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Fox News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
‘Jaws' at 50: How ‘perfect film' drove public fascination with sharks and still makes us afraid to swim
As Steven Spielberg's "Jaws" celebrates its 50th anniversary on Friday, Hollywood film experts and those closest to the movie are reflecting on the "perfect film" that still inspires love and fear for the ocean and sharks half a century later. "When 'Jaws' hit the world, there is just no doubt that it caused a lot of fear and excitement, but it also got people really interested in the ocean and in sharks," Wendy Benchley, the wife of late "Jaws" author Peter Benchley, told Fox News Digital. Benchley, an ocean conservationist and former New Jersey councilwoman, recently partnered with Spielberg's company, Amblin Documentaries, to help produce "JAWS @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story." The documentary, which will premiere July 10 on National Geographic, looks under the hood of the classic adventure-horror movie that is perhaps the definitive summer blockbuster. It features archival footage, some taken from Benchley's own collection, as well as interviews with Spielberg, the cast and crew, shark experts, and ocean conservationists. Weeks ahead of the documentary's premiere, Benchley spoke to Fox about the enormous impact the film has had on American culture since its debut in 1975. Adapted from her late husband's novel of the same name with a screenplay co-written by him, it not only changed Hollywood and pop culture forever but altered many people's views of sharks and the ocean at large. "I do think it's true that Jaws, the book, and the movie created this astonishing phenomenon, and sharks became – people feared them, but they also were excited – people were interested in them, and it jump-started research," Benchley said. "It definitely jump-started interest in the oceans and in sharks," she declared. Benchley mentioned the excitement she's personally encountered over the years thanks to her husband and Spielberg's film. "Just hundreds and hundreds of people, every time I give a speech, they all come up and say, 'When I was a child… I just loved sharks, I was so fascinated in them, and now my children and grandchildren are the same.'" Benchley also talked about some of the initial stigma that Spielberg's terrifying film generated about sharks in general, saying she was disturbed by that effect. "But there was this fear that came, and there was an uptick in the number of shark tournaments. And people seemed to take this fiction, this novel, as some kind of license to kill sharks. So that just horrified Peter and me," she said. However, Benchley mentioned that this fear of sharks inspired her and her husband to dedicate their lives to educating people about the importance of sharks and our ocean environments. "We worked for years, and we worked along with hundreds of other people who were scientists and doing expeditions and creating the knowledge that we now have to know where the sharks are and the really positive influence they have on the ocean," she said. As far as why she believes "Jaws" is such a beloved film to this day, the ocean conservationist told Fox that it's the combination of good "monster" and a "powerful story." "I think it's a good story and a powerful story. And I do think that we love our monsters, as E.O. Wilson said," Benchley said, quoting the famous American sociobiologist. "You have a creature that could hurt you and harm you, and you don't know how to control it, or you don't know how to get rid of it," Benchley continued. "And so that was the power, that was the tension of the movie." With an all-star cast led by Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw and Roy Scheider, and an unforgettable villain in the little-seen great white shark terrorizing a northeastern beach community, "Jaws" was a box office smash that launched Spielberg to directing stardom. Hollywood film critic Christian Toto told Fox News Digital that"Jaws" is a "perfect film." Mentioning some of the famous onset issues that plagued the production, including an often-faulty great white prop, he continued, "Yes, Bruce the Shark malfunctioned and lacks the 'wow' factor that modern special effects teams can muster. The film remains an unparalleled treat, and the limited time we actually see the shark makes it even more thrilling." He praised the film's classic cast and director, stating, "The trio of Chief Brody, Quint and Hooper represent the male spectrum - from Alpha Male to the refined intellectual. That adds an extra layer to the thrills. A young Steven Spielberg showed a maturity behind the camera that belied his years." "The ending is iconic, and even the tiny moments matter. What could be more human than Richard Dreyfuss' Hooper saying, 'I've got no spit,' as he prepares to meet the shark face-to-face?" Toto continued, also making sure not to forget the film's memorable soundtrack. "That John Williams score ... perfection." Toto said today's fare doesn't measure up to "Jaws." "'Jaws' would thrive in any era. Great movies stand the test of time. Modern blockbusters may offer more razzle dazzle, but it's near impossible to replicate the greatness in 'Jaws.' Fifty years later, some of us are still afraid to go into the water, and we can thank 'Jaws' for that," he said. Ross Williams at "The Daily Jaws," a website dedicated to news, history and trivia about the classic film, said the movie is still so culturally relevant because "it taps into something primal—and it never lets go." "At its core, Jaws is about fear: the fear of the unknown, of nature's raw power, and of losing control. Spielberg didn't just make a shark movie—he made a myth. That fin breaking the surface is now as iconic as Dracula's cape or the lightsaber's hum," Williams said. When asked why "Jaws" is still better than many of the summer blockbusters that followed it, he said, "In an age where modern blockbusters often bombard the senses, Jaws pulls you in by what it doesn't show. The shark barely appears in the first half—but the tension is unbearable. Spielberg used limitations as fuel for suspense, letting imagination do half the work. And that makes it timeless."
