Jaws
Across America in the mid-1970s, signs proclaiming "Shark-Free Pool" popped up at motels, YMCAs, and community parks. Was swimming really that perilous 50 years ago? Not quite. These signs were a playful nod to the JAWS craze that swept the nation in the summer of '75.
Rookie director Steven Spielberg adapted Peter Benchley's bestseller into a blockbuster hit that left audiences terrified. The film is set in the sleepy resort town of Amity (portrayed by Martha's Vineyard), which descends into a relentless nightmare when a ravenous shark starts lurking in its previously peaceful waters. Police chief Brody (Roy Scheider), oceanographer Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss), and seasoned shark hunter Quint (Robert Shaw) join forces to rid the town of this formidable predator.
JAWS spawned numerous sequels and countless imitators, but none could match Spielberg's original thriller. Over 40 years later, John Williams' Oscar-winning score remains iconic, and fans can still recite Quint's memorable toast, "Here's to swimmin' with bow-legged women."
- Director: Steven Spielberg
- Writer: Peter Benchley, Carl Gottlieb
- Starring: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton
- Year: 1975
- Rating: PG
- Running Time: 124 minutes