“Jaws,” July 25

Friday, July 25, 9 p.m.

Rozz-Tox, 2108 Third Avenue, Rock Island IL

A box-office smash, winner of three Academy Awards, and the film that effectively invented the phrase “summer blockbuster,” Steven Spielberg's landmark Jaws enjoys a 50th-anniversary outdoor screening at Rozz-Tox on July 25, this iconic work hailed by Roger Evert as "a sensationally effective action picture" and "a scary thriller that works all the better because it's populated with characters that have been developed into human beings."

Based on the 1974 novel by Peter Benchley, Jaws stars Roy Scheider as police chief Martin Brody, who, with the help of a marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss) and a professional shark hunter (Robert Shaw), hunts a man-eating great white shark that attacks beachgoers at a New England summer resort town. Murray Hamilton plays the mayor, and Lorraine Gary portrays Brody's wife. The screenplay is credited to Benchley, who wrote the first drafts, and actor/writer Carl Gottlieb, who rewrote the script during principal photography.

Shot mostly on location at Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts from May to October 1974, Jaws was the first major motion picture to be shot on the ocean and consequently had a troubled production, famously going over budget and schedule. As the art department's mechanical sharks often malfunctioned, Spielberg decided to mostly suggest the shark's presence, employing an ominous and minimalist theme created by composer John Williams to indicate its impending appearances. Spielberg and others have compared this suggestive approach to that of director Alfred Hitchcock. Universal Pictures initially released the film on more than 450 screens, an exceptionally wide release for a major studio picture at the time, accompanied by an extensive marketing campaign with heavy emphasis on television spots and tie-in merchandise.

Regarded as a watershed moment in motion-picture history, Jaws was the prototypical summer blockbuster and won several awards for its music and editing. It was the highest-grossing film in history until the release of Star Wars two years later; both films were pivotal in establishing the modern Hollywood business model, which pursues high box-office returns from action and adventure films with simple high-concept premises, released during the summer in thousands of theaters and advertised heavily. Jaws was followed by three sequels, none of which involved Spielberg or Benchley, as well as many imitative thrillers. In 2001, the Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.

At the July 25 screening of Jaws, Death Stitch Clothing will be vending their iconic horror apparel, and guests are advised to bring blankets or lawn chairs and not bring their own food or drink, as the service window will be open. The 9 p.m. screening of the PG-rated film will be held in the back garden, weather permitting, admission to the all-ages event is free, and more information is available by calling (309)200-0978 and visiting RozzTox.com.