To mark the 50th anniversary of Jaws, author and film historian Pat Jankiewicz dives deep into the legacy of the iconic 1975 film and its ripple effect on cinema, culture, and shark lore.
From behind-the-scenes stories and casting quirks to the fascinating inspirations behind the original novel, this episode is a rich tribute to one of the greatest American movies ever made. Pat brings his signature depth of knowledge and love for classic film to share stories that even die-hard fans might not know. Whether you're a lifelong Jaws fanatic or just rediscovering its magic, this episode is a nostalgic thrill ride into open waters.
Episode Highlights:
- Pat Jankiewicz breaks down how Jaws changed the face of filmmaking forever while honoring its legacy 50 years later.
- Why Jaws holds up despite being a product of the 1970s
- The real-life shark attacks that inspired Peter Benchley’s novel
- Casting chaos and the surprising path to Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss
- Behind-the-scenes drama and technical struggles during filming
- How Jaws defined the modern blockbuster and inspired Shark Week
More Pat? Check out episode 175, where we dive into The Incredible Hulk TV series.
You're going to love my conversation with Pat Jankiewicz
More Jaws?
SPONSOR: STAMPEDE SOCIAL Drive engagement from your social channels and podcast with Stampede Social's Instagram and Facebook DM automation! Visit https://stampede.social Also check out: Why Instagram + Stampede Social Is the Growth Strategy Podcasters Need in 2025 (and Beyond)
Follow Jeff Dwoskin (host):
- Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter
- The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter
- Podcast website
- Podcast on Instagram
- Join my mailing list
- Subscribe to my Youtube channel (watch Crossing the Streams!)
- Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show
Ways to support the show:
- Buy me a coffee (support the show)
- Dashery/TeePublic Store: Classic Conversations merch and more!
- Love the books I talk about on the show? Here is my Amazon store to shop.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com