Instructions
Read the press release below, which was written to promote a new movie in 1975. After reading, complete the activities that follow.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Universal Pictures Presents a Summer of Suspense with 'Jaws'
HOLLYWOOD, CA – Get ready for the ultimate seaside thriller. Universal Pictures announces the theatrical release of Jaws, a heart-pounding adventure film set to premiere on June 20, 1975. This film promises to make you think twice before swimming in the ocean again.
Directed by the visionary young filmmaker Steven Spielberg, Jaws tells the terrifying story of a New England beach community, Amity Island, which falls under attack by a giant, man-eating great white shark. When the local authorities fail to grasp the scale of the threat, it's up to the town's police chief, a marine biologist, and a seasoned shark hunter to face the beast head-on.
The film stars Roy Scheider as Police Chief Martin Brody, Richard Dreyfuss as marine biologist Matt Hooper, and Robert Shaw as the grizzled shark hunter, Quint. The screenplay, written by Peter Benchley and Carl Gottlieb, is based on Benchley's own best-selling novel of the same name.
Adding to the intense atmosphere is a powerful and iconic musical score composed by the legendary John Williams. His suspenseful theme is sure to become as famous as the shark itself.
Don't miss the motion picture event of the summer. Will they stop the shark before it claims another victim? Find out when Jaws swims into theaters everywhere.
Part 1: Fact Finding
Based on the press release, answer the following questions with specific details from the text.
- What company produced the film?
- Who directed the movie?
- What is the film based on, and who wrote it?
- Name the three main characters and the actors who play them.
- Who composed the musical score?
Part 2: Vocabulary Check
Find the words in the press release that match the definitions below.
- A person who makes movies:
- Feeling of excited or anxious uncertainty about what may happen:
- Very famous or popular:
- Having a rough and weather-beaten appearance:
- The written text of a movie:
Part 3: Think About It
The press release describes Jaws as the "ultimate seaside thriller" and a "heart-pounding adventure." Based on the information provided, write 2-3 sentences explaining what makes this movie a "thriller."
Answer Key
Part 1: Fact Finding
- What company produced the film?
Universal Pictures - Who directed the movie?
Steven Spielberg - What is the film based on, and who wrote it?
It is based on the best-selling novel "Jaws" by Peter Benchley. - Name the three main characters and the actors who play them.
Roy Scheider as Police Chief Martin Brody
Richard Dreyfuss as marine biologist Matt Hooper
Robert Shaw as the shark hunter, Quint - Who composed the musical score?
John Williams
Part 2: Vocabulary Check
- A person who makes movies: filmmaker
- Feeling of excited or anxious uncertainty about what may happen: suspense
- Very famous or popular: iconic
- Having a rough and weather-beaten appearance: grizzled
- The written text of a movie: screenplay
Part 3: Think About It
(Answers will vary. A good answer will mention the conflict and danger described in the text.)
Example Answer: The movie is a thriller because it involves a "giant, man-eating great white shark" attacking a community, creating a terrifying and life-threatening situation. The story about hunting the "beast" and the promise of a "heart-pounding adventure" makes the movie suspenseful and exciting, which are key elements of a thriller.