Sink My Teeth into This: 5 Decades of "Jaws"
Five Decades of the Iconic 'Great White': Reflecting on "Jaws" - Five Decades of the Notorious White Shark: A Historical Overview
Ever since "Jaws" splashed onto the silver screen five decades ago, it's been a bone-chilling thrill ride for audiences worldwide. Back in those days, German cinemas were a mix of smaller theaters instead of the multiplex centers we have today. promotional methods relied heavily on posters and intriguing scene photos strategically placed around the entrances.
One such poster that remains seared in our memory is the poster for "Jaws." A fearsome shark head looms large, ready to chomp down on a defenseless swimmer.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the film's release (it premiered in the US on June 20, 1975, but didn't make it to West Germany until December of the same year), Universal Pictures will be re-releasing it in select theaters this year.
Flashing through those old promotional images, one can easily picture the chilling scenes that sent a shiver down the spine of a West German elementary school student five decades ago. Watching the film was strictly forbidden due to a 16-rated age restriction, but the tantalizing images ignited a feverish imagination.
This led to daily lingering outside the cinema on the way to and from school. Little did we know, we were already getting a taste of the essence of the film – in the first 80 minutes, the shark itself is hardly ever seen. Director Steven Spielberg (then just 28) relied on a time-honored principle of horror: fear is created by what we sense, not by what we see. Instead, Spielberg used subtle hints such as the ominous music by John Williams or tense underwater shots from the shark's point of view to build tension.
One of the most gripping scenes is when an entire fishing pier is devastated by the colossal fish, sending it flying into the sea before suddenly reversing course and charging towards a hapless fisherman in the water. Once again, the monster itself isn't even visible.
This creative approach is a cornerstone of the film's appeal – but it wasn't solely a creative choice. The cutting-edge, seven-meter-long, and expensive mechanical shark model built for the film had other thoughts, often sinking to the bottom during filming. Named “Bruce” after Spielberg’s lawyer, the shark was notoriously problematic and would live up to its name by causing numerous production delays and an unexpected rise in expenses.
"Bruce" didn't get a Hall of Fame send-off either. Spielberg was worried that the mechanical shark would flop and become a laughing stock. As a result, he decided to keep its appearances to an absolute minimum.
The shoot off the Martha's Vineyard coast wasn't the only challenge: things got choppy in more ways than one. Not only did the actors develop seasickness, but there were constant interruptions from passing sailboats. To maintain the solitude of the ocean on screen, every time a boat appeared, the shot would have to be paused.
But "Jaws" came out swimmingly in the end, exceeding its production costs and becoming the most successful film in cinema history at the time. Due in no small part to Spielberg's innovative storytelling techniques, the film ushered in a new era of expensive Hollywood productions and blockbuster movies that required a shared, communal viewing experience on the big screen.
Today, after half a century, "Jaws" continues to terrify and thrill audiences. The gruff shark hunter Quint seems like a precursor to the political climate of the 2020s, while the mayor's callous disregard for safety recalls the corrupting influence of unchecked capitalism.
Interestingly, the shark is more of a trope than a real fear – much like the T-Rex from "Jurassic Park," another one of Spielberg's creations. Spielberg has continued to explore the darker side of our imagination, but he's never made another film on land or sea steeped in water again.
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The mechanical shark used in the filming of "Jaws" underwent numerous technical difficulties, leading to increased budgets and production delays. These issues, however, ultimately propelled the film to new heights by forcing director Steven Spielberg to rely more heavily on other methods to build tension and suspense. By minimizing the visual presence of the shark, Spielberg created an atmosphere of fear that was more effective than direct visual effects. This unintended consequence contributed significantly to the film's iconic status in the horror genre. After filming, all three original mechanical sharks were destroyed, and a fourth was made for display purposes but later discarded.
The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of the environment, considering the environmental impact caused by the mechanical shark used in the filming of "Jaws." In the midst of watching suspenseful movies-and-tv shows like "Jaws," one might ponder the implications of sports and sports-betting, especially when considering the unpredictable nature of the mechanical shark's malfunctions during the film's production.
