Director Steven Spielberg, “Jaws” (1975) Photo Courtesy of Universal / The Hollywood Archive
‘Jaws’ is set to re-surface in theaters for a 40th anniversary limited re-release event. The prototypical summer blockbuster, “Jaws” original release is regarded as a watershed moment in motion picture history. When it was initially released in the summer of 1975, millions of Americans went to see the movie, making it the first summer “blockbuster”. To date, the film has earned 260,000,000 domestically according to Box Ofiice Mojo.
Moviegoers know the story well. A giant man-eating great white shark attacks beach goers on Amity Island, a fictional New England summer resort town, prompting the local police chief to hunt it down with the help of a marine biologist and a professional shark hunter.
The film stars Roy Scheider as police chief Martin Brody, Richard Dreyfuss as oceanographer Matt Hooper, Robert Shaw as shark hunter Quint, Murray Hamilton as the mayor of Amity Island, and Lorraine Gary as Brody’s wife, Ellen. The screenplay is credited to both Benchley, who wrote the first drafts, and actor-writer Carl Gottlieb, who rewrote the script during principal photography.
Shot mostly on location on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, the film was troubled throughout it’s production with both cost and schedule over-runs and mechanical shark malfunctions. Despite all this, the film was generally well received by critics. People flocked to theaters and Jaws became the highest-grossing film in history at the time, a distinction it held until the release of Star Wars. It won several awards for its soundtrack and editing and is often cited as one of the greatest films of all time.
To celebrate this landmark anniversary, Fathom Events is teaming up with Universal Pictures to re-release Jaws in select theaters for two days only, Sunday, June 21 (2015) and Wednesday, June 24 (2015). The showings include a specially produced introduction from TCM Weekend Daytime host Ben Mankiewicz that will give insight into how this classic still makes us think twice about swimming in the ocean! Visit Fathom Events for more information.
In honor of this momentous occasion, here are some little-known facts about the movie, according to IMDB, that even some of the biggest die-hard Jaws’ fans may not know.
- In addition to the well-known nickname of “Bruce”, Steven Spielberg also called the shark “the great white turd” when he became quite frustrated with the troublesome animatronic fish.
- After the shark was built, it was never tested in the water, and when it was put in the water at Martha’s Vineyard, it sank straight to the ocean floor. It took a team of divers to retrieve it.
- Robert Shaw could not stand Richard Dreyfuss and they argued all the time, which resulted in some good tension between Hooper and Quint.
- 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.
- 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.
- Steven Spielberg shot roughly 25% of the film from water level to provide the viewers the perspective as if they were treading water.
- Although Steven Spielberg wanted Charlton Heston to play Brody, the main reason Spielberg decided against casting him was because of Heston’s “saving the day” role in his previous movies, Airport 1975 (1974) and Earthquake (1974). Spielberg reasoned that if Heston would have been cast, it signifies to the audience that the shark has virtually no chance against the hero.
- Author Peter Benchley was thrown off the set after objecting to the climax.
- The last known surviving mechanical shark of ‘Bruce’ is suspended atop two metal poles in the middle of an auto wrecking yard, at U Pick Parts in Sun Valley, CA, in the San Fernando Valley.
- This was the first movie to reach the coveted $100 million mark in “theatrical rentals”, which is about 45% of the “box office gross”. It was the highest-grossing of all-time in the U.S. until Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977).
- This was the first time that Martha’s Vineyard was used as a location for a feature film.
- Steven Spielberg cast Roy Scheider based on his performance in The French Connection (1971). The studio was wary of having him but eventually agreed to the casting decision when Scheider signed a three-picture deal.
- Despite the film’s mammoth box-office returns, Robert Shaw didn’t earn a penny out of it. He was facing heat from the IRS for tax evasion, and due to working in countries as diverse as the US, Canada and Ireland, he had to forgo his salary to make amends.
- Richard Dreyfuss was tested and cast at the suggestion of George Lucas who had just worked with him on American Graffiti (1973).
Information on ticketing can be found here.