Famous Boats from the Movies
by James Sergeant 5 Feb 2022 02:20 PST
The Orca, in Jaws © Jaws
People are taking to the water in their free time more than ever before. This is according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, which reports that sales of personal watercraft increased by more than 12 per cent in 2020 when compared to 2019, reaching a 13-year high. As everyone sought out a socially distanced hobby to take up, boating was the perfect one to turn to. The freedom and tranquility of being on the water clearly called to people in uncertain times.
Of course, just because boating represents peace and quiet for many doesn’t mean it isn’t without drama. There have been countless films and books that took place at sea, all playing on drama rather than relaxation. Some, like the truly awful All is Lost took place entirely on the water, yet the boat itself in that film isn’t nearly as memorable as others that have graced the silver screen.
Here are a few of the most famous boats from movies and why they gripped our imagination so well.
ORCA - JAWS
This film is often considered one of the first true summer blockbusters and its impact on film history can’t be overstated. With one of the most iconic soundtracks by the illustrious John Williams and relentless imagery that brought out a primal fear of the water, it truly made people afraid to get into the ocean. While the film might not be a true horror movie, there is no doubt that it contained some truly unsettling, tense moments. The original Jaws has a scene that Gala Spins rates as one of the scariest in movie history, ahead of many other horror movies. Many of these scenes take place on the tiny Orca, the boat that the group takes out to hunt the great white threatening the beachgoers throughout the film. “We’re gonna need a bigger boat,” Brody quips as he realizes how outmatched the Orca is to take on the killer shark. It is one of the most famous film lines of all time and sets up a final showdown that shows just how unforgiving and cruel nature can be.
JENNY - FORREST GUMP
Forrest Gump is a film that is brimming with iconic moments and images, but few represent the heart of the movie better than the Jenny, the shrimp boat that becomes Forrest’s key to wealth and success. The boat itself provides some of the most memorable moments from the film, such as Lieutenant Dan calling down to God himself to smite him during a hurricane, or Forrest’s dedication to his one true love.
The scenes on the boat are really the turning point in Forrest’s story; before that, his life had been a strange mix of simplicity and conflict. The Jenny was where Forrest and Dan moved beyond what they had seen and experienced in Vietnam, with the spirit of Bubba in the background. Without the Jenny, there would be no Bubba-Gump Shrimp, which was what allowed Forrest to have the freedom and adventures that he enjoyed for the rest of the movie.
THE RIVERBOAT - WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
It takes a lot to make a list like this when the boat in question isn’t given a name in the film, but there are few who can deny that the riverboat journey in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is one of the most stirring, unusual pieces of cinema in history. Going from the magical introduction to the chocolate factory, in a room where everything is edible and wonderful, to the psychedelic journey through the tunnel on a river of chocolate feels as surreal as anything else in the movie.
Gene Wilder’s haunting words swarm the guests in Wonka’s factory as they are surrounded by flashing lights and colors, with the gears of the ship’s waterwheel turn in the background. It is a strange journey that lasts only minutes but quickly becomes one of the most memorable moments in the iconic film and the riverboat is at the center of it.
If you’re ready for some water-based adventure, why not consider taking up single-handed sailing? We’ve even got plenty of stories about short-handed sailing on Sail-World.com!