Do you have that one movie in your life that changed the way you look at cinema? A film that captivated you, took your breath away, and made an everlasting impact?
I think that's true of most people, particularly those that enjoy going out to the movies on a regular basis.
For me, that film is 'Jaws'.
Or rather, as the poster proclaims it to be, 'JAWS' in all caps.
I'm supremely confident that I'm not the only one that was affected by this movie. After all, it was the film that kickstarted the summer blockbuster phenomenon; a tried and true "event film" that absolutely EVERYBODY had to go out and see for fear of missing out on any water cooler conversations at work or hallway locker talks at school.
Yes sir, it seemed like as if everyone in North America had to get out to their local movie theaters and drive-ins to watch a movie about a giant great white shark terrorizing the residents of a New England beach town, Amity Island.
Released in theaters on June 20, 1975, 'Jaws' officially turns 50 years old today. Directed by Steven Spielberg, who at the time was looking for that one big commercial hit to solidify his name in Hollywood, the production of the movie was plagued with problems seemingly from Day One.
For one big thing, the mechanical shark itself, nicknamed Bruce, seemed to never want to work right for what Spielberg had originally intended to do from a story perspective. But the funny thing is that the production's biggest problem ended up working brilliantly in the film's favor; the mechanical shark issues didn't end up getting fixed until much later in the film's shooting schedule, so Spielberg had to shoot the movie as merely giving the impression that a giant shark was there.
The result was flawless, grab-you-by-the-throat cinema. That opening scene with Chrissy the night swimmer who ends up being the first victim is still the stuff of nightmares for people who may be watching 'Jaws' for the first time, especially younger kids. The way she thrashes about in the water, being yanked to and from the side by some demonic force of nature is something that even modern movies today could only dream of pulling off.
From that point on, you still don't see the shark do its thing. 'Jaws' only gave you an idea of how big and how monstrous this beast was until roughly an hour into the film. Up to that point, it's up to you as the viewer to ultimately decide what this savage of the deep looks like.
And that's the best thing about the movie. That less-is-more tactic that Spielberg was essentially forced to use during the film's production wound up being the greatest factor in making it the worldwide phenom that it became. Adding to it were incredible performances by actors Robert Shaw (that USS Indianapolis speech!), Roy Scheider, and Richard Dreyfuss, as well as Murray Hamilton as the Amity mayor who insists that nothing is wrong and that local fishermen surely took care of that fish "that supposedly injured some bathers".
I think I was 13 or 14 years old the first time that I saw 'Jaws'. Funny enough, my family and I were on summer vacation up at Candle Lake at the time, where we wound up renting the movie at the local convenience store.
Man, I'm telling you, I freaking LOVED IT.
Right after the movie, my brothers and I actually went swimming, and for two or three very real seconds, I threw around the idea that there may have been SOMETHING down beneath me in that lake. Something that I couldn't see, and something that I couldn't prepare for if it decided that I looked good enough to eat.
Of course, we're talking about Candle Lake here, so the biggest thing that could come swimming up next to me would've been a big walleye or Northern pike.
All the same, 'Jaws' is a film that stays with you. It's stayed with me for the last 25-26 years, and it's stayed with generations of people who may have been there on the movie's opening day back in June of 1975.
I love when a movie has that universal kind of appeal and impact with fellow cinephiles like myself. 'Jaws' is a once-in-a-lifetime movie that stands the test of time, and I'm happy to report that Steven Spielberg has stated on more than one occasion that he'll stop at nothing to make sure that no one attempts to remake the film for "modern audiences". Some things should just be left alone.
If anyone needs me tonight, I'll be grilling up some steak and asparagus, pouring myself a drink, and watching the movie responsible for many peoples' love of the movies.
Fifty years later, people still get chills entering the water.
Fifty years later, that ominous chord sound of the film's opening chorus still produces goosebumps on my skin.
Fifty years later, people still can't get enough of sharks.
And fifty years later, we still need a bigger boat.
For this week, that's been the Ruttle Report.
