Friday It remains one of the most beloved and rewatched movies of all time. But how good is your knowledge of the some of lore surrounding Steven Spielberg's 1975 masterpiece?
Read on and see how much you know about âJaws.â
What was the nickname given to the shark?
Spielberg after his attorney, Bruce Ramer.
Where did the title come from?
When author Peter Benchleyâs 1974 book was going to print, he needed to choose a title. He has juggled various titles â âLeviathan Rising,â âSilent Fallâ â before, at the last minute, choosing âJaws.â What did it mean? Benchley, himself, wasnât sure, he told his editor, but it was short.
What's the origin of the iconic movie poster?
The image of the rising shark came from the cover of the novelâs paperback edition, illustrated by Roger Kastel. For his painting, Kastel went to the American Museum of Natural History to photograph a great white shark from a diorama that was laying on an easel.
What was the inspiration for Amity?
Though Spielberg shot âJawsâ off Cape Cod, it was the neighboring island, Nantucket, that inspired Benchleyâs novel. He has spent time fishing there with his father. In the book, the fictional Amity is on the south shore of Long Island.
Who was first attached to direct âJawsâ?
Dick Richards was initially in line to direct the film, but producer Richard D. Zanuck said he lost the job after, in a meeting, repeatedly referring to the shark as a whale.
How old was Spielberg when he began the project?
26.
Who sought but was turned down the role of Brody?
Charlton Heston wanted to play the Amity Island police chief, but Spielberg instead cast Roy Scheider.
Whatâs the name of Quintâs boat?
The Orca. Not coincidentally, two years after the massive success of âJaws,â a 1977 ripoff about a killer whale was released titled âOrca.â
What led to the shark often malfunctioning?
Salt water. The shark, built by special effects artist Bob Mattey, would get corroded by the salt water of the Atlantic Ocean, leaving it unusable for times â particularly early in the filmmaking. Spielberg pivoted and instead doesnât show the shark until well into the film, an approach that ultimately led to a far more suspenseful film. Spielberg once estimated that Bruceâs mechanical delays
How long into âJawsâ does the shark fully appear on screen?
Itâs not until one hour and 21 minutes into the movie that we really see the shark.
Was the movieâs most iconic line scripted?
No, Schieder adlibbed âYouâre gonna need a bigger boat.â Screenwriter Carl Gottlieb, though, has said the line had been percolating on set. The size of the barge carrying equipment and craft services was often slighted by the crew who felt producers werenât spending enough. Gottlieb told The Hollywood Reporter in 2016: âIt became a catchphrase for any time anything went wrong â if lunch was late or the swells were rocking the camera, someone would say, âYouâre gonna need a bigger boat.ââ
What disaster was Quint a survivor of?
The sinking of the USS Indianapolis, the during World War II. Quintâs lengthy and memorably speech in the film wasnât in the novel but was, according to Spielberg, penned by the uncredited screenwriter John Milius. Spielberg wanted a backstory to why Quint hated sharks so much. Though debate has continued over the years over who wrote the monologue, everyone has agreed Shaw synthesized it, and deserves most of the credit for the sceneâs power.
Does Spielberg appear in âJaws?â
The director isnât seen in the film but his voice is heard. During the finale of the film when Quint is readying the harpoon, itâs Spielbergâs voice on the radio. He says: âThis is Amity point light-station to Orca. Orca, come in.â Spielberg shows up in a couple other ways, too. A clarinetist in high school, he plays briefly on Williamsâ score. And Brodyâs dogs were Spielbergâs cocker spaniels, Elmer and Zalman. (For his part, Benchley makes a cameo as a TV reporter during the July 4th beach scene.)
How far over schedule did âJawsâ run?
The production was scheduled for 55 days but took 159 days to complete. The budget also nearly tripled, to $9 million, plus $3 million more in post-production. Though âJawsâ become the prototype summer movie, it was originally expected to open around Christmastime the year before.
What was âJawsâ rated?
Though it caused some controversy, the Motion Picture Association of America gave âJawsâ a âPGâ rating. At the time, there was no PG-13 rating. (That only began in 1984, with âIndiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,â after a handful of other Spielberg productions, including âRaiders of the Lost Arkâ and âGremlinsâ led to the new category.) Jack Valenti, then-president of the MPAA, defended the rating by arguing that ââJawsâ involved natureâs violence, rather than manâs violence against man,â Valenti said. âThis is the same kind of violence as in âHansel and Gretel.â Children might imitate other kinds of violence, but not the kind seen in âJaws.ââ
The movieâs poster carried the warning: âMAY BE TOO INTENSE FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN.â
What did âJawsâ lose best picture to at the Academy Awards?
âJawsâ was nominated for four Oscars and won three: best sound, best editing and best score for John Williams. The competition for best picture, though, was fierce. The nominees, alongside âJaws,â where âDog Day Afternoon,â âBarry Lyndon,â âOne Flew Over the Cuckooâs Nestâ and âNashville.â The winner was âOne Flew Over the Cuckooâs Nest.â
The Associated Press
