terror film with its addition of the fictitious characters, so I couldn't guarantee I'd love it.

I thought the novel had some nice angles to the tale, most notably that it was set at a time when sharks were barely understood.

Yes, it's quite mind-boggling to think that experts were reassuring people that sharks' jaws were too weak to bite a person, while the general public were believing the attacks to be a large cod (or something like that). People didn't even know whether or not a shark bite would contain venom, so there were all these myths floating about. These events really brought the idea of shark attacks into the public consciousness.

I live about an hour from where those 1916 shark attacks occurred and there were several great white sightings and a few minor shark attacks this year along the coast. None of this stopped me from going into the ocean a lot this year, but I had the JAWS theme in my head the entire time.

I can relate. We don't really have any dangerous shark species on British coastlines (though with climate change influencing water temperatures and making marine animal migration far less predictable this could be changing) but it's still something that crosses my mind whenever I enter the ocean.

 

[Crimson]

it's still something that crosses my mind whenever I enter the ocean

After seeing JAWS (probably 2) as a kid, I recall being afraid to jump into a lake. Silly kid stuff -- except now I know many of those 1916 shark attacks happened in inland rivers. My irrational childhood fears weren't quite entirely irrational.

Many of the beach towns along the coast here have free movie nights on the beach. JAWS was one of them this year. Needless to say, I couldn't bring myself to go for a moonlight dip after watching it.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

After seeing JAWS (probably 2) as a kid, I recall being afraid to jump into a lake. Silly kid stuff -- except now I know many of those 1916 shark attacks happened in inland rivers. My irrational childhood fears weren't quite entirely irrational.

Yes. I had such an overactive imagination as a kid that I'm glad I didn't know this. Especially as I lived around 150 yards from a river.

The Matawan Creek attack on Lester Stillwell - and the man who tried to recover his body from the shark - was particularly chilling because it seemed so far removed from the other attacks on the ocean, and (from images and maps, at least) it looks as though the route inland is particularly tortuous, so it all seemed improbable.

Bull Sharks can live in in both salt and fresh water, and there are varieties that live exclusively in fresh water rivers, which is the reason there are still serious and fatal inland river attacks. Some theorise that the Bull Shark is the most likely suspect for this particular attack, although many also feel it's the same juvenile Great White that was later caught in Raritan Bay with human flesh inside. Twelve Days Of Terror recognises this as a strong possibility, while Close To Shore outright identifies the shark in all attacks as the same young Great White.

I'm already curious about which approach Silent Came The Monster takes regarding the species and number of animals involved in the attacks. Since the lone shark theory probably makes for the more dramatically satisfying story, I'd guess this might be the preferred version for a fictionalised account (and it could well be true anyway).

Many of the beach towns along the coast here have free movie nights on the beach. JAWS was one of them this year.

What a great experience.

 

[Willie Oleson]

We don't really have any dangerous shark species on British coastlines (though with climate change influencing water temperatures and making marine animal migration far less predictable this could be changing) but it's still something that crosses my mind whenever I enter the ocean

Would you dare to swim in the Loch Ness Lake?

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Would you dare to swim in the Loch Ness Lake?

I think my biggest worry there would be frostbite. Or - since I can barely swim a stroke - drowning.

If there's a shallow end and someone can heat it up for me, I'd probably give it a go.

 

[Willie Oleson]

You live on an island but you can't swim? What a most edgy situation.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

You live on an island but you can't swim?

"It's only an island if you look at it from the water."
Chief Martin Brody

 

[Willie Oleson]

 

[Crimson]

"It's only an island if you look at it from the water."
Chief Martin Brody

Perhaps the most perfectly appropriate comeback I've seen. You win the internet.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

John Hancock's Jaws 2 remains one of the most fascinating pieces of filmmaking lore to me.

Here's a meaty interview from this year in which Hancock himself delves into it, discussing the bureaucratic minefield, the backstabbing and the no-win situation in which he found himself, with some problems dating back to before the first film with Lorraine Gary's casting:

He seems like a nice guy, and there's a nice little exchange towards the end where he seems genuinely interested to know what the interviewer does with all the Blu-rays and books in the background, then they begin discussing his other work.




