443 JAWS (1975) Part 1

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Aug 15, 2025

The hosts celebrate the 50th anniversary of JAWS, delving into Spielberg's cinematic genius. They explore the film’s craftsmanship and its lasting impact on audiences. Personal stories of fear and nostalgia shed light on the cultural implications of shark phobia. Behind-the-scenes tales reveal production challenges that shaped the film into a classic. The analysis of character depth and sound design illustrates how these elements elevate JAWS into the annals of cinematic history while sparking humor and reflection on the filmmaking process.

02:05:27

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INSIGHT

Craft Over Grand Theme

Jaws earns greatness through meticulous moment-to-moment craft rather than a single grand theme.
Spielberg's micro-choices create emotional power that audiences feel without noticing.

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ANECDOTE

Filmmaker's Personal Shark Work

Steve Morris recounts making two great white shark documentaries and a film called Great White Shark Beyond the Cage of Fear.
He notes the mechanical Jaws shark and his documentary shark both shared the name "Bruce."

insights

INSIGHT

Ocean Location Shaped The Film

Spielberg insisted on shooting on location in the ocean, not in tanks, to preserve authenticity.
That decision forced risky technical problems that ultimately shaped the film's creative approach.

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Exploring the Depths of Craftsmanship in Jaws

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Rediscovering Spielberg: A Reflection on Jaws and Cinematic Mastery

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Exploring the Impact of 'Jaws' and Spielberg's Cinematic Genius

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Behind the Scenes of Jaws: The Story of Creation

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Unveiling 'Jaws': Spielberg's Journey

19:13 • 23min

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From Actor to Industry Veteran: A Hollywood Journey

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Exploring 'Jaws': Cinematic Mastery and Character Depth

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Roy Scheider and the Women of Cinema

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Unpacking Jaws: Characters and Community

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Sound and Leadership in JAWS

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Nostalgia and Craft in JAWS

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On this episode of The Cine-Files, Steve Morris and John Rocha revisit 1975's JAWS in honor of its 50th anniversary this year. Steve and John did an episode on this film years ago, but are ready to give it the FULL Cine-Files treatment here. Directed by legendary director Steven Spielberg, the film stars Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw, Lorraine Gray, and Murray Hamilton. Scheider stars as police chief Martin Brody, who, with the help of a marine biologist (Dreyfuss) and a professional shark hunter (Shaw), hunts a man-eating great white shark that attacks beachgoers at a New England summer resort town. Nominated for four Oscars, it won for Best Original Score, Best Film Editing, and Best Sound. It lost Best Picture to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Steve and John go thru the movie scene by scene to break down the direction, acting, storylines, cinematography, score, action sequences and more.

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