Dead fish are well, just that, dead fish. The unsavory sight and odious odors that accompany dead fish can make the nose wrinkle and the skin wriggle. Fantastically though if one ceremoniously accompanies a scaly sea dweller with a ball of rice a sliver of celery and dollop of quail egg, voila you have a peerless delicacy. Such is the case with the 1975 box office hit Jaws. For if one strips this theatrical thriller of the ancillary ingredients that make it a gem you have nothing more than a stinking fish – another prosaic monster movie, another cheep thriller. In a cinematic triumph director Steven Spielberg serves up brilliant acting, witty writing and a timeless sound track to poke at the deepest of human fears, turning a bloated fish into peerless filmmaking. But of all the spices that Spielberg brings to the film the musical score unifies the presentation.
As early as the opening credits John Williams score is etched into our soul. The keyless droning drives on like the merciless fish it accompanies. The pace and rhythm of the three note motif accelerate in such sublime consonance with the frenzy of the large predators attacks one quickly identifies even the first drawn out note with the struggle and macabre death that inevitably follow. Mimicking the futile and frantic grouping for air and life of the red washed victims, Williams’s crescendos with horn shrills that shock the viewer and sear fear into the mind. It is obvious from the outset the additive that gives breath to this masterpiece of filmmaking is its haunting score.
Jaws will strike a chord of fear in even the most tasteless of movie goers. Although the brilliant acting of Robert Shaw, the captivating writing of Peter Blenchley, and unparallel direction of Steven Spielberg give the film body, its soul is in the sound track. Listen to it loud and willing or not the heart will jump and the hands will clam up as you partake. Although the “lifeless eyes, black eyes” of Jaws will fill one with apprehension for years, it is the score that will keep you out of the water.
Helpful tip: For those who scare easy, or who have children in the room, try watching this movie backwards. Now this once threatening man eating beast, becomes a special almost lovable fish, saving dismembered and drowning swimmers by putting them back together with his magical teeth. Try this on most horror movies. Ya, I know what you did last summer, and I saved your life. Jason the murderer in Friday the 13th, turns into Dr. Jason and the magic knife. Since you can't hear sound in reverse, the dialog must go something like this. "Jason, my boyfriend has detached all his limbs in the boat house, can you help us." Grabbing his magic knife, he assembles all her boyfriends limbs and even cleans up the bloody mess and exclaims "this was no boating accident" Its a feel good family romp. A definite 2 thumbs up! Warning: Do not attemt this on the t.v. series "House". It becomes quite disturbing how he's constantly giving people strange diseases. He will haunt your dreams.
ReplyDeleteYes..and the magic is the sound track for Jaws is the same backward...eewwww...aaahhh...bomp bomp.
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