IMDb > Jaws (1975)
Jaws
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Jaws (1975) -- When a gigantic great white shark begins to menace the small island community of Amity, a police chief, a marine scientist and grizzled fisherman set out to stop it.
Jaws (1975) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 7% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Steven Spielberg
Writers:
Peter Benchley (screenplay) and
Carl Gottlieb (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Jaws on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
20 June 1975 (USA) more
Genre:
Thriller more
Tagline:
The Nation's No.1 Best-Selling Book now the Screen's Super-Thriller more
Plot:
When a gigantic great white shark begins to menace the small island community of Amity, a police chief, a marine scientist and grizzled fisherman set out to stop it. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Won 3 Oscars. Another 9 wins & 13 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(178 articles)
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 (From The Guardian - Film News. 20 November 2009, 4:10 PM, PST)
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 (From MovieWeb. 18 November 2009, 9:26 AM, PST)
User Comments:
An instant classic! more (741 total)
US TV Schedule:
Mon. Nov. 307:30 AMHBO   

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Roy Scheider ... Brody
Robert Shaw ... Quint

Richard Dreyfuss ... Hooper
Lorraine Gary ... Ellen Brody
Murray Hamilton ... Vaughn

Carl Gottlieb ... Meadows
Jeffrey Kramer ... Hendricks (as Jeffrey C. Kramer)
Susan Backlinie ... Chrissie
Jonathan Filley ... Cassidy
Ted Grossman ... Estuary Victim
Chris Rebello ... Michael Brody
Jay Mello ... Sean Brody
Lee Fierro ... Mrs. Kintner
Jeffrey Voorhees ... Alex Kintner
Craig Kingsbury ... Ben Gardner
Dr. Robert Nevin ... Medical Examiner
Peter Benchley ... Interviewer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Chris Anastasio ... Out of Towner (uncredited)
John Bahr ... Beach Guitarist (uncredited)
Allison Caine ... Additional Voices (voice) (uncredited)
Robert Carroll ... Mr. Polk (uncredited)
Edward Chalmers Jr. ... Mr. Denherder (uncredited)
Robert Chambers ... Charlie (uncredited)
Denise Cheshire ... Swimming Chrissie, First Victim (uncredited)
Fritzi Jane Courtney ... Mrs. Taft (uncredited)
Cyprian R. Dube ... Mr. Posner (uncredited)
Paul Goulart ... Clarinet Player in Music Store (uncredited)
Mike Haydn ... Bonfire Guitarist (uncredited)
Duncan Inches ... Townsperson (uncredited)
Belle McDonald ... Mrs. Posner (uncredited)
Donald Poole ... Frank Silva, Harbor Master (uncredited)
Ayn Ruymen ... Nurse (uncredited)
Peggy Scott ... Polly (uncredited)

Steven Spielberg ... Amity Point Lifestation Worker (voice) (uncredited)
Alfred Wilde ... Harry Wiseman (uncredited)
Dick Young ... Pratt (uncredited)
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Directed by
Steven Spielberg 
 
Writing credits
Peter Benchley (screenplay) and
Carl Gottlieb (screenplay)

Peter Benchley (based upon the novel by)

John Milius  Indianapolis monologue (uncredited)
Howard Sackler  Indianapolis monologue (uncredited)
Robert Shaw  Indianapolis monologue (uncredited)

Produced by
David Brown .... producer
Richard D. Zanuck .... producer
 
Original Music by
John Williams 
 
Cinematography by
Bill Butler (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Verna Fields 
 
Production Design by
Joe Alves  (as Joseph Alves Jr.)
 
Set Decoration by
John M. Dwyer 
 
Makeup Department
Del Armstrong .... makeup artist (uncredited)
Verne Caruso .... hair stylist (uncredited)
Jim Gillespie .... makeup artist (uncredited)
 
Production Management
James Fargo .... unit production manager (as Jim Fargo)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Barbara Bass .... second assistant director
Tom Joyner .... first assistant director
Joe Alves .... second unit director (uncredited)
Verna Fields .... second unit director (uncredited)
 
Art Department
Thomas Wright .... production illustrator (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
John R. Carter .... sound
Robert L. Hoyt .... sound (as Robert Hoyt)
Gregory King .... sound re-recording mixer (25th anniversary release)
Norval D. Crutcher III .... sound effects editor (2000 restoration) (uncredited)
George Fredrick .... sound editor (uncredited)
Gary S. Gerlich .... sound supervisor (2000 restoration) (uncredited)
Walter A. Gest .... adr recordist (uncredited)
Roger Heman Jr. .... sound (uncredited)
William Hooper .... sound effects editor (2000 restoration) (uncredited)
Andy Koyama .... 2001 restoration sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Richard LeGrand Jr. .... supervising sound editor (2000 restoration) (uncredited)
Earl Madery .... sound (uncredited)
Colin C. Mouat .... sound editor (uncredited)
Patrick O'Sullivan .... sound editor (2000 restoration) (uncredited)
Walter Spencer .... dialog editor: restoration (uncredited)
Roger Sword .... sound editor (uncredited)
James Troutman .... sound editor (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Robert A. Mattey .... special effects
Kevin Pike .... special effects assistant
Roy Arbogast .... special mechanical effects (uncredited)
Richard S. Edwards .... explosive expert (uncredited)
Richard Stutsman .... special effects technician (uncredited)
Eddie Surkin .... special effects crew (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Richard E. Butler .... stunts (uncredited)
Howard Curtis .... stunts (uncredited)
Ted Grossman .... stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Frank James Sparks .... stunt double: Richard Dreyfuss (uncredited)
Fred Zendar .... stunts (uncredited)
Dick Ziker .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Chapman .... camera operator
Rexford L. Metz .... underwater photographer (as Rexford Metz)
Ron Taylor .... underwater photographer: live shark footage (as Ron)
Valerie Taylor .... underwater photographer: live shark footage
Vito Carenzo .... grip (uncredited)
James A. Contner .... assistant camera (uncredited)
Louis Goldman .... still photographer (uncredited)
Fred Schuler .... additional camera operator (uncredited)
Ronald Vidor .... underwater camera operator (uncredited)
Dennis Young .... underwater grip (uncredited)
Ron Zarilla .... assistant camera (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Shari Rhodes .... location casting
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Louise Clark .... wardrobe: women (uncredited)
Robert Ellsworth .... wardrobe: men (uncredited)
 
