“Da-dum. Da-dum. Da-dum da-dum da-dum da-dum daaaaaaaa...”
Hard to believe it’s been a whole half-century since moviegoers first heard those ominous notes by composer John Williams, the opening sounds to a film that would capture the country’s attention like few had. Today is the 50th anniversary of the release of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, which debuted on June 20, 1975 (also on a Friday) in a then-unusual 409 theaters following a nationwide TV advertising blitz.
The piscine shocker about a great white shark preying on a small New England vacation community took in a record-setting $7 million in its opening weekend. It then went on to make back its roughly $9 million (figures vary) production budget in its first 10 days. Over the next year Jaws would topple 1972’s The Godfather for the title of box office king, earn three Academy Awards, inspire a slew of copycat movies, and rake in even more money from books and magazine, posters, toys and games, plastic cups, t-shirts, and other tie-in tchotchkes.
To celebrate the Golden Anniversary of the “Summer of Jaws,” MovieFanFare is proud to present the first in a series of “Fin-tastic Friday” pieces saluting the film and its impact on Hollywood. To start off the piscatorial proceedings, just click on the link below for a look at the original teaser trailer from 1975:
Don’t worry, we’re sure the young lady will get away (Sadly, actress/stuntwoman Susan Backline–who played Chrissie, the shark’s first victim–passed away last May at 77).
Please take a moment and share some of your Jaws memories with us in the comments, and be here next Friday for more shark shenanigans.