‘Jaws' author's widow reveals she still visits the film's shooting location 50 years later
Benchley, the widow of 'Jaws' author Peter Benchley and an executive producer on the new documentary 'Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story,' exclusively told The Post about the special connection she still has to the iconic film.
'So my wonderful husband, John Jeppson and I, we've been married for 12, 13 years, and we've been summering in Martha's Vineyard every August,' Wendy explained of the Massachusetts island where 'Jaws' primary filmed.
9 Wendy Benchley, 'Jaws @ 50' executive producer and ocean conservationist advocate.
National Geographic/Chris Johnson
9 Richard Dreyfuss, Roy Scheider in 'Jaws.'
Courtesy Everett Collection
'Yeah, so Martha's Vineyard is very much dear to our hearts and part of our life,' she added. 'We see all these sites all the time.'
Wendy's late husband wrote the bestselling novel about a great white shark that was turned into a thriller film by Steven Spielberg. Peter died in 2006 at age 65.
9 Peter Benchley signs a copy of his 'Jaws' novel in June 2005.
Christopher Polk
Being involved in 'Jaws @ 50' gave Wendy new insight into the incredible success of the 1975 film.
'Peter and I, after 'Jaws', went on to live our life,' she recalled. 'Peter went on write more novels, we did a lot of expeditions with National Geographic, and we got into working with ocean conservation issues, and I did a lot of work with non-profits, and I have not been intimately connected to all of the fan clubs of 'Jaws,' and all of that happened afterwards.'
9 Wendy Benchley in her interview with The Post.
New York Post
9 Peter Benchley with a picture of a shark in 1976.
Getty Images
9 Peter Benchley for the 'Jaws' 30th Anniversary Edition DVD.
Christopher Polk
'So for me,' she continued, 'there was that added fun and joy of reacquainting myself with the nuances of 'Jaws' and how brilliant Spielberg was with the techniques which the movie directors talked about. But also, I thought he was brilliant the way he had the local people and gave that great depth of character and all the wonderful faces that you saw and the people you got to know. I think that is one of the most powerful aspects of the film.'
9 'Jaws @ 50' director Laurent Bouzereau with Wendy Benchley.
National Geographic/Chris Johnson
9 Peter Benchley holds the 'Pan' award from Pan books in 1975.
Getty Images
Wendy added, 'And that's also what Peter did in his book. The book was about a great white shark, but it was also about the people who lived on this island who needed to make money to get through the winter and about how there are different approaches to this menace that they couldn't control. So that is I think very much the heart and soul of what the book and the movie is about.'
The ocean conservationist advocate was 'moved' by Spielberg's retrospective comments about 'Jaws' in the documentary.
9 Wendy Benchley speaks at the 2015 Peter Benchley Ocean Awards.
WireImage
'That was wonderful to listen to him talking about it and in such a personal way,' Wendy stated. 'And honestly, I had not known and I don't think anybody really knew how traumatizing it was to him to make this film and to have the shark breaking down and to have it over budget. And I'm so glad that David Brown and Richard Zanuck just stuck with him and that he was able to finish it off.'
'Jaws @ 50' premieres July 10 on National Geographic and will stream on Disney+ and Hulu.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
15 minutes ago
- Forbes
Alanis Morissette Marks A Career First As Several Albums Debut
Alanis Morissette returns to U.K. downloads chart with Jagged Little Pill and The Collection, which ... More earn the singer her first career wins on that tally. In this image released on December 31, 2024, Alanis Morissette performs onstage at Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2025. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty Images) Alanis Morissette enjoyed a hugely successful run on the charts in the 1990s and early 2000s — the kind that few artists have matched. The Canadian singer-songwriter brought many of her most familiar tracks together for her 2005 greatest hits compilation The Collection, a project largely composed of songs from her breakout album Jagged Little Pill. This week turns out to be massive for Morissette, as both of those projects are not only present once again on several highly competitive rankings in the United Kingdom – they both manage to debut on at least one tally apiece. Jagged Little Pill Returns on Multiple U.K. Charts Jagged Little Pill is the stronger performer between the two titles, as it appears on six different U.K.-based album rankings. In some cases, the project returns to the lists, such as on the Official Vinyl Albums chart and the Official Albums ranking, as it reenters at Nos. 15 and 39, respectively. The full-length surges to No. 1 on the Official Album Downloads chart this frame. As it surges, the title becomes Morissette's first leader there. At the same time, the project rockets more than 60 spaces to No. 10 on the Official Albums Sales roster. Both of those numbers mark new peak positions for the decades-old bestseller. Jagged Little Pill Debuts Even after so many years and millions upon millions of sales, Jagged Little Pill still manages to debut on one tally across the pond. The Grammy winner starts the project at No. 100 on the Official Albums Streaming chart, where she's scored just two wins during her career – and both are new. The Collection Debuts on Several Lists While The Collection appears on half as many rankings as Jagged Little Pill, it debuts on twice as many. The compilation opens at No. 28 on the Official Album Downloads chart and kicks off its time on the Official Albums Streaming tally at No. 71. At the same time, the compilation finds its way back to the primary ranking of the most-consumed albums in the U.K., where it currently sits at No. 78. Despite being released two decades ago, The Collection has only spent five weeks on the Official Albums chart, and it previously peaked at No. 44. A Streaming Milestone for Alanis Morissette As both Jagged Little Pill and The Collection debut on the Official Albums Streaming chart, Morissette scores her first two appearances on the tally. While she has previously landed on a number of sales-focused lists and the all-encompassing consumption roster, this week marks the first time she's placed on the streaming-only ranking.
New York Post
26 minutes ago
- New York Post
LiAngelo Ball files for divorce days after wife's pregnancy reveal
LiAngelo Ball filed for divorce from Rashida Nicole one week after she announced she was pregnant with the couple's child, according to court documents obtained by TMZ. The 'Tweaker' rapper listed 'irreconcilable differences' as the reason for the split, and June 15 is listed as their separation date. Ball and Nicole married on March 24, 2025, as stated in the documents, which were filed at a Southern California courthouse on July 3. 3 LiAngelo Ball and Rashida Nicole attend the BET Awards 2025 at the Peacock Theatre on June 9, 2025. AFP via Getty Images The former NBA player is asking for joint custody and visitation, and to terminate spousal support for both parties. Ball and Nicole, who did publicly reveal they tied the knot, have yet to address the divorce news. It comes days after Nicole announced she's pregnant with the couple's first child. 'New beginnings,' she wrote on