"White Shark documentary screens from the North Sea to Lake Constance"
Fifty years ago, in 1975, a groundbreaking film named Jaws was released, directed by the young and ambitious Steven Spielberg. This movie, a blend of suspense, fear, and innovative storytelling, revolutionized the cinema industry and forever changed public perception of sharks.
Jaws premiered in the USA on June 20, 1975, and in West Germany later that year. The film found success in a variety of cinemas, from multiplexes and large city theaters to smaller venues such as the "Kino im Kurtheater" on Norderney, the "City Kino Buxtehude", the "Filmpalast Bautzen", the "Traumpalast Nürtingen", and the "Cineplex Friedrichshafen".
The film is now celebrating its 50th anniversary and is returning to cinemas across Germany, with over 260 cinemas screening it as part of the "Best of Cinema" series. The majority of screenings will be in the original German synchronization from 1975. Open-air cinemas in Essen, Leipzig, and Berlin will also be showing the film in the coming days.
At 28 years old, Spielberg used a key insight from the horror genre in making Jaws. He understood that fear is created not by what is seen, but by what is not seen and only hinted at. This approach is evident in the film's underwater shots from the shark's perspective, used heavily in the first part to create a sense of dread through suggestions.
Jaws is often credited as the dawn of the summer blockbuster, ushering in a new era of expensive Hollywood productions. The film's success was due in part to its marketing, making the cinema experience an event with hype and merchandise. The film's poster, featuring a shark's head with an open mouth beneath a swimming woman, perfectly encapsulated the fear and anticipation the film generated.
The film's plot revolves around a seaside town being terrorized by a deadly sea creature. The main characters are the local police chief (Roy Scheider), a young marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss), and an experienced sailor (Robert Shaw). Their struggle against the beast, which moves from the coast to the open sea around the middle of the film, has become iconic.
The film's score, composed by John Williams, is legendary, with its ominous "da-da-da" theme. The score, combined with the film's innovative direction and character-driven storytelling, has made Jaws a lasting cultural touchstone that continues to influence many industries and forms of storytelling today.
However, the film's most enduring impact may be the primal fears it stirred in countless people about swimming in the sea. Jaws contributed to a decline in shark populations by demonizing sharks, particularly great whites. In recent years, the perception of sharks has shifted, helped by media portrayals showing divers swimming with great whites without protection.
Jaws essentially created the modern summer blockbuster model by pioneering the wide-release strategy, being distributed simultaneously to 466 theaters—a staggering number at the time—which helped it become the first film to gross $100 million during its initial release. This shift transformed film marketing and distribution permanently, making the wide release and opening weekend box office success critical metrics for future films.
Jaws also helped redefine Hollywood's commercial approach, marking the end of the 1970s' New Hollywood auteur era and ushering in a blockbuster-driven industry focused on large budgets, mass appeal, and intense marketing campaigns. This change led to the current blockbuster paradigm where films are often judged by immediate box office returns, significantly impacting how movies are financed, produced, and evaluated.
In summary, Jaws revolutionized film distribution strategies by introducing the wide-release blockbuster format, changed Hollywood’s commercial landscape, and deeply affected public attitudes toward sharks, combining innovative filmmaking, marketing, and cultural impact into a landmark event in cinematic history.
In celebration of its 50th anniversary, the classic film Jaws is returning to cinemas across Germany, as part of the "Best of Cinema" series. (entertainment) Fans can catch the film in various cinemas, from open-air venues in Essen, Leipzig, and Berlin to traditional theaters like the "Cineplex Friedrichshafen" and "Filmpalast Bautzen". (movies-and-tv)
The groundbreaking film, which revolutionized the cinema industry, is now being screened in its original German synchronization from 1975, offering viewers an immersive experience reminiscent of 1975 cinema culture. (entertainment)
