“We are Going to Need a Bigger Boat”

Modern Day Lessons From Spielberg’s Jaws

Two big lessons from Jaws. #1. Listen to Science. #2. If you have a big problem, don’t try to fix it with a small boat.

A plot recap:

In a small town dependent on the summer tourists for its economic well being, a young woman is killed and washes up on the beach.

Medical officer of the town lists the cause of death as “Shark Attack”.

Sheriff Brody (Roy Schneider) plans to close beaches.

Mayor of Town, Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) does not allow beaches to be closed. He is worried about the economy. He talks the Medical Officer into saying it was a boating accident.

The beaches open and a young child is killed by the Shark.

Sheriff closes beaches, but the Mayor says only for 24 hours. Mayor Larry talks to the press about burying the story at the back of paper. They put a bounty out on the shark and a bunch of amateurs rush out to fix the problem. The professional shark hunter, Quint (Robert Shaw) offers to kill the shark for $10K. His offer is refused.

The shark scientist from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric administration shows up in town, Matt Hopper played by Richard Dreyfus. He examines the first victim. “This was no boat accident. It was not any propeller. It was a shark.”

Amateurs catch a small shark. Hooper thinks it may not be the shark. Bite radius does match. Mayor insists it is the shark. They eventually cut open the small shark. Stomach content analysis shows that it is not the killer shark.

The scientist tries to convince the Mayor to close the beaches. Mayor accuses scientists of just wanting publicity. He keeps beaches open for Fourth of July.

Shark comes to shore, knocks over a boat and kills the boater.

Mayor reluctantly agrees to hire the professional shark hunter

The Sheriff, the scientist and the professional killer go out on an old small boat to kill the shark.

They search and find the shark, a huge 25 foot Great White. The Sheriff is first to see and becomes almost catatonic. He utters the most famous line from the movie:

“We are going to need a bigger boat.”

He is essentially saying killing this shark will take an extraordinary effort and we are not yet equipped for the job.

The small boat and its posse then engages in a long battle on the ocean. The small boat is destroyed and Quint gets eaten alive.

Hooper and Brody barely escape with their lives and the shark explodes when the sheriff manages to jam a compressed air canister in his mouth and then lands a lucky shot.

The Sheriff and the scientist grab a couple of barrels and paddle back to shore. The town is saved by a miracle.