The Jaws Thread

[Mel O'Drama]

I couldn't sleep last night and by this morning found myself in a bit of a Jaws wormhole, going from soundtrack reviews to film critiques and cast interviews.

Roy Scheider is an enthralling patchwork of humility, honesty, simplicity, darkness and intensity. He's very enigmatic indeed, and hard to pin down.

He's great in this interview:

The journalist seems very clumsy at times. There's a warmth to her, but she's also very reliant on her research and her notes. So for some of the interview she's not in the moment with him, which makes for an interesting dynamic, because it's in those moments that Roy seems most real. There are a few awkward pauses before she turns abruptly to the next subject, but Scheider stays cool as a cucumber.

I particularly like the way he keeps control of things when she tries to delve deep into the repercussions of his childhood illness. His comment regarding the unmade bed at 6:05 is a winner. It's unexpected - and clearly not what the journalist was hoping he'd say - but it's also full of truth and a rare flash of vulnerability.


This one's also great to see the humility. The last minute and a half is particularly poignant knowing that Roy's life is now in the past tense:

 

[Willie Oleson]

He's great in this interview:

That's the first time I heard about economical acting.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

That's the first time I heard about economical acting.

Yeah. It's a fairly unusual way for her to describe it but it does fit, and I like Roy's definition of that being as simple and direct as possible.

The more I watch his performances the more impressed I am. It's very much akin to, say, Ted Shackelford on Knots where the subtleties, layers and naturalism mean that he's as captivating watching a scene for the twelfth time as the first. And usually the twelfth one impresses me more. One can only take something for granted for so long.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Ted Shackelford on Knots where the subtleties, layers and naturalism mean that he's as captivating watching a scene for the twelfth time as the first.

And then when he does get the full-on-hysterical-soap dialogue it becomes to most iconic soap quote ever. I won't even bother to post it here because you know what I mean.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

And then when he does get the full-on-hysterical-soap dialogue it becomes to most iconic soap quote ever. I won't even bother to post it here because you know what I mean.

Perchance...?

And even then it feels completely truthful.​

 

[Willie Oleson]

found myself in a bit of a Jaws wormhole

Triggered by the sound of a typewriter, perhaps? (could have been the clue of a cheesy "Thriller" episode).

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Triggered by the sound of a typewriter, perhaps? (could have been the clue of a cheesy "Thriller" episode).

Doing a little deduction, I think it came from one of the songs I nominated in our latest Chosen Theme Top Twenty. I've been dipping into my Jaws playlist a little bit since then. Those Top Twenties are regularly influencing my taste, but it's usually other people's nominations that do it.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Jaws 2 is the sequel that disappoints more profoundly each time I watch it... which is the opposite of the original film. Jaws 3-D is a cartoon. We know that. From the moment the titles roll with their cheesy graphics we know what to expect. And we're in on the joke. And it's hard for Jaws The Revenge to further disappoint once you've seen it once. Blame for any damage beyond that lies entirely on the viewer for watching it a second, third or fifteenth time (fool that I am, I fall into the latter category and willingly carry the burden of my morbid fascination with it). But Jaws 2 lures us in by being full of East Coast promise and then not delivering.

This review - contemporaneous with Jaws 2's original release - is absolutely spot-on, I think...

Quite simply, it is an almost scientific exercise in showbiz mediocrity. This smooth and passionless spectacle is too impersonal to win anyone's affection and too inoffensive to inspire hatred.

 

[Willie Oleson]

"Jaws 2 is largely populated by nubile teenagers who appear to be graduates of the Mickey Mouse Club of Dramatic Arts"

 

[B.J. Ewing]

My favorite summer movie. I like Jaws 2 too!! (Did I just say tootoo???)

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I like Jaws 2 too!! (Did I just say tootoo???)

 

[Mel O'Drama]

It's that time of year once again. Late June/Early July is when the law states we all have to watch Jaws each year. I hope to have my annual screening later this week.



According to the Jaws Timeline, today is the 44th anniversary of the Tiger Shark being caught.

That's not quite accurate, though. According to information in the film itself, the events actually take place one year earlier, in 1974.

(Notice Brody's typo above).

Which means today is the 45th anniversary of the Tiger Shark. And also of...

