Case File 042: Jaws

August 11, 2021 / Christopher Schrader

Steven Spielberg's 1975 adaptation of Jaws is arguably one of the greatest films ever made. That feat is even more impressive when you take into consideration the multitude of problems this production was plagued with.

On this episode, we're investigating the legendary story of an up-and-coming director who began shooting a movie with no script, no cast, and no shark... and wound up with a bona fide classic that helped give birth to the blockbuster.

Topics include: Peter Benchley's novel and the elements that were excised for the screenplay, how Spielberg shot around a mechanical shark that rarely worked, the unique way Jaws was released and marketed and how that set the stage for modern studio tentpole movies, real life tension between cast members that echoed their on-screen character dynamics, our wildly different experiences with the ride at Universal Studios, the diminishing quality of the sequels, whether or not a new entry in this franchise could even work, and much more!

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