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The resort town of Amity Island, as portrayed in the classic thriller, “Jaws.”
LUDLOW — FOLA’s next movie will be “Jaws,” the record-breaking film by Steven Spielberg, at the Ludlow Town Hall Auditorium on Saturday, Aug. 2 at 7 p.m.
“Jaws” is a 1975 American thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Peter Benchley’s novel of the same name. The prototypical summer blockbuster, its release is regarded as a watershed moment in motion picture history. In the story, a giant man-eating great white shark attacks beach-goers on Amity Island, a fictional summer resort town, prompting the local police chief to hunt it with the help of a marine biologist and a professional shark hunter. The film stars Roy Scheider as police chief Martin Brody, Richard Dreyfuss as oceanographer Matt Hooper, Robert Shaw as shark hunter Quint, Murray Hamilton as the mayor of Amity Island, and Lorraine Gary as Brody’s wife, Ellen.
Generally well received by critics, “Jaws” became the highest-grossing film in history at the time, and it was the most successful motion picture of all time — until “Star Wars.” It won several awards for its soundtrack and editing, and is often cited as one of the greatest films of all time. Along with “Star Wars,” “Jaws” was pivotal in establishing the modern Hollywood business model, which revolves around blockbuster action and adventure pictures with simple “high-concept” premises that are released during the summer in thousands of theaters and supported by heavy advertising. It was followed by three sequels, none with the participation of Spielberg or Benchley, and many imitative thrillers. In 2001, “Jaws” was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry, being deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
The movie is open to everyone and is free; donations are appreciated. Popcorn and will be provided.
For more info, visit fola.us or call 802-228-7239.