BreakingNews.ie
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
First official Jaws documentary to examine film's impact 50 years on
The first authorised Jaws documentary is to examine the film's impact on the perception of sharks to celebrate the film's 50th anniversary. Jaws At 50: The Definitive Inside Story will feature interviews with director Steven Spielberg, Ian Shaw, the son of Robert Shaw – who played professional shark hunter Quint, and Lorraine Gary who played Ellen Brody, along with other cast members, when it airs on National Geographic and Disney+. Advertisement The 90-minute documentary will also feature home videos and rare outtakes from Spielberg and writer Peter Benchley's personal archives, and a behind the scenes look at the making of the movie, including its malfunctioning animatronic shark and Spielberg's fears the film would end his career. The feature will also look at the wave of shark fear from the public following the movie's release, and will look at the novel which started the story through interviews with Benchley's wife, ocean policy advocate Wendy Benchley and their children. Famous fans including JJ Abrams, Emily Blunt, James Cameron, Cameron Crowe, George Lucas, Steven Soderbergh, Guillermo del Toro and Robert Zemeckis will also speak about the film along with marine experts. Jaws At 50: The Definitive Inside Story will be directed by Laurent Bouzereau, and will be produced by Spielberg's Amblin Documentaries and Nedland Films. Advertisement The documentary will be released on July 11 (Universal Studios/PA) The documentary frames Jaws, released in 1975, as the 'first summer blockbuster', with the movie being the highest-grossing picture of all time until the release of Star Wars two years later. Jaws tells the story of a man-eating shark, named Bruce by the film's crew, that attacks beachgoers at a resort town on Amity Island, and the attempts of police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), marine biologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and professional shark hunter Quint (Shaw) to hunt it down. The film, based on the 1974 novel by Benchley, was followed by three sequels, and has inspired theme park rides at the Universal Studios theme parks as well as video games. The documentary will premiere on July 11th at 8pm on National Geographic and will stream the same day on Disney+. Advertisement
Wales Online
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
First official Jaws documentary to examine film's impact 50 years on
First official Jaws documentary to examine film's impact 50 years on Jaws At 50: The Definitive Inside Story will feature interviews with director Steven Spielberg, Ian Shaw, the son of Robert Shaw – who played professional shark hunter Quint A new documentary is to look at the making of and impact of Jaws The first authorised Jaws documentary is to examine the film's impact on the perception of sharks to celebrate the film's 50th anniversary. Jaws At 50: The Definitive Inside Story will feature interviews with director Steven Spielberg, Ian Shaw, the son of Robert Shaw – who played professional shark hunter Quint, and Lorraine Gary who played Ellen Brody, along with other cast members, when it airs on National Geographic and Disney+. The 90-minute documentary will also feature home videos and rare outtakes from Spielberg and writer Peter Benchley's personal archives, and a behind the scenes look at the making of the movie, including its malfunctioning animatronic shark and Spielberg's fears the film would end his career. The feature will also look at the wave of shark fear from the public following the movie's release, and will look at the novel which started the story through interviews with Benchley's wife, ocean policy advocate Wendy Benchley and their children. Famous fans including JJ Abrams, Emily Blunt, James Cameron, Cameron Crowe, George Lucas, Steven Soderbergh, Guillermo del Toro and Robert Zemeckis will also speak about the film along with marine experts. Jaws At 50: The Definitive Inside Story will be directed by Laurent Bouzereau, and will be produced by Spielberg's Amblin Documentaries and Nedland Films. The documentary frames Jaws, released in 1975, as the "first summer blockbuster", with the movie being the highest-grossing picture of all time until the release of Star Wars two years later. Jaws tells the story of a man-eating shark, named Bruce by the film's crew, that attacks beachgoers at a resort town on Amity Island, and the attempts of police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), marine biologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and professional shark hunter Quint (Shaw) to hunt it down. Article continues below The film, based on the 1974 novel by Benchley, was followed by three sequels, and has inspired theme park rides at the Universal Studios theme parks as well as video games. The documentary will premiere on July 11 at 8pm on National Geographic and will stream the same day on Disney+.
