At last, an article about John Williams’ music for “Jaws” that looks beyond the shark theme. (Follow the link below.)

Granted, that two-note motive is destined for immortality, memorable in a way few other movie themes are, and will likely outlive anything else the composer ever wrote – even “Star Wars,” if you can get your head around that – but there is so much more to this masterful score.

The determined “shark cage” fugue, the high-spirited nautical theme, the neo-Baroque tourist music, all serve to elevate “Jaws” and lend it dimension. In other hands, this might have played as a straightforward horror film. Spielberg’s suspense-thriller is transformed in large part through its music into an exhilarating summer entertainment – a genuine good time at the movies.

Roy and I will discuss this seminal summer blockbuster, to kick off the Fourth of July weekend, on the next Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner, livestreamed on Facebook, this Friday evening at 7:00 EDT.

Be forewarned: the article at the link contains spoilers, and so will our show. (Also, it is advisable to avoid all sequels!)

An appreciation of John Williams’ “Jaws” here:

https://www.rogerebert.com/features/revisiting-john-williams-score-for-jaws-45-years-later

A definite high point from the film (you might want to watch the movie first, if you haven’t seen it):

Alas, Williams couldn’t save “Jaws 2,” but it was not for want of trying: