Top 10 Moments That Define Chief Martin Brody From Jaws
Martin Brody, Chief of Amity Island Police (played by Roy Scheider) is one of the most iconic and unlikely heroes in cinema. Afraid of water, living on an island and duty bound to protect the residents from a blood thirsty shark and money hungry Mayor, Martin must face his fears and become the man we all know he can be.
Today, on what would have been Roy Scheider’s 88th birthday, The Daily Jaws founder Ross looks back at Martin Brody’s 10 best moments (broments).
Number 10: Police Station Tribute
Ok, so Jaws The Revenge is not a good movie. At all. However, it does to try to weave in elements to tie itself back to the original Jaws which help it win some good will with viewers. Setting itself (initially) on Amity Island, we find the younger of the Brody boys Sean is now a police officer and his that father’s photo proudly hangs in the police station as tribute to the late, great man. This not only shows the legacy of Martin Brody but echoes how sons invariably copy their fathers and how some live in their parent’s shadow - something we’ll revisit later.
Number 9: Gone Fishing
As the crew of the Orca prepare to embark on the hunt to kill the shark, Ellen and Martin have a heartwarming goodbye. Possibly their last. With Quint and Hooper looking on, Martin handles this time with Ellen as best he can. They both know he may not come back and yet all they can share are safety tips about damaged fireplaces and extra pairs of socks. Such a believable and tender moment showing both vulnerability and strength - the tightrope of what it means to be a human in love.
Number 8: Bigger Boat
I know, I know. Most of you probably expected this to be much higher on the list, possibly even taking the top spot. But this list is about character defining moments, not cinematic greatness, or else it would have been top 3 for sure.
As far as a character defining, the ‘bigger boat’ moment is very revealing. Note, Brody says “you’re” gonna need a bigger boat. Not “we’re“. The use of the word ‘you’re’ shows Brody still doesn’t fully see this as his problem and he’s just along for the ride - and to make sure Quint does in fact kill the shark and not stiff the town out of $10k!
Number 7: Out To Sea
They say a picture says a thousand words. For broment number 7, I have to agree. At the very end of the estuary sequence, after bringing Michael ashore, Chief Brody looks out to sea now knowing the real truth. For this shark problem to be solved, the battle will have to be fought on the shark’s terms, in it’s territory; Brody’s one phobia… the water.
Number 6: Brody vs The Committee
Make no mistake, Roy Scheider realllllly didn’t want to make Jaws 2 but his reprising Martin Brody allowed Roy to forego commitments to two other movies. I for one am glad we got to see Roy again as Martin Brody - I mean seriously, how could you recast in the role? But Jaws 2 showed us a more assertive and confident Martin and this is no more evident than when Martin confronts the town committee with a photo, evidence of another shark problem.
Number 5: One Of The Boys
Chum bitch. That’s basically what Brody is for most of his time aboard the Orca. Whilst he’s used to being top of the tree within the Amity PD, he’s firmly at the bottom of the food chain when at sea. And apart from fighting the shark, Brody’s also fighting the clash between Hooper and Quint, struggling to maintain order and constantly fighting for their respect (personally and professionally). Brody finally gets some level of genuine acceptance the night the crew get drunk, eat and sing. They have bared their scars and have nothing left to hide from each other.
Number 4: Sign It Larry!
Nothing like your son nearly getting chomped by a killer shark to get your mojo working. This scene between politician and police chief, although short, is pivotal in Brody’s character development. Brody forces the action that should have been taken from the very start. This moment defines his relationship with the Mayor for the rest of their lives. Brody now has the power, as morals wins over money.
Number 3: The Kintner Slap
For me, this is one of the most human moments in any film ever. Grief shows it’s wrath to authority. Mrs Kintner has suffered the ultimate loss. Her son can never be brought back. Brody could have prevented this. He should have closed the beaches. But he didn’t. He chose to go along with the Mayor for the sake of the town’s economy - he’s complicit. We should hate Brody for letting this happen. But we don’t hate him. We empathise with him and feel that slap just as much as he does. It’s the wake up call he needs - parent to grieving parent. He’s being told in no uncertain terms that he is not good enough and must do all he can protect the town and win back everyone’s trust. This is the moment Brody starts to change. He must.
Number 2: Brody and Sean at dinner
Family is a running theme through Spielberg’s films - especially fathers (Sean Connery as Henry Jones anyone?). So it’s no surprise to find Martin retreated in the bosom of his family straight after the very public confrontation with Mrs Kintner. What is surprising is how touching (and important) what happens next is.
Martin and Sean are sat at the dinner table (post meal). Brody is thinking to himself, no doubt reflecting on the day’s events. After a few moments, Martin spots Sean copying his gestures. So Martin plays up to the infant and without missing a beat, Sean copies his father. A beautiful game of copycat ensues that we’ve all done (whether as parents or children or both). But the game has a deeper meaning. Children copy their parents. This broment is about legacy.
Martin knows that how he handles this shark problem will echo not just for him, but his sons. The very next thing Martin does is suggest the autopsy of the Tiger shark and then shortly after that, he’s out on a boat, on the water, at night. Family is a powerful thing.
Number 1: Brody Kills The Beast
Jaws is not about the shark. It is about one man overcoming his emancipation by being forced to face his ultimate demon which, on the surface (pun totally intended), is an indiscriminate killer, attacking the flock he is sworn to protect. But Brody’s real demon is his loss of his identity as a man and the potential loss of his family both physically and metaphorically.
Jaws is a series of classic moments, each designed to push Martin Brody (and us) to his limit until he has to take ownership, action and massive personal risk to solve this particular problem.
Jaws is all about this moment. The killing of the shark, reminding Martin of the man he was/can be. The man Ellen married and the man his sons can genuinely look up to, not the unsure, mouse we meet at the start. This change is echoed in Jaws 2 as this Martin is a more confident, assertive man who really can do anything, after all, he’s the Chief of Police!
So do you agree with my list? Let me know your thoughts!
Words by Ross Williams
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