MovieChat Forums > Jaws (1975) Discussion > Great movie, but one thing I never have ...

Great movie, but one thing I never have understood:

posted 8 years ago by drunkbear
32 replies | jump to latest

When Mrs. Kintner slaps Brody, and she starts abusing him for not closing the beaches earlier, why doesn't Brody rat out the mayor? He's standing right next to them, and it's not as though the Chief owed that slimeball anything.

If I had been in Brody's shoes, I would have just pointed to the mayor and told her, "THAT's the guy you need to talk to, lady."

Is there any deeper consideration given to this scene, in the book? Was Brody feeling guilty about not closing the beaches in defiance of the mayor's order?

- You may have come on no bicycle, but that does not say that you know everything.

[–] Edward_de_Vere 8 years ago

Sure, we all wanted Brody to say "Listen, don't blame me, blame that idiot in the tacky blazer with all the little anchors on it," but that would have been out of character.

Brody was bullied into submission by the mayor when he first wanted to close the beaches (the mayor reminded him that it was his first year on the job as police chief, with the implication being "do as I say or you're out"), and getting up the courage to stand up to an authority figure seemed to be as much of a challenge for Brody as getting up the courage to be in a boat in the open ocean.

[–] drunkbear 8 years ago

It was a lose/lose situation for Brody, anyway. He closes the beaches, and nothing happens - then he's on the hook for 'overreacting.' He doesn't close the beaches, somebody gets eaten - he's on the hook for not closing the beaches.

- HOW kin I be so brainless, when I is so smart?

[–] bastasch8647 8 years ago

[–] MtnMan13 8 years ago

Brody didn't point the finger at the mayor because he blamed himself. Instead of sticking to his guns and closing the beaches, he caved and allowed them to stay open. That's why when the mayor said, "It's not your fault," Brody replied, "Yes it is."

[–] PaladinNJ (20310) 2 years ago

Exactly right

[–] strangenstein (683) 2 years ago

I think that scene is what really endeared the audience to Brody.

[–] Phydeaux50 8 years ago

Mrs Kintner had nailed him to a moral wall- he knew someone had been attacked, he knew it wasn't safe, but he let people go swimming anyway. What could he say? And as Ed said, it's not Brody's style to side-step responsibility. That's why he goes out with Quint (and revenge for his son, of course).

🇦🇺 All the little devils are proud of Hell.

[–] Corky666 8 years ago

As much as the Mayor was wrong for not stepping up, I still think Brody was at fault also, he didn't pull his weight and caved under pressure and didn't go with his gut

[–] Sonatine97 8 years ago

Moreover, the Brody family were new to the area, and I guess that wanted to fit in without causing too many waves (excuse pun)

I recall Ellen saying to someone on the beach "When do I become an Islander?" "Never!" came the reply.

I got the impression the townsfolk of Amity were a little bit snobby for our New York family. So perhaps they didn't take Brody all that seriously being an "outsider". While Brody just wanted to fit in with whatever the Mayor wanted even though deep down he had misgivings.

“When is old news gonna be old news?”
― Arnold Vinick (The West Wing)

[–] Corky666 8 years ago

Exactly that also. But I also felt as a tough NY City cop Brody should have made the call and dealt with the fallout after. But he crumbled because he just moved his whole life to that island living in semi retirement

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] yatzo376 8 years ago

But it was his first summer, you know..

"You work your side of the street, and I'll work mine"

[–] steven-davis 8 years ago

I think it says alot about your character that your first thought would be to rat out the mayor.

[–] drunkbear 8 years ago

That was my SECOND thought. My FIRST thought said a lot MORE about my character.

- HOW kin I be so brainless, when I is so smart?

[–] predarat 8 years ago

The thing of it is, in a place where shark attacks and large sharks that attack humans are rare or basically non existent, it would not be difficult at all to be influenced by people who have been there that is probably was not a shark. Or maybe a one off Shark incident where it was a fluke and the shark went about its business never to be seen again.

[–] Lt_Zogg 8 years ago

First, he's a public servant who's paid to take flak from time to time. Second, as police chief he knows the public safety is his responsibility. At this point he doesn't owe the mayor, but he does owe the citizens, and he failed.

Third, it would have sounded like he was just passing the buck. She wouldn't have bought it, and he's too much of a man to try it.

[–] rmoriarty97 8 years ago

Definitely this ^. Brody's pride wouldn't have let him rat on anyone - when he caved to the pressure he knew he was taking on responsibility and a man like that doesn't shirk.

[–] ecrowley-878-171149 8 years ago

There is no way he would rat out the Mayor. He feels that everything on that island is his responsibility. Nowadays he probably would have put it in an email. Stipulating that he strongly urged the Mayor to close down the beaches. That would have covered him for any upcoming lawsuits. Back in '75 they may not have thought that way.

In the book they made the Mayor super shady. A real low character guy. Involved with the mob. Things like that.

[–] tyrexden 8 years ago

It wasn't the mayor's decision. Brody is the one in charge.

[–] britneyfoxx 8 years ago

because brody felt guilty about being partly responsible