What led me to the interview was the inclusion of a few snippets in this new video which covers Hancock's Jaws 2, and breaks down the story and the politics behind the making of the film:

There are definite themes of ambitious people with agendas, and of people in power using it for personal gain. Depending how much is to be believed this could affect one's affection for some of the people involved. It has helped, though, that Hancock said he is still Facebook friends with Lorraine.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

The buzz around the 50th Anniversary seems fairly low key, but there are a few things bubbling away.

There's various merchandise, some of which seems a bit tacky, such as water bottles and cross-body bags. Some is great fun, though, like the Lego set which I've had a go at building myself.

The remaining Bruce is to be on display at one of the Universal parks.

Empire has given the anniversary its own cover, one a production photo of Spielberg getting ready to shoot Bruce and the other this atmospheric painting:

Then there's the film itself. It's back in cinemas from August, which seems quite late in the year to me, since Amity is a summer town that needs summer dollars. I don't know if it will also show up on British shores, but I feel I've ticked that box anyway.

There's also a new 4K Blu-ray release.

The internet seems to be up in arms over the busy cover. I kind of like it, as it reminds me of the art that accompanied the Reader's Digest adaption of the Jaws novel, but I think it would look better without Roger Kastel's iconic shark image forming part of the group (sacrilege, I know, but perhaps the cast painting could appear on the back cover). It's certainly an improvement over the recent badly-painted sequel steelbooks from the POV of inside the shark's mouth.

The last Jaws Blu-rays I bought were in 2012 (a Nordic steelbook and a "book" type edition). Before that it was the 30th and 25th Anniversary DVDs. Since the 50th release has a new 90 minute documentary and I don't already own the 4K version I took the plunge. I think this will mark my first 4K Blu-ray of any film, which is fitting, since Jaws was also the first Blu-ray I bought, and before that, my very first DVD, back in 2000.

It's still fairly early in the year, so perhaps there'll be one or two more special announcements along the way.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

No news here, really. Nothing we didn't already know. Still, it's very nice to see the half century getting a little media coverage:

 

[Mel O'Drama]

A couple of days ago, someone - who knows I love all things Jaws - showed me something found on social media about a digital soundtrack. I was completely underwhelmed. Firstly, I didn't care for the artwork (the red Jaws logo over a background of choppy water). Secondly, I don't do digital. Thirdly - and most importantly - I have the 40th Anniversary Intrada soundtrack which is pretty definitive.

Then soundtrack album producer Mike Matessino made this post on the FSM board:

https://jaws50music.com has been launched, which is a landing page and portal for all of the 50th anniversary JAWS soundtrack releases. (Some may recall something similar for the Back to the Future releases ten years ago.)

As most of you know, there are TWO recordings of John Williams’ indelible music for Steven Spielberg’s classic… the Academy Award-winning “Original Motion Picture Score,” coming from Back Lot Music and Universal Studios, and the separately made album recording: the GRAMMY-winning “Music From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack,” coming from Universal Music Enterprises and Geffen Records/Interscope.

It was my privilege to undertake the restoration, remixing and remastering of both recordings.

YES, the first generation multi-track of the album recording was located.
YES, there will be a “Special Edition” CD release from Intrada coming soon that will present both recordings and feature previously unreleased tracks.

More news and updates to come.

Truth to tell, I've been very happy with the sound quality of the 2015 album, but the information here suggests the 2025 restoration will sound even better. The four previously unreleased tracks are exciting as well. One appears to be an alternative take of The Pier Incident, but who knows what the others will be. 2015 brought The Typewriter and four Amity Band tracks. I'm not expecting anything anything on this level for the new album but... newly unearthed Jaws music is newly unearthed Jaws music.

Some of the new digital and vinyl stuff is out now (as in the link mentioned in the quote above), but the CD seems to be still some months away. I'm sure it'll be worth waiting for.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

The original summer blockbuster is half a century old today!

​

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Last night I watched Jaws for the first time since 2022. Before that was 2020, and up to that point I'd watched annually for as long as I can remember. This is the longest I believe I've gone between Jaws viewings since home media came into my life in the Eighties.

