I remember it vividly. Fifty years ago, the babysitter arrived, and my parents were soon backing out of the driveway. They were off with another couple to see this new movie, Jaws. I desperately wanted to go. They, in their infinite parental wisdom, said I was too young
Quick Aside: I was never invited on their date nights—except maybe that one on Valentine’s Day a decade earlier. (You do the math.)
Don’t you love how parents decide what’s appropriate for kids before they’ve even seen the movie?
Back to the summer of ’75—which, yes, sounds a bit Bryan Adams-ish. I don’t remember how long it took before I was finally allowed to see Jaws. It might’ve been years. I do remember reading the book, and I know my parents weren’t letting me do that at age nine.
Long before social media, Jaws was one of cinema’s biggest viral sensations. Viral content isn’t new; it has always thrived on exceptional craft and compelling storytelling. Plenty of people are writing about how Jaws changed cinema, inspired generations, and made them afraid to swim in the ocean. My memory? It’s more of a summer sports metaphor. The fuss I kicked up that night over what I saw as an “unfair call” was legendary, worthy of Earl Weaver, the famously fiery Baltimore Orioles manager, arguing with the umpires. Spoiler: the umpires (my parents) didn’t reverse the decision.
But the tide turned. The next summer, my mom dropped me and some friends off to see Rocky. The summer after that, my dad took me to see Star Wars on opening weekend.
I didn’t get duh-dun… duh-dun… duh-dun in real time. But I did get Gonna Fly Now and duh duh DUH DUN DA DUN, DUN DA DUN—two iconic soundtracks from two iconic films.
And speaking of unforgettable movie moments from that era: I loved visiting my grandparents in Florida. No, Jaws didn’t scare me away from the ocean. But the year before it hit theaters, my grandparents took me to see The Man with the Golden Gun. It was Rated R. We never told my parents.
This agent named James knows how to keep a secret.