Classic Horrors Club

Last week, I claimed that Jaws (1975) is a nearly perfect movie. Now, since it’s shark week and seems like a good time to do it, I’m going to go ahead and put my money where my full-of-razor-sharp-teeth mouth is and share some of the reasons why. Interestingly, few of them feature the shark. If we look at the basic elements of filmmaking (plot, screenplay, characters, acting, direction, cinematography, and music) Jaws come in with the high tide with all of them. 

50 years later, the plot is ubiquitous. That doesn’t automatically make it good, but I think that’s a logical conclusion to draw. And it’s simple: there’s a threat to the local economy, so officials (the bad guys) are reluctant to close down shop to address it. They have their heads in the beach sand, hoping the threat will go away. Meanwhile, the good guys go on an adventure to stop it. That’s it. I must admit, I don’t know who deserves the credit. It’s been so long since I’ve read Peter Benchley’s book; did he create it there? If so, did he use it in his screenplay? From what I understand, Carl Gottlieb re-wrote much of Benchley’s original draft. Was it his idea? Or was Spielberg already commanding that much control in only his second full-length motion picture?

The resulting screenplay takes the simple plot and makes it significantly more substantial with its characters and dialogue. Actions and reactions seem realistic. We get enough information about the characters that they’re fully formed and true to themselves. Even the shark has rules and lives by them:

…a perfect engine, an eating machine. It’s really a miracle of evolution. All this machine does is swim and eat and make little sharks, and that’s all.

The idea that Spielberg had at least his little finger in the screenplay is demonstrated in a scene when Brody’s (Roy Scheider) son, Michael (Chris Rebello), imitates him at the dinner table. It’s an unnecessary inclusion, yet worth more than its weight in chum. Now, counter that with a talky scene on the boat in the middle of the action… how easily that could have stopped the movie instead of counterintuitively being one of its most compelling scenes. Jaws is full of these human moments.

There’s been ample debate over the years whether Jaws is a horror movie or not. For many years, I didn’t believe it was. I think people forget that at a very specific point (one hour, 12 minutes, and 23 seconds into the film) it becomes a hunting adventure. Even a transition in tone to the brilliant score by John Williams tells us so. I’ll now admit it’s at least partially a horror film, but it’s the scenes in the boat that stand out for me. That’s when we see our characters ride a roller coaster of emotions. At the beginning, you can tell they’re enjoying the chase. Then, they get their first good look at what they’re chasing and experience disbelief. None of them have seen anything like it. Then when the motor overheats, they’re dejected. This is when they become irritated and impatient with each other.

None of this would have worked without such terrific actors. Yes, the dialogue tells us the Brodys are transplants from New York City. However, Scheider acts the part. He’s obviously a fish out of water with a new job, careful not to step on his boss’s toes. It’s killing him inside, though. He becomes uptight, finding no humor in the situation. He hates the water, yes, but the screenplay doesn’t harp on it. It’s barely mentioned when Brody has to then go out on a boat; we already know that about him. 

His wife, Ellen (Lorraine Gary) is an observer, watching and appreciating the aforementioned human moments. She recognizes her husband’s uptight without him having to tell her. In some ways she’s as tough as he is, asking him if he wants to “get drunk and fool around.” It’s clear that they love each other, but she’s scared. 

I’d love to hear Quint’s (Robert Shaw) backstory. People in town become immediately silent when he enters the room. They know him and perhaps fear him. He’s eccentric, probably knows it, and absolutely does not care. He’s not shy in his conflict with Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss), calling him a city boy with money, and ridiculing his “equipment.” The joke’s on him though. While he poo-poos more scholarly methods in catching the shark, it turns out his brute force method doesn’t work either. It’s instinct vs academics.

Hooper is the voice of reason. He’s an observer like Ellen, animated, yet skeptical and wanting to know the truth before taking action. He tries to lighten the mood, asking Brody, “How was your day?” knowing darned well it was a nightmare. He truly loves sharks and that makes him fearless in a way that’s opposite of Quint. When he threatens to leave, you can tell he wants to stay. He’s open-minded, too. Regardless of what he thinks of Quint, he’s visibly impressed by the souvenirs in his shack.

Because of all the subsequent imitations, Mayor Vaughn’s (Murray Hamilton) impact has diminished over the years. Sure, I remembered a line like:

If you’re concerned, do what you have to, but these beaches will be open.

However, I forgot that when no one is entering the water on July 4, he compels an old buddy to go in. This then makes him responsible for what happens next. He’s got more depth than a simple, moustache-twirling villain, though. While it’s underplayed, he does admit that he’s sorry.

My kids were on the beach, too.

I’ll close with a word about Bill Butler’s cinematography. Yeah, the underwater work is good, especially when we take the point of view of the shark. But there are two “land” shots that impress me. One has always been the one of Brody on the beach when… I don’t know what it’s called; I’m sure it’s a technique… the camera zooms into his face and its look of terror while the background appears to stretch. The other I often forget, but remember each time I watch. It’s at the very beginning, a dolly shot running along the fence as the first victim’s boyfriend runs after her and tumbles down the hill.

For some reason, “My Favorite Things” is playing on the turntable of my mind. These are only some of the things I love about Jaws. And since everyone is celebrating it, here’s my contribution, apologies to Rodgers and Hammerstein:

People on beaches and sharks in the water,
Holiday fun, but they’re in for a slaughter.
Black body bags all tied up with strings,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Smart shark expert and tough shark hunter;
Which of them is the biggest confronter?
I love the adventure that this movie brings!
These are a few of my favorite things.

When the shark bites,
When the chum flings,
When I’m feeling scared,
I simply remember my favorite things
and remember that Brody is spared.