JAWS… need I say more? I fell in love with this movie. Some mind-blowing facts you might not have known about the 1975 American thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Peter Benchley’s 1974 novel.
- The film’s budget was originally set at $3.5 million, but that swelled to $9 million by the end of production. Its box office total currently stands at $471 million.
- The famous line “You’re gonna need a bigger boat” was an ad-lib by Roy Scheider.
- Steven Spielberg shot roughly 25% of the film from water level to provide the viewers the perspective as if they were treading water.
- The movie’s protracted shoot was so troubled by mishaps that some crew members privately began calling the film “Flaws.”
- The average summer tourist population of Martha’s Vineyard before the film was released was approximately 5,000 people. After it came out, the population skyrocketed to 15,000.
- Spielberg’s dog Elmer portrayed Brody’s dog in the movie.
- Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, was used as Amity Island primarily because even 12 miles out to sea, the sandy bottom was only 30 feet down, allowing the mechanical shark to function. Residents were paid $64 to scream and run across the beach as extras.
- During shooting on a scene aboard the Orca, the boat sank. The camera was submerged in water, potentially destroying the film, but after rushing it to New York the footage was saved.
- To get the crabs to move in the scene with the arm part on beach, the property master poured some hot coffee on them.
- When composer John Williams first played his ominous two-note “shark theme” score for Spielberg on a piano, the director thought it was a joke. Later Spielberg would say, “The score was clearly responsible for half of the success of that movie.”
- Jaws (1975) single-handedly caused a downturn in the package holiday trade.
- Robert Shaw struggled with drinking throughout the shoot. He drank during his pivotal speech about the USS Indianapolis and none of the footage was useable. Chastened, he phoned Spielberg and asked if he could have another try. The next day he nailed the speech in one take.
- Three mechanical “Bruces” were made, each with specialized functions. One shark was open on the right side, one was open on the left side, and the third was fully skinned. Each shark cost approximately $250,000.
- The scheduled 55 days to completely principal photography ballooned to an enormous 159 days.
- According to Steven Spielberg, the prop arm looked too fake in the scene where Chrissie’s remains are discovered, so instead they buried a female crew member in the sand with only her arm exposed.
- Lee Fierro, who plays the bereaved Mrs Kintner, couldn’t fake the scene where she slaps Brody, so Roy Scheider was socked across the face repeatedly.
- When it was initially released in the summer 1975, over 67 million Americans went to see the movie, making it the first summer “blockbuster”.
- In order to make actress Susan Backlinie, the shark’s first victim, look like she was being pulled around underwater she had a rope tied to either side of her. Two men on the shore would pull the ropes in turn while she thrashed about, to give the effect of the shark attacking her.
- Steven Spielberg was not the original director of Jaws. The first person was fired after a meeting with producers and studio execs. In the meeting he said that his opening shot would have the camera come out of the water to show the town, then the whale (instead of the shark) would come out of the water. The producers said that they were not making ‘Moby Dick’ and would not work with someone who did not know the difference between a whale and a shark.
- One of the mechanical sharks used in the movie was lost at sea during filming.
- Peter Benchley has mentioned that if he had known about the actual behavior of sharks, he would have never written the book.
- Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss did not get along and fought often on set.
- Steven Spielberg played first clarinet for the beach scene.
- Location scouts considered filming locales across the United States but chose Martha’s Vineyard because they needed a summer beach resort town with a sheltered bay, manageable tides and shallow waters to make filming easier.
- The British actor Shaw was so concerned about owing taxes to the IRS on his income that he flew to Bermuda or Canada on almost all his days off to limit his work hours in the United States.
- Steven Spielberg named the shark “Bruce” after his lawyer.
In conclusion, the ocean of “JAWS” holds depths yet to be fully explored, revealing hidden treasures that enrich our understanding of this cinematic masterpiece. As we dive into the lesser-known facts surrounding the film, we unearth a wealth of behind-the-scenes stories and production challenges that contributed to its enduring legacy.
From the innovative filmmaking techniques of director Steven Spielberg to the lasting impact “JAWS” has left on the collective psyche of moviegoers, these revelations only deepen our appreciation for this timeless thriller. As we continue to revisit the waters of “JAWS,” let us be reminded of its power to thrill, terrify, and captivate audiences for generations to come.
