Why the novel 'JAWS' as written would have made a terrible film

Hello Islanders,

It is the reason we have our favorite film.  It is the basis for fans all over the world to sit down and talk about it.  “IT” is Peter Benchley’s novel, “Jaws.”  Director Steven Spielberg wisely omitted a lot of the novel’s plot to concentrate on the shark.  And thank goodness he did.  If not we would all be gathering around a Star Wars fan page because NO ONE would have liked seeing Benchliey’s whole story on the screen.  Here are the Top 3 reasons why…

1.  Unlikable Characters 

With the exception of newspaper editor Harry Meadows, there is not a redeeming person in the book.  Brody is sullen, preoccupied with his job and convinced of his wife’s infidelity.  

Ellen Brody grew up with the type of people who live in Amity, including Matt Hooper’s brother, who she used to date.  She is feeling unfulfilled in her marriage, often questioning her decision to give up the good life to marry a cop and when her good natured flirting with Matt Hooper leads to something she embraces it.

Matt Hooper is a spoiled rich kid that happenes to know a lot about sharks.  He is the typical “Islander” you often see portrayed as boorish in films.  He also fancies himself a ladies man and has no qualms about bedding Ellen Brody.

Quint is, well, Quint.   

By the story’s end, you could care less who lives or dies.

2.  The Affair 

As noted above Ellen Brody and Matt Hooper have an affair.  Being released at the same time as authors like Jacqueline Susann were spicing up their stories with graphic sex scenes, the affair almost seems tacked on in the story.  Sex sold in the early 70s, so even though it really contributes nothing to the story – Brody is already an unpleasant man -I’m sure the publisher pushed Benchley to include it.  The affair almost takes center stage in the second part of the book when Brody continually questions Hooper, trying to catch him in a lie (he does).  

3.  The Action

Compared to the film, the novel is ;pretty borng.  It also continually halts the action on the ORCA by having the three men return to shore every night, mostly so Brody can brood .  Any excitement and anticipation built up during a chapter is diluted when the ORCA returns to port and the three men go their separate ways, only to start over the next day.  Also, and if you haven’t read the book, SPOILER ALERT – the shark just, well….dies.  After attacking Hooper in the cage and killing him – I will give Benchley points for having the shark breach the water with Hooper in its mouth.  Brody fires a rifle at it and, while missing the shark, hits Hooper in the neck.  Maybe he was aiming at Hooper all along.   After Quint is tangled in his harpoon rope and pulled underwater ala Ahab in “Moby Dick,” the shark’s final attack is  foiled by…a bad heart?  The shark just stops and sinks below the water.  THE END.  Not exactly a rousing finale.

Words by Michael A Smith. Michael is co-author of Jaws 2: The Making Of The Hollywood Sequel. You can order the book by contacting Michael at OsFanMike@aol.com.

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