When Does the Film "JAWS" (1975) Take Place?

"JAWS" is a horror film written by Peter Benchley with Carl Gottlieb, Matthew Robbins, Hal Barwood, and Howard Sackler [adapting "JAWS" (1974) by Peter Benchley] that released June 20th, 1975. So when is "JAWS" set? 


It takes place in the year: 

1974 AD 


We know this because, very early in the movie a police report is being typed up for the death of the swimmer Christine 'Chrissie' Watkins with four 1974 AD dates on it. 

Under the pre-printed "DATE/TIME ORIGINAL ILL./INJ.", Police Chief Martin C. Brody has typed "7-1-74" (representing July 1st, 1974 AD) with "11:50PM".  Under the pre-printed "DATE/TIME DECEASED DISCOVERED", "7-2-74" (representing July 2nd, 1974 AD) with "10:20 PM" is typed. Under the pre-printed "DATE/TIME DEATH OCCURRED", he's typed "7-1-74" (again representing July 1st, 1974 AD) with "11:50PM". Finally, there's a fourth visible typed "7-1-74" under a heading that can't be read because it is outside the film frame. This report refers to things that just happened in the second and fourth scenes of the story. 

More specifically, the plot hinges on the tourism trade over the July 4th holiday weekend so the entire story takes place in early July of 1974 AD. 

This Daily Jaws article by Ross Williams examines its exact setting. 


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