MovieChat Forums > Jaws (1975) Discussion > Book ending instead of film ending? Spoi...

Book ending instead of film ending? Spoilers.

posted 2 years ago by Ranb (9789)
11 replies | jump to latest

I thought the book ending was better.

Hooper is in the shark cage and screwing around with the shark as it passes by him instead of killing it with the power-head, until the shark rams the cage and kills him. Brody shoots at the shark as it breaks the surface with Hooper's corpse in its mouth, but misses the shark and shoots Hooper instead.

The next day the shark kills Quint and then expires from the harpoons in its body as it approaches Brody. Brody swims to shore on a flotation cushion.

[–] Sandman81 (1509) 2 years ago

Nah

[–] Ranb (9789) 2 years ago

Like the happy endings better? :)

[–] hyperjet (728) 2 years ago

I do. And I wouldn't necessarily call the ending of this film 'happy'.

[–] orangeflava (1877) 2 years ago

Did they film thos or at least story board it? Spuelberg made the change?

[–] Ranb (9789) 2 years ago

I doubt it. I heard Spielberg really wanted to blow up the shark.

[–] Sandman81 (1509) 2 years ago

Hooper was originally going to be killed. But before they filmed the rest of the movie, they filmed the scenes with the shark underwater attacking the cage, using a mannequin or a little person as a stand in for Hooper. That's when they got the footage of the shark caught on top of the cage. The footage was too good not to use, but the only way it made sense was for Hooper to have escaped, so they changed the script.

[–] mikethemartian (6780) 2 years ago

I remember when the movie came out my sister said that Hooper dies in the book.

[–] Ranb (9789) 2 years ago

Hooper was completely changed from the book. Book Hooper was completely intimidated by Quint, threatened by Brody, had an affair with Ellen Brody and did not get along with anyone other than Mrs. Brody. He died as a result of his stupidity.

Film Hooper bonded with Quint by comparing scars, did not betray Brody and was much more confidant than in the book.

[–] Stratego (30581) 2 years ago

Hooper should've died, I don't care that Spielberg had a man crush on Dreyfuss.

[–] strangenstein (683) 2 years ago

The book ending isn’t a rousing crowd pleaser like the movie ending, but I’ve always enjoyed its simplicity. One thing the book does better is fleshing out Brody’s fear of the water, and that fear figures strongly in the ending.

[–] TerraFirma69 (2269) 2 years ago

I read the book after I saw the movie, and I was much more satisfied with the book.