Jaws

<p><b>This study of <i>Jaws </i>(1975) examines how Steven Spielberg’s breakout film not only redefined the thriller but also pioneered the summer blockbuster, cementing his reputation as a master filmmaker. </b><br><br>Against the odds of a catastrophic location shoot, 27-year-old Spielberg delivered a film so effective that it became the highest-grossing movie of its time, transforming Hollywood’s approach to event cinema.<br><br>Adapted from Peter Benchley’s best-selling novel, and Steven Spielberg's second feature, <i>Jaws </i>became a cultural phenomenon, its story of a great white shark terrorising a New England beach town striking a primal chord with audiences. Under extreme pressure on a catastrophic location shoot, Universal's 27 year-old prodigy crafted a thriller so effective that for some time <i>Jaws </i>was the highest-grossing film of all time. It was also instrumental in establishing the concepts of the event movie and the summer blockbuster.<br><br><i>Jaws</i> exerts an extraordinary power over audiences. Apparently simplistic and manipulative, it is a film that divided critics into two broad camps: those who dismissed it as infantile and sensational - and those who saw the shark as freighted with complex political and psychosexual meanings. Antonia Quirke, in an impressionistic response, argues that both interpretations obscure the film's success simply as a work of art. In <i>Jaws, </i>Spielberg's ability to blend genres combined with his precocious technical skill to create a genuine masterpiece, which is underrated by many, including its director. Indeed, Quirke argues, it may be his finest work.<br><br>In her foreword to this new edition, Antonia Quirke looks back on <i>Jaws</i>, its compelling power and its contemporary resonances fifty years after its release.</p>