"Narragansett’s cameo in Jaws isn’t just a cool trivia fact – it’s a badge of honor,” says Narragansett Beer CEO Mark Hellendrung. “That can-crushing moment connected us with generations of movie lovers and beer drinkers. Fifty years later, we’re still proud to be part of the legacy of a film that changed cinema – and summer – forever. This celebration is our way of saying thanks. So, let’s crush some cans, swap some stories, and party like it’s 1975!” The brewery is hosting several events this season centered around reintroducing their limited-edition 1975 throwback can, featuring the same design seen in the film.
Long before product placement was routine in feature films, there it was – unintentionally – in Jaws. Moviegoers witnessed a vintage can of Narragansett Beer, crushed deliberately in one hand by the sea-hardened Captain Quint, played flawlessly by the English actor Robert Shaw.
The now-classic movie, filmed mainly on Martha’s Vineyard and released on the first day of summer in 1975, was a launching pad for director Steven Spielberg, and includes that unforgettable can-crushing scene.
Much local lore has emerged as to how the can ended up in Quint’s grip. According to Narragansett Beer’s vice president of sales, Jim Crooks, who heard stories from company sales veterans in the early 2000s, in an attempt to be as authentic as possible, a prop master on the film set sent crew members on a reconnaissance mission to discover what local fishermen were drinking. “And lucky for us, they found some guys drinking Narragansett, and that’s how they decided which beer to use,” says Crooks.
Their then-distributor, Colonial Liquors, sent over 10 cases for the movie, and according to legend, a few weeks later, they had to send out 10 more, allegedly because Shaw and crew had finished up the first batch. “There may be a little bit of embellishment to that story, but it could have been true; there were so many delays, because of the [mechanical] shark being broken and that sort of stuff,” adds Crooks.
Wherever the truth lies, the tale is what you might expect from the shark-obsessed captain of the ill-fated ship, who was at the center of one of the most memorable scenes in film history. Less remembered – a few 12-ounce ‘Gansett’s are seen in a riveting moment later in the film, when the boat tilts and beer cans begin rolling along the deck as Quint is being devoured by the shark.
Narragansett Beer’s connection to Jaws has become part of the brewery’s legacy. First established in 1890, and later sold to a New York company, the company returned to brewing beer in Rhode Island when it was purchased by Mark Hellendrung in 2004. “At the time, there were around 1,000 craft breweries in the United States,” Crooks notes. “We were the second one in Rhode Island; now there are around 40, and over 10,000 in the US.” Each year they celebrate the movie with their signature Narragansett Shark Week. Held July 14-20, fans are sure to revel in a host of themed activities (see sidebar). Providence, NarragansettBeer.com
Summertime means the release of special Jaws-inspired cases with the 1975 retro cans inside, mimicking the famous can from Jaws. This year, there are 100 specially marked retro cans out there, waiting for consumers. Find a stickered can to become a qualifier for the grand prize which includes a private Jaws tour on Martha’s Vineyard complete with ferry ride from Woods Hole, and a three-night stay in Edgartown. You’ll never be an islander, but you can feel like one for a few days. Learn more at NarragansettBeer.com
July 12: Jaws at 50: A Conversation with Wendy Benchley: The UNITED, in partnership with Living Sharks Museum and Mystic Aquarium present an evening of conversation with Wendy Benchley, a global voice for protecting sharks, on her work and the legacy of the film. A screening of the new documentary Jaws @ 50 follows. Westerly, UnitedTheatre.org
July 14-20: Narragansett Shark Week: The annual Jaws-centric fest includes a lookalike contest with prizes, movie marathon, a screening at dusk, a mechanical shark ride, and oyster roast with Aquidneck Oyster Company. Providence, NarragansettBeer.com
July 21: Ocean Mist
South Kingstown, OceanMist.net
July 30: Mews Tavern
South Kingstown, MewsTavern.com
August 2: Misquamicut Drive-In
Westerly, MBADriveIn.com
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