Jaws swam into theaters 45 years ago on June 20, 1975, wading into uncharted waters with the first-ever summer blockbuster. Geek guest writer Adele Ankers takes us on a deep dive of some of the secrets behind the making of this landmark movie.
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I usually find myself correcting Jaws articles and this is no exception.
The story states Spielberg wanted out of the movie, which is true, but he did not stay on because of contractual obligations. He stayed on because Daryl Zanuck caught wind Steven was coming to step down, and set up his office with JAWS props, and had on a Jaws shirt. After meeting with Zanuck, Spielberg decided to stay on.
Regarding the casting of Roy Scheider, UNIVERSAL had thoughts of Charlton Heston in the role, but he passed because he knew the Shark was the star. I read where Steve McQueen was also considered. Scheider came in to play when Spielberg and him ran in to each other at a party. Steven was bemoaning the casting of Jaws as Scheider approached, and Roy said quite succinctly, "How about me???" and Steven immediately cast him telling him he'd be the perfect Chief Brody, which of course he was.
Carl Gottlieb did have rewrites every night, I can offer that he did so sitting at a little wooden desk in a little wooden cabin they all stayed in. And yes...I have partied at location with great delight. Carl has said the hardest part of rewriting Jaws was his part (he was Meadows) got smaller and smaller, but it made the film better. I'll add that Peter Benchley was vehemently against most of the rewrites but Spielberg concluded that everything in the novel would weigh the film down, so he chose to focus specifically on the shark and not the political island criminality that went on in the novel.
The Sharks themselves had numerous issues mostly due to the violence of the ocean and the salt water, which played havoc with the 3 Bruce's. It was Bob Mattey, who created the Octopus in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea that suggested converting the sharks to water pressue tubes, which worked enough to get the shots they needed.
Spielberg, ever the resourceful dude, shot many scenes from the Orca itself, including the famous dude in the estuary who's leg floats to the bottom of the ocean. Of course, it's odd he isn't wearing shoes when he falls in the water, but there's one on the leg that floats to the bottom, but I can live with it.
JAWS was helped along opening weekend by a blitz campaign of one full week of JAWS commercials on every major network during prime viewing hours. If there was a commercial break, there was a Jaws spot.
I mentioned previously that Benchley wasn't too keen on his book to film transformation, but he did use the opportunity of increased fame to bring attention to the protection of sea life. I met him on Martha's Vineyard near the end of his life and, like everyone else involved with this movie, he was just super nice. As sick as he was at the time, he tried to meet and talk with everyone who wanted to. Just an excellent dude!