Film academics mark 40th anniversary of blockbuster Jaws

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water.

Forty years on from the release of Jaws, film academics from around the world are to examine its impact on cinema.

The one-day symposium, which is open to the public, will take place on Wednesday, 17 June at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).

It has been organised by Professor Ian Q. Hunter, Professor of Film Studies and leading member of DMU’s acclaimed Cinema and Television History (CATH) research group.

Prof Hunter said: “It's an iconic film, the start of modern Hollywood and kicked off the career of the most successful filmmaker of all time.


“For me, Jaws remains one of the truly great and lasting classics of American cinema – a perfect piece of movie-making.”

Film scholars will give papers which examine Jaws from a variety of differing viewpoints including its place in legend, nostalgia and gender politics. The conference has already received national coverage in the Observer.

Academics Peter Kramer and Sheldon Hall will debate whether Jaws was indeed the “first blockbuster” – a claim made ever since the film took a then-unprecedented $100million at the US box office.

Keynote speakers are respected film authors and scholars Murray Pomerance, of Ryerson University, Canada and Nigel Morris, principal lecturer at University of Lincoln.



Jaws: The Symposium takes place between 10am and 6pm in Clephan Building 3.01 and 3.07. Tickets cost £15 for DMU staff and students, and £30 for all others to include refreshments.

On 13 and 14 June, Leicester’s Phoenix Cinema is showing Jaws. Professor Hunter is giving an introduction to the film on 14 June.