Editorial Department
William C. Carruth .... assistant editor (uncredited)
Jeff Gourson .... assistant film editor (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Bob Bain .... musician: guitar (uncredited)
Joseph Glassman .... music editor (uncredited)
Tommy Johnson .... musician: tuba soloist (uncredited)
Paul Kegg .... musician: cello (uncredited)
Steven Spielberg .... musician: clarinet in orchestra (uncredited)
John Williams .... conductor (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Charlsie Bryant .... script supervisor
William S. Gilmore .... production executive (as William S. Gilmore Jr.)
Fred Zendar .... technical advisor (as Manfred Zendar)
Al Ebner .... unit publicist (uncredited)
Rick Fields .... assistant: Mr. Spielberg (uncredited)
Ron Veto .... underwater diver (uncredited)
 
Thanks
Leonard J.V. Compagno .... the producers gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of: The Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University (as Mr. L.J.V. Compagno)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial EffectsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
124 min | USA:130 min (TV version)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Portugal:M/12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (1995) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Iceland:16 | Spain:T | USA:TV-14 | Brazil:14 | New Zealand:M | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Denmark:15 | France:-12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15 | Israel:PG | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 (video rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Sweden:15 | Taiwan:GP | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) | USA:PG (Certificate #24175) | West Germany:16 | Finland:K-16
Filming Locations:
American Legion Memorial Bridge, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, USA more
Company:
Zanuck/Brown Productions more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Murray Hamilton was the only star who was Steven Spielberg's first choice and was the only actor considered for the role of Mayor of Amity. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: As Brody walks through Amity, the trees are bare, despite its being July. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Tom Cassidy: What's your name again?
Christine 'Chrissie' Watkins: Chrissie.
Tom Cassidy: Where are we going?
Christine 'Chrissie' Watkins: Swimming
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Committed (#5.21)" (2005) more
Soundtrack:
Spanish Ladies more

FAQ

Does Chief Brody say "We're gonna need a bigger boat"?
Would an air tank really explode like that?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
more

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
48 out of 74 people found the following comment useful.
An instant classic!, 10 March 2004
Author: TruPretender from Sundance, Utah

When I first saw the film, "Jaws" I was immediately frightened by the unseen terror that pulls the human psychosis to the depths of the ocean...literally! Steven Spielberg had made himself the most successful director of all time when he went all out with this one! Running to the back of the house and turning all the lights on were just a few things I resorted to after watching the opening for the first time!!! I Never watched anymore of it until 1-3 years later. I was highly hesitant because to a young child, a skinny dippers suffering to the wrath of the giant unknown mouth was the most horrifying sequence in film history at the time...and it still is now! Once I finally got the courage to view the film, I was still in for a lot of suprises. The cinematography is superb in its ruthless attempt to bring the audience to the depths of a powerful ocean, and to the eyes of the dark, wretched creature the inhabits it. The story of the killer shark attacking the only unfortunate island in the world is more than scary. It could have been any place in the world, and it had to be Amitty Island. The shark could have easily lost it's way in the swaying currents of the ocean, but as the opposite inhabitants of the beach get angry, this big mother is here to stay! The technique is wild, absolutely wild, and John Williams score earned more than an oscar for it! Creepy piano notes enter this films titles, and the blue depths of the uncharted territory beneath the sea let us all know that no sense, however small, was to be spared. The first victim, alone will haunt those who view it for the rest of their days, and the rest of the story is more like a battle. This strange battle is often more focused on understanding the other side. What Brody, Quint, and Hooper must do is plunge into the depths themselves, and seek out the unruly monster of the sea. The common theme in this terrific classic is survival, and why not? Survival is a natural instinct to all animal alike. The shark must survive, as it makes so clear by snagging unsuspecting swimmers, but also the people, they to have to survive, but the island is not big enough for both man and fish together. Always a joy to experience over and over again, this film is the ultimate scare show to end them all! Sometimes, a lot of us fans can not seem to get enough of this instant classic!

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What was Quint Eating? terpsfan7649
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significance of Quint's story? Sk8SkaNJ
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Hollywood needs another good shark movie. jhpstrydom
The GREATEST opening scene ever! NYJetsAFL
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