MovieChat Forums > Jaws (1975) Discussion > How did the fisherman in the half-submer...

How did the fisherman in the half-submerged boat die?

posted 3 years ago by RingoPiece (76)
4 replies | jump to latest

The one whose head appears through the hole. If the shark killed him, then why is he inside the boat? And after that scene Brody says the shark has killed two people, which would be the girl and the boy on the yellow float thing, but it would be three people if the fisherman was killed by the shark.

[–] Gubbio (3893) 3 years ago

Since the boat appeared to have been attacked by the shark, I always assumed the man died from the resulting injuries -- not from being bitten. 🦈

[–] wearsalan (5554) 3 years ago

In the script I believe, but not the movie Ben Gardener died from a heart attack. The state of his body was a result of the fishes scavenging.

[–] RingoPiece (76) 3 years ago

I wondered if it was something like that, thank you.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

I believe the Ben Gardner scene was filmed in a swimming pool. The head popping out might have been added because Spielberg felt we needed a jump scare there. It turned out to be a very effective one, but you'll notice in the scene where Chief Brody and Hooper are talking to the mayor, the horrific state of Ben's body is not mentioned, only the state of his boat and the shark's tooth that was found but lost there.