Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story

Matt Roush says...

“There was nothing fun about making Jaws,” director Steven Spielberg recalls about the legendary suspense film that catapulted him into the top rank of Hollywood directors 50 years ago this summer, but whose production gave him nightmares for years. Director Laurent Bouzereau’s terrific documentary, a highlight of Sharkfest, relives the turbulent filming of a risky movie that went months over schedule and millions over budget, filming on the open seas around Martha’s Vineyard with a temperamental mechanical shark. But once unleashed on a riveted public, Jaws established the template for the summer blockbuster and remains unrivaled in its irresistible mix of horror and humanism. As Spielberg notes: “I feel that Jaws is more of a people picture than a shark movie. Without these people, you wouldn’t give a hang about the shark.” Filmmakers including Steven Soderbergh and Guillermo del Toro weigh in, as well as surviving actors, composer John Williams (who won an Oscar for the score) and some of the locals including several of the kids (now grown-ups) who recall their encounters with Bruce, the shark.

What's Worth Watching (Jul 10)