RTÉ News
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
First official Jaws documentary to examine film's impact 50 years on
The first authorised Jaws documentary is to examine the film's impact on the perception of sharks to celebrate the film's 50th anniversary. Jaws At 50: The Definitive Inside Story will feature interviews with director Steven Spielberg, Ian Shaw, the son of Robert Shaw - who played professional shark hunter Quint, and Lorraine Gary who played Ellen Brody, along with other cast members, when it airs on National Geographic and Disney+. The 90-minute documentary will also feature home videos and rare outtakes from Spielberg and writer Peter Benchley's personal archives, and a behind the scenes look at the making of the movie, including its malfunctioning animatronic shark and Spielberg's fears the film would end his career. The feature will also look at the wave of shark fear from the public following the movie's release and will look at the novel which started the story through interviews with Benchley's wife, ocean policy advocate Wendy Benchley and their children. Famous fans including JJ Abrams, Emily Blunt, James Cameron, Cameron Crowe, George Lucas, Steven Soderbergh, Guillermo del Toro and Robert Zemeckis will also speak about the film along with marine experts. Jaws At 50: The Definitive Inside Story will be directed by Laurent Bouzereau and will be produced by Spielberg's Amblin Documentaries and Nedland Films. The documentary frames Jaws, released in 1975, as the "first summer blockbuster", with the movie being the highest-grossing picture of all time until the release of Star Wars two years later. Jaws tells the story of a man-eating shark, named Bruce by the film's crew, that attacks beachgoers at a resort town on Amity Island, and the attempts of police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), marine biologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and professional shark hunter Quint (Shaw) to hunt it down. The film, based on the 1974 novel by Benchley, was followed by three sequels, and has inspired theme park rides at the Universal Studios theme parks as well as video games. The documentary will premiere on 11 July at 8pm on National Geographic and will stream the same day on Disney+.
South Wales Guardian
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
First official Jaws documentary to examine film's impact 50 years on
Jaws At 50: The Definitive Inside Story will feature interviews with director Steven Spielberg, Ian Shaw, the son of Robert Shaw – who played professional shark hunter Quint, and Lorraine Gary who played Ellen Brody, along with other cast members, when it airs on National Geographic and Disney+. The 90-minute documentary will also feature home videos and rare outtakes from Spielberg and writer Peter Benchley's personal archives, and a behind the scenes look at the making of the movie, including its malfunctioning animatronic shark and Spielberg's fears the film would end his career. The feature will also look at the wave of shark fear from the public following the movie's release, and will look at the novel which started the story through interviews with Benchley's wife, ocean policy advocate Wendy Benchley and their children. Famous fans including JJ Abrams, Emily Blunt, James Cameron, Cameron Crowe, George Lucas, Steven Soderbergh, Guillermo del Toro and Robert Zemeckis will also speak about the film along with marine experts. Jaws At 50: The Definitive Inside Story will be directed by Laurent Bouzereau, and will be produced by Spielberg's Amblin Documentaries and Nedland Films. The documentary frames Jaws, released in 1975, as the 'first summer blockbuster', with the movie being the highest-grossing picture of all time until the release of Star Wars two years later. Jaws tells the story of a man-eating shark, named Bruce by the film's crew, that attacks beachgoers at a resort town on Amity Island, and the attempts of police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), marine biologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and professional shark hunter Quint (Shaw) to hunt it down. The film, based on the 1974 novel by Benchley, was followed by three sequels, and has inspired theme park rides at the Universal Studios theme parks as well as video games. The documentary will premiere on July 11 at 8pm on National Geographic and will stream the same day on Disney+.
