Memories Of Watching Jaws On Opening Day in 1975

We all know that Jaws opened in the US on June 20, 1975, but us in the UK had to wait over six months before we could get to see the Steven Spielberg classic.

Jaws finally swam on to UK screens on December 26, Boxing Day. Most cinemas in the UK may be closed this year, but Mark Mason transports us back to that cold winter's day in 1975 and that West End auditorium, where he first paid visit to Amity Island, aged 11.

TDJ: Were you excited to be seeing Jaws on the day of its release?

Mark: I was both excited and nervous about seeing Jaws on its release on Boxing day 1975.

TDJ: Obviously it had been over six months since it had been out in the US, was there lots of hype about it?

Mark: I don't remember too much hype surrounding the film leading up to its release, only seeing snippets on TV really, trailers and clips etc.

TDJ: Tell us about where you saw it, who with and what the experience was like?

Mark: I first saw it at the Plaza cinema in Lower Regent St, Piccadilly Circus in London's West End.

I went with my parents, who were great lovers of the cinema experience, my mum probably wanted to see Jaws because of her love of scary movies (she would always let me stay up late on Friday and Saturday nights to watch the old Hammer Horror films that were always on BBC TV).

I think my Dad really liked Robert Shaw, his favourite Bond film was From Russia With Love, and his favourite war film was Battle of the Bulge.

It was a great experience, I remember the Bus ride from the East end of London where we lived to the bright lights of piccadilly circus and the vast crowds outside the cinema.

TDJ: Sounds like you had a cool mum and dad, were they not worried it might be too scary for an 11 year old?

Mark: As I mentioned earlier my Mum used to let me watch the old horror films on TV, I used to like the Christopher Lee Dracula films the best.

TDJ: Although it is set during summer, whenever you see Jaws does it always remind you of Christmas growing up?

Mark: It doesn't really remind me of Christmas, but I do every year on Boxing Day I say to my wife "do you know what I was doing on this day in 1975", which always gets the usual look over the top of her glasses lol.

TDJ: Which parts do you remember enjoying the most and why?

Mark: I always enjoyed the lighter moments of the film, probably because there was less chance of being on tenterhooks whilst watching.

The scariest scenes for me were the first attack on Chrissie, Ben Gardner's boat and Hooper in the cage, they all had me squirming in my seat.

TDJ: Did you talk about it much on the way home?

Mark: I couldn't stop talking about it on the way home, I just remember I wanted to see it again even though it scared the hell out of me.

TDJ: Was it the talk of the playground when you went back to school?

Mark: remember telling all my mates about it in the following weeks, and my classmates when I went back to school, not many kids had seen it either because I don't think it was released locally at the time.

TDJ: Did you get any memorabilia at the time of release?

Mark: My Dad bought me the soundtrack and programme in the foyer of the cinema as we left.

READ - JAWS: The Original 1975 Movie Brochure

TDJ: Have you seen it on the big screen again since?

Mark: I saw it when it was released locally three or four times, once with my sister and a few times with friends. My wife and I have seen it twice in the last couple of years with an Orchestra, at the Royal Albert Hall and at Cliffs Pavilion in Southend-on-Sea.

TDJ: Have you got a favourite scene or moment?

Mark: My favourite scene is probably the Indianapolis story and that whole scene with the scars and when they go on deck in the darkness.

Mark seeing JAWS at the Royal Albert Hall in 2017

TDJ: Who is your favourite character and why?
Mark: My favourite character has to be Quint, he's rough, scary, and mischievous all in one, and he was Red Grant... enough said.

TDJ: Did you see any of the Jaws sequels on the big screen as well?

Mark: I've seen all of the sequels on the big screen, I saw Jaws 2 at the Empire cinema in Leicester Square, and locally a couple of times. I saw Jaws 3D just the once, again at the Plaza on it's day of release (once was quite enough I'm afraid to say, although I've seen it a couple of times on TV. I saw Revenge at the Empire too, twice actually, one showing after the other (don't ask me why) lol.

Mark’s copy of the original Jaws program from 1975

TDJ: How do you feel about the sequels?

Mark: I think Jaws 2 is actually one of the best sequels out there to this day, and it has a wonderful score too.

I really don't care much for 3 and 4 to be honest, I did actually visit Universal studios in Los Angeles back in 1987 and during the tour of the backlot they still had the massive water tank or pool with the giant sky backdrop that was used in the finale of the film.

TDJ: Do you still enjoy watching Jaws today?

Mark: I still enjoy watching Jaws to this day, in fact it's one of only a couple of films that I end up watching every time it's shown either on Sky movies or terrestrial TV, and of course over the years on Video, DVD Blu-Ray and 4k ultra HD.(the other film is Alien by the way).

I would just like to add that it's been an absolute pleasure in telling you my experience with the greatest film ever made, it's brought back some fantastic memories for me whilst doing this for The Daily Jaws.

TDJ: Thanks for taking the time to speak to us, Mark. We always love the memories it brings back, so feel honoured that you have shared it with us and I know that it will help provoke lots of other similar ones from other people lucky to have seen it on Boxing Day 1975. And I think we all need that joy even more this year.

Like Jaws, The Daily Jaws isn't about a shark, it is about people. And people like you help make it what it is. Wishing you and yours a safe Christmas and New Year.

Mark was interviewed by Dean Newman for The Daily Jaws

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