Jaws (1975) Re-Revisit ft. Klarissa and Ralph Esparza
Dana and Tom with returning guests Klarissa (I've Seen That One (IG)) and Ralph Esparza (Film Producer) re-revisit Jaws (1975) for its 50th Anniversary: directed by Steven Spielberg, written by Peter Benchley and Carl Gottlieb, cinematography by Bill Butler, score by John Williams, starring Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss.Plot Summary: Jaws is a masterclass in cinematic suspense, a film that grips the audience with primal fear and refuses to let go. Directed with surgical precision by a young Steven Spielberg, it tells the story of a seaside town terrorized by a great white shark—an unseen menace that lurks beneath the surface both literally and metaphorically. Roy Scheider’s Chief Brody, caught between political pressure and his own conscience, anchors the human drama, while Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw provide texture as a scientist and a grizzled fisherman, respectively.But the real triumph of Jaws is its restraint. The mechanical shark’s frequent malfunctions forced Spielberg to show less, and in doing so, he created more: more tension, more imagination, more terror. John Williams' iconic score doesn’t just accompany the action—it is the shark. What emerges is not just a thriller, but a work of art that understands the mechanics of fear and the anatomy of heroism. It’s not about a shark; it’s about the people who must confront it—and, by extension, themselves.Guests:KlarissaI've Seen That One (IG)Previously on Roman Holiday (1953) RevisitRalph Esparza (Film Producer)Credited on Tollbooth, Mad House, Killer Date, An Occasional Hell, and One Degree Celcius@ralph_esparza on IGPreviously on Magnolia (1999)Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back Klarissa and Ralph03:11 Relationship(s) with Jaws15:34 Cast of Jaws16:32 Why Doesn't Jaws Seem to Age as Much as Its Comtemporaries?23:23 What is Jaws About?33:07 Background for Jaws38:33 Jaws Success - Accident or Genius?40:35 Plot Summary for Jaws42:05 Did You Know?45:51 First Break46:48 What's Happening with Klarissa and Ralph49:38 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy52:20 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance54:22 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty59:24 Second Break01:00:07 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness01:06:28 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability01:15:15 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total01:17:57 In Memoriam01:19:55 Remaining Questions for Jaws01:33:22 Thank You to Klarissa and Ralph01:35:30 CreditsYou can also find this episode in full video on YouTube.You can now follow us on Instagram, Twitter,