It's a little sad that the film is no longer an annual event for me. I put this down to watching YouTube reaction videos (which I know is a very twelve-year-old girl thing to do), so this year I've deliberately avoided Jaws reactions until after I'd watched the film itself.

Technically I'm watching around a week early, since I generally favour viewing the film at the same time of year as the events within it take place (28th June through to 6-7 July), but since this is the 50th Anniversary I wanted to watch exactly 50 years after opening weekend, so I wasn't prepared to wait until my 4K steelbook arrives at the end of July. Really I should have watched a day earlier than I did, since that was the opening day, but life kept me from doing so.

Despite the gap between viewings, this is familiar, reassuring comfort. From the moment it begins until the tiny figures of Brody and Hooper can be seen setting foot on Chappaquiddick's Cape Poge, it was like an old friend.

Jaws has never crossed the line for me into becoming so familiar that I take it for granted. Even knowing every beat and every line of dialogue, there's always plenty that feels fresh and new.

Some of the humour was pre-empted. Last night, the pair of us watching gave little anticipatory chuckles when the fishermen were trying in vain to guess the Tiger Shark's species, ahead of that hilarious delivery of "A whaaaaa....?" Likewise, there was a titter or two when Vaughn was scowling at the helicopter, even before he mouthed "bastards" at them.

Some of it surprised. I've always found Hooper's response to Quint crushing the beer can - mirroring the same action by crumpling his little plastic party cup - really funny for the way it mocks alpha male machismo by inverting it. Last night I found the moment where Hooper drops said cup especially funny due to the almost expressionless look he gives at the same time (you can tell he's pleased with himself. It's the Jaws equivalent of a mic drop moment).

Hooper was great all the way through, actually. I've always found him engaging but must confess that a few of his more enthusiastic standout moments of delivery ("This. Was. Not. A. Boating. Accident" / "Boys. Oh boyyyyys" / "He's trying to runnnnnnnn". / "It's impoooossibaaaaaughll") have made me laugh for having a whiff of ham. Last night it was all the other stuff that grabbed me. He makes the scientist-speak fun and accessible, and I was really taken with how engaging Richard Dreyfuss is. His eye contact is great and his warm smile lights up many a scene. It's also impressive to watch this young actor holding his own while going toe-to-toe with older, more experienced actors.

Ben Gardner was another. I've always found Craig Kingsbury's scenes enjoyable for the way he reels off his lines without any kind of punctuation, and simply doesn't give a toss. Last night, for whatever reason, I found myself really noticing every line he said and every look he gave almost as though watching him for the first time. His throwaway line "get outta the way, ya goddamn fool, you" made me smile especially wide.


Some of the drama also felt potent last night.

Quint's Indianapolis Speech affected me more deeply than usual. When he said "Japanese submarine slammed two torpedoes into our side..." I physically got chills, goose pimples and my stomach turned. As he went on, I found myself tearful. I don't think I've ever found it more emotional. It truly is a terrific performance from Robert Shaw.

Same again last night, but this time it started even earlier, around the time Quint identified his removed tattoo as being the USS Indianapolis. It's notable that the wound comparing scene and the levity that led into the Indianapolis Speech and Show Me The Way To Go Home felt especially tangible and hard-won last night. Fifty years on, it's one of the scenes that gets better with each viewing.

Likewise, I found Mrs Kintner's "my boy is dead" speech more touching than ever. I was completely drawn in and found myself tearing up at not only her loss but Brody's impotent horror at being publicly accused of responsibility for that death (which reinforces his own feelings about it). It's bloody effective and legitimises the whole third act, and Brody's motive for insisting on going out to sea despite his fear of the ocean.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

A very recent interview with Lorraine Gary talking about Jaws.

It's not the most focussed interview, but she's spoken so little about the films over the years it's nice to see her here. The memories are a little fuzzy, but she's certainly very frank about her working relationships:

Rick [Dreyfuss]. Yeah. He's... We were not deep friends.

Roy [Scheider] and I didn't like each other, truthfully, and he was insulting.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Steven Spielberg's introduction to Jaws At 50 brilliantly encapsulates the filmmaking experience in under four minutes:

And here's the trailer for the project itself: