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Friedkin's Masterpiece ‘Sorcerer' Joins The Criterion Collection
Friedkin's Masterpiece ‘Sorcerer' Joins The Criterion Collection

Forbes

time14-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Forbes

Friedkin's Masterpiece ‘Sorcerer' Joins The Criterion Collection

A truck laden with unstable dynamite crosses a dilapidated bridge in William Friedkin's 1977 ... More thriller 'Sorcerer' Courtesy of Universal Pictures and Paramount Pictures Sorcerer seemed like a sure thing, a guaranteed box office hit. Two of director William Friedkin's previous films ( The French Connection and The Exorcist ) received eighteen Oscar nominations, winning seven including Best Picture for The French Connection . The Exorcist shattered box office records for a horror film, grossing $ 193 million on a $ 12 million budget. It has since grossed over $ 440 million after numerous theatrical re-releases. Throw in Roy Scheider (Chief Brody from Jaws ), the leading man in the highest grossing film of all-time (as of 1975), and you have a recipe for a blockbuster hit. Yet upon its release on June 24, 1977, Sorcerer grossed less that $ 13,000 on a $ 22 million budget. That's not a typo. Thirteen THOUSAND dollars. What went wrong? It was a troubled production that ran overbudget, but how did so much talent fall flat in theaters? Ultimately, it was just bad luck. A small science fiction film called Star Wars was released four weeks before Sorcerer . These were the days before home video. The only way to see a film was in theaters, and Star Wars mania dominated the country when Sorcerer hit theaters. Audiences wanted to see Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader square off for the third, fourth or fifth time rather than check out a thriller about four men transporting volatile cargo through a South American jungle. For decades Sorcerer simply disappeared. In the formative years of the home video market, no one wanted to put out a flop on VHS (nor later on DVD). If it didn't do well in theaters, no one was paying $ 80.00 for a VHS copy of it. So, Sorcerer fell into obscurity. A few weeks ago a gorgeous edition of Sorcerer hit shelves courtesy of The Criterion Collection. Being added to their global canon of cinema not only gives film fans a beautiful 4K UHD edition of the film, but it also serves to place William Friedkin in his proper context as one of THE auteurs of the 1970's, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Francis Ford Coppola and Steven Spielberg. There have been other releases of the film, but this is the best looking and sounding edition of Sorcerer you'll find. Briefly (so as not to spoil the fun), Sorcerer is the tale of desperate men taking desperate measures to extract themselves from the squalor of the South American hellhole they find themselves in. A local oil company is battling a raging fire at one of its wells. Standard operating procedure is to create a large explosion that sucks the oxygen out of the immediate surroundings and extinguishes the fire. The only problem: the oil company has used all their on-site dynamite to clear the surrounding jungle. Enter Jackie Scanlon (Scheider) and his motley crew who sign on to transport a load of sweaty, unstable dynamite through the 'roads' of a South American jungle. For those of you who aren't chemists (like me), dynamite 'sweats' nitroglycerine. All it takes is a big bounce to blow the cargo and drivers sky high. Scanlon and his comrades are literally driving a bomb through the jungle with a big theoretical paycheck waiting for the survivors. Master French filmmaker Henri-Georges Clouzot tackled this same subject matter in his 1953 black and white masterpiece The Wages of Fear which is also enshrined in The Criterion Collection. Sorcerer is a master class of suspense and character development. The opening of the film is a brief origin story for each of the four men and gives their characters a depth that was largely ignored in typical 1970's thrillers. We know why each man is willing to take on such a dangerous assignment. They all need a miracle to turn their lives around. The search for that miracle culminates in one of the bravura suspense sequences in film history as they navigate the decaying span of a rotting bridge in a torrential downpour (pictured above). Criterion is the gold standard for film restoration. Their new 4K digital restoration of the film and its accompanying 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack were approved by Friedkin prior to his death in August 2023. Remastering 1970's films is tricky business. The goal is to make it sharper and richer without losing all the film grain in the process. It's no surprise to anyone that Criterion nailed it. Sorcerer hasn't looked this good since the weekend of its ill-fated opening. (Be certain to turn off any motion smoothing function on your television, and set the frame rate to 24 frames a second to avoid that strange polished look that TV manufacturers created for live sports broadcasts.) This release of Sorcerer is full of the kind of extra content that seems to be omitted from so many home video releases these days. The Criterion edition includes Friedkin Uncut , a 2018 feature length documentary on the director's career. Fans are getting two Friedkin films in one. All Criterion releases are currently 50% off at Barnes & Noble (through July 27th). Add Sorcerer to your collection and rediscover an underseen classic that deserved a much better fate in theaters than it received.

‘Jaws' Star Richard Dreyfuss Drops Out of Public Appearance Due to Viral Bronchitis Diagnosis: ‘I Feel Terrible About Not Showing Up'
‘Jaws' Star Richard Dreyfuss Drops Out of Public Appearance Due to Viral Bronchitis Diagnosis: ‘I Feel Terrible About Not Showing Up'

Yahoo

time13-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

‘Jaws' Star Richard Dreyfuss Drops Out of Public Appearance Due to Viral Bronchitis Diagnosis: ‘I Feel Terrible About Not Showing Up'

'Jaws' icon Richard Dreyfuss was forced to drop out of this weekend's SharkCon in Tampa, Fla., after he was diagnosed with viral bronchitis. Dreyfuss delivered the news of his diagnosis and his exit in a video post shared to the SharkCon Instagram on Saturday. More from Variety On the 50th Anniversary of Its Release, 'Jaws' Holds a Surprising Message for Us: Movies Should Feel Real How Steven Spielberg's 'Jaws' Endured a Hellish Production to Become Hollywood's First Summer Blockbuster Steven Spielberg Is Introducing a Special Airing of 'Jaws' on NBC This Month, Among Other Plans to Mark the Film's 50th Anniversary (EXCLUSIVE) He said, 'Hello, fellow cons. I am very, very sorry to tell you that I've been diagnosed with viral…viral…What is it?' His wife, Svetlana Erokhin, then clarified off-screen that Dreyfuss had been infected with viral bronchitis. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SharkCon (@shark_con) Dreyfuss continued, 'I've been told by my doctors I cannot fly, and I would have to fly five hours to get [to SharkCon]. I'm terribly sorry because I had planned to be there and had been looking forward to it. But I'm unable to do so. I don't want to get anyone else sick, and I don't want to get sicker myself. I feel terrible about not showing up, and I feel worse about exposing you to this, apparently, very viral illness.' Dreyfuss headlined Steven Spielberg's 1975 horror masterpiece alongside Roy Scheider and Robert Shaw. In 'Jaws,' the Oscar-winner played Matt Hooper, a wisecracking oceanologist and shark expert tasked with helping Chief Brody track down the vicious man-eater. The 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' star made waves during another public appearance at a 'Jaws' retrospective screening in 2024. At the post-screening Q&A, Dreyfuss made controversial comments about the Oscars' new diversity requirements, trans people and the MeToo movement. The executive director of the event, J. Casey Soward, issued a statement in the fallout, apologizing for his remarks. Best of Variety Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples Oscars 2026: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Wagner Moura and More Among Early Contenders to Watch New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week

Behind the scenes secrets of Jaws revealed as Hollywood blockbuster turns 50 – & how its bite can still be felt today
Behind the scenes secrets of Jaws revealed as Hollywood blockbuster turns 50 – & how its bite can still be felt today

The Sun

time11-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • The Sun

Behind the scenes secrets of Jaws revealed as Hollywood blockbuster turns 50 – & how its bite can still be felt today

MOST of us know it for the ominous music and giving us a fear of going into the water. But what went on behind the scenes of Jaws, which is currently celebrating the 50th anniversary of its release, was often scarier than on camera. 8 8 It involved a 27-year-old novice director steering the ship of a monster production, impossible deadlines and cut-price production — which yielded a box-office smash. In the making of his masterpiece, Steven Spielberg very nearly disappeared beneath the surface. And to this day, the classic horror movie still makes a splash. We all know the hallmarks of the world's original summer blockbuster. First, there are those ominous two notes that signal the arrival of the 25ft, three-ton killer shark. Then, the foreboding tagline: 'You'll never go in the water again.' And, of course, those infamous words uttered by actor Roy Scheider as police chief Martin Brody, as he comes face to face with the ravenous great white that's been tucking into tourists in Amity Island. He tells seasoned shark hunter Quint, who — spoiler alert — later finds himself chewed up like chum: 'You're going to need a bigger boat.' Now, Disney+ documentary Jaws@ 50: The Definitive Inside Story has uncovered details that give a fresh insight into how Spielberg's smash hit was made, and its legacy. Speaking to The Sun, the documentary's director Laurent Bouzereau says of the film: 'It stands alongside the great masterpieces in painting and music and other art forms that have had an impact on culture, generation after generation. Shocking moment paddleboarders in 'Jaws' country come terrifyingly close to giant great white shark stalking waters 'Steven was fighting his own shark' 'It taps into those fears we all have, but it's also the film's humanity that makes it so timeless. 'It's a very human story about ­overcoming the odds. 'I would hope that in 50 years from now, we'll still be talking about Jaws.' As part of his deep dive into the cinema classic, Laurent spoke at length to Spielberg, plus other leading filmmakers including George Lucas, James Cameron, Jordan Peele and Guillermo del Toro, who all agree the Jaws director changed the game. Laurent says: 'What's extraordinary to me is the fact that the story itself was about fighting this shark, but in the making of the film, Steven was metaphorically fighting his own shark.' The drama behind the scenes is already well-known. It began in 1973 — before the writer Peter Benchley even published his then-untitled manuscript about a killer beast (working titles included Leviathan Rising and The Year They Closed The Beaches). His novel was already generating significant buzz, prompting Universal Pictures to buy the rights. The mechanical shark, which was meant to be the star of the film, malfunctioned almost immediately because it had only been tested in a pool — and the salt water from the sea wrecked its internal electrics and hydraulics Studio bosses originally wanted Dick Richards to direct, but they and author Benchley were put off when he repeatedly referred to the shark as a whale. So they took a chance on then- unknown Spielberg, who had already shown promise with his feature films Duel and The Sugarland Express. The then-rookie had a lot to prove, and the odds were stacked against him. First, studio execs wanted him to deliver the finished project in just 55 days to coincide with the paperback release of the book, which by then had become a word-of-mouth hit. But having decamped to the beachy film set of Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts, Spielberg soon realised the deadline was laughable. It would have been a tall order for any movie, but one filmed on water — where tides, weather and background boats could wreak havoc — meant any shot took at least three times as long to film. What's more, the mechanical shark, which was meant to be the star of the film, malfunctioned almost immediately because it had only been tested in a pool — and the salt water from the sea wrecked its internal electrics and hydraulics. That meant the gargantuan prop — nicknamed Bruce after Spielberg's lawyer, a known legal shark in Hollywood — could only be used briefly, in the film's climax. The setbacks cost time and money. Universal Studios was outraged that filming was extended to 159 days and the ­budget had to be almost doubled to $9million. Meanwhile, Spielberg was getting word from Hollywood that as far as studio bigwigs were concerned, he would never work again. But just like a shark keeps ­swimming to stay alive, the now-legendary director just kept going. Realising he could not rely on his big, scary prop to terrify his audience, Spielberg instead used the art of ­suggestion, leaning on John Williams' menacing score and zooming into the horrified look in his actors' eyes to depict the threat facing them. We felt the power of 'Bruce' all the more because of his very limited time on screen. 8 8 8 As Laurent explains, the music was fundamental to the suspense. He says: 'Spielberg and Williams gave a voice to the monster. 'To use music to symbolise the shark was genius, because when you hear those two notes, you know exactly what we're talking about. 'Even if you don't speak English or there aren't any subtitles, you understand the language of the shark.' For all its tremendous challenges, the monster movie became a monster hit. After opening in the US in the summer of 1975, it grossed over $7million in its opening weekend (which today equates to $42million). Jaws embodies the ultimate battle of man versus beast, both on and off screen, transcending cinema to become a living, breathing, chomping piece of pop culture It became the first film in history to take more than $100million at the US box office, surpassing previous records set by The Godfather and The Exorcist. Spielberg duly went from zero to hero, earning himself final editing cut privileges on all his future projects, including E.T., Saving Private Ryan, Schindler's List and Jurassic Park. And yet it is only now that the 78-year-old Hollywood legend recognises the trauma he suffered on set. 'I had nightmares for years afterwards' He reveals in the documentary: 'When the film wrapped at Martha's Vineyard, I had a full-blown panic attack. 'I couldn't breathe — I thought I was having a heart attack. I couldn't get a full breath of air.' That was down, he says, to 'everything that I had experienced on the island, trying to hold myself together, but hold the crew together. "I felt really responsible for keeping them there for as long as we had to stay.' Spielberg adds: 'We didn't have the words PTSD in those days, and I had consistent nightmares about directing Jaws for years afterwards.' It wasn't just the director who felt a negative impact from a global hit. The film sparked widespread fears of swimming in open water — and even spurred a movement of would-be shark hunters. 'Trophy fishing' surged in popularity, while research showed a big drop in white shark populations during the 1970s and 1980s — partly due to the film's demonisation of the sea- dwelling predator. Spielberg himself has voiced his regret, but the book's writer Benchley, who died in 2006, was mortified. He dedicated his life to shark conservation, which his widow Wendy ­continues to this day with the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards, ­recognising the work of those committed to ­conservation of the seas. And, thankfully, the tide has turned yet again in recent decades, with a new generation of ocean explorers and conservationists inspired by the film that opened our eyes to the underwater world. Shark scientist Gibbs Kuguru tells The Sun that Matt Hooper — the oceanographer played by Richard Dreyfuss in the film — inspired many marine biologists. He says: 'People will always talk about Jaws in the context of what it did for the fear of sharks, but I don't think we underscore enough the inspiration it brought to the field of shark science and marine science. 'I can't state it enough about Hooper. He's our guy. He's the godfather.' Gibbs, who features in the ­documentary, switched his studies from medicine to shark science after watching Jaws. He says: 'I decided at that stage that sharks were going to be my life. 'It was going to be that mystery that I wanted to be able to uncover with scientific tools. 'And, again, I need to go back and say thank you to Hooper for giving us the shining example of what that reckless pursuit of nature and wildlife could be like. 'I think maybe, deep down in my psyche, there's a little Hooper in there. 'That's just like, 'Just get in the water, man. What's the worst that could happen?' Without stating the obvious, of course.' Ultimately, the film launched a tidal wave — good and bad. And today, it's still bigger than the sum of its parts. It's a thrilling horror film — a ­seminal hit that paved the way for blockbusters for years to come. And it embodies the ultimate battle of man versus beast, both on and off screen, transcending cinema to become a living, breathing, chomping piece of pop culture. Fifty years on, its remarkable bite can still be felt. Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story is on Disney+ and National Geographic. 8 8

I'm not warming to the new 'taps aff' look, thanks chaps
I'm not warming to the new 'taps aff' look, thanks chaps

Scotsman

time11-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Scotsman

I'm not warming to the new 'taps aff' look, thanks chaps

Roy Scheider in a scene from "Jaws." (Peacock/Universal Pictures via AP) Looks like we're heading for a scorchio weekend in the city, so you can bet the beaches of Porty are going to look like some barbeque for Hannibal Lecter. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... This is a relatively recent phenomenon. There was a time when a gentleman barely revealed an ankle below a rolled up trouser leg for a paddle on the shore. Now it's a full-on naked torso display of rolling blubber for a waddle to the shops. Please, boys, put it away or leave it for the beach. The water quality might be dodgy, but that doesn't stop Scots frollicking in the waves. But climate change might. Our waters are getting warmer, they say, although there are those who would dispute that. We swim with wooly hats on. That tells you something. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As the waters warm, new visitors have been spotted off our coasts. Tuna, sunfish and even a short-spined sea scorpion. No idea what that is, but willing to bet there's a chippy somewhere willing to batter and deep-fry it. Beware running into the sea, you never know what you'll find. Or what will find you. Any adult over the age of 45 still lives in fear of standing chest deep in water and feeling something brush against their leg. Guarantee you they hear that two note drone in their heads because they were traumatised by the opening of the greatest (possibly only) shark film ever. It's exactly 50 years since the release of the film 'Jaws', but the shock has never worn off. I'm telling you, climate changed warming seas might lure one of those big beasties up in the Forth. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Just sayin', 'taps aff' lads. You'd look like a buffet to a mildly lost and slightly baffled Great White. Doubtless there are those who will don the swimming cossie and take the plunge. I may even pull on the trusty old one-piece myself. I don't do bikinis. I am a considerate swimmer. No-one needs to see what lies beneath the sweatshirt. Would that others were so thoughtful on sunny days, and yes, chaps, I am looking at you and your habit of 'taps aff'.

‘Jaws at 50' Documentary Streaming Info: Where To Watch, Channel, Start Time, Hulu Premiere Date
‘Jaws at 50' Documentary Streaming Info: Where To Watch, Channel, Start Time, Hulu Premiere Date

Yahoo

time11-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

‘Jaws at 50' Documentary Streaming Info: Where To Watch, Channel, Start Time, Hulu Premiere Date

Steven Spielberg's iconic thriller Jaws is officially 50 years old, but honestly, the film doesn't look a day over 30. Based on Peter Benchley's 1974 novel, the beloved summertime blockbuster memorably stars Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw as three dudes who have a beef with a meddlesome great white shark that's been attacking local beachgoers. You can celebrate 50 years of Jaws, which is currently streaming on Peacock and drops on Netflix later this month, by watching the new documentary Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story. Airing Thursday, July 10 on National Geographic, this absorbing look back at the game-changing film is the only authorized documentary to feature new interviews with Spielberg. Including never-before-seen footage and interviews with the industry's top filmmakers as well as the movie's original cast and crew, this engrossing Jaws documentary is the perfect kick-back and relax stream for fans of the legendary action flick. 'There were times making that movie where I thought Jaws would probably be the last thing I ever made before people stopped hiring me.' — Steven Spielberg Here's where to watch Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story online. The documentary premieres Thursday, July 10, at 9:00 p.m. ET on the National Geographic Channel. Can't watch live? No problem! Next-day streaming info below! You can watch the Jaws documentary live on Nat Geo or the Nat Geo website (with a cable login). You can also find a Nat Geo live stream with an active subscription to Hulu + Live TV, fuboTV, YouTube TV, DIRECTV, or Sling TV. Yep. Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story premieres Friday, July 11 on Hulu and Disney+. Nope. Just Hulu and Disney+. The franchise is now streaming on Peacock and arrives on Netflix on July 15.

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