 

[Sarah]

"A what???" Love it

Thanks for keeping the thread going @Mel O'Drama. Don't forget, soon it will be time for:

 

[Richard Channing]

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I've only just learnt that Lee Fierro, who played Mrs Kintner, died last month of Covid-19. She was aged 91.

https://www.mvtimes.com/2020/04/05/lee-fierro-fiercely-dedicated-theater-died/

Sad to hear this. Thanks to the perfect casting of Lee, Mrs K. is one of my favourites in the film.

She lived on Martha's Vineyard when the film was shot there, and was still resident on the island when she died. She championed theatre and taught acting to many young people. What a legacy.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

This is wonderful.

 

[Sarah]

I've only just learnt that Lee Fierro, who played Mrs Kintner, died last month of Covid-19. She was aged 91.

https://www.mvtimes.com/2020/04/05/lee-fierro-fiercely-dedicated-theater-died/

Sad to hear this. Thanks to the perfect casting of Lee, Mrs K. is one of my favourites in the film.

She lived on Martha's Vineyard when the film was shot there, and was still resident on the island when she died. She championed theatre and taught acting to many young people. What a legacy.

Really shocked by this. She’s been in my living room nearly every Saturday when I have Jaws on while I do my cleaning. Only in lighter days I might add. Jaws isn’t a winter movie.

I always thought she looked much older than the mother of a ten year old but that’s by the by. Her role is legendary. I’ve been to MV and saw the wall that features in the movie. Wish I’d seen her there. Would have been surreal.

Rest in Peace Mrs Kintner.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

She lived on Martha's Vineyard when the film was shot there, and was still resident on the island when she died.

Correction: Lee lived on the island until 2017 when she moved to an assisted living facility in Aurora, Ohio, which was nearer to her family.

She’s been in my living room nearly every Saturday when I have Jaws on while I do my cleaning.

Great stuff, Sarah. I normally watch just once a year in late June/early July, but because the weather's been good I'm starting to feel the urge. I may end up watching earlier than usual this year.

I always thought she looked much older than the mother of a ten year old but that’s by the by.

Yeah. She'd have been 45 when her scenes were shot, so would have been 35 when Alex was born. Not old by today's standards certainly. She wasn't a young looking 45, but remember this was also before 70 became the new 40. People generally look younger today, especially in Hollywood. They probably could have cast a much younger-looking 45 year old, but it wouldn't have improved the film.

I’ve been to MV and saw the wall that features in the movie. Wish I’d seen her there. Would have been surreal.

Lucky you! I hope to get there someday.

Apparently she was asked to slap people all the time, but said in later years that she'd stopped doing it (I think partly for fear of lawsuits).

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Now this is exciting.

I had no idea there was additional footage of the Jaws 2 shark attacking Terri the water skier.

It's especially good to see more of the animatronic shark before it became The Phantom Of The Opera with those ridiculous burns.

In the end, the animatronic wasn't used at all for the sequence. It cut from the towed fin to stock footage of a Great White's mouth about to bite down (re-used in Jaws 3) and Terri just kind of fell over with a squeak.

My guess is that they couldn't get the shark to do what they wanted, though I think that last part with the shark pulling her under twice would have been fine once edited properly in and scored well. It looks a lot better than some of the animatronics that ended up in the finished film.

Whatever the reason, it's a shame it wasn't used.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I've been re-reading the Bloomsbury Guide to Jaws for the umpteenth time (had my original copy over 20 years now). It's a great book. Full of insight, wry observations and (less happily) a number of misquoted lines.

The author isn't a fan of the 4th July beach scenes which begin with the montage of tourists arriving and involve the kids with the fin and the pond scene. He makes some good arguments, but what really popped out at me this time round was the following:

By the time the scene climaxes, we feel so overdue for both action and passion... that we feel doubly cheated when all we get... is a capsized fisherman from Central Casting who loses a bloodied leg made in the props shop. Whether he lives or dies we neither learn nor care.

Even disregarding the infamous cut scene of him being taken off in the shark's mouth while holding onto young Michael, there are good reasons to assume he died: the fact that he was practically in the shark's mouth; the leg amputated at the femoral artery; the sheer volume of blood that appears on the surface of the water after he goes under; the aftermath featuring Michael being brought to safety but no sign of Ted. Even if quickly brought to shore, it's a safe bet that he'd have died almost immediately of exsanguination and shock.

All the same, it hadn't previously occurred to me that Ted Grossman's character might have survived the attack. And it's true, there isn't definitive proof of his death. It's a sobering thought that he might have shown up in one of the sequels with a Quint-type grudge against sharks. Perhaps even with a wooden leg made out of the remains of his rowing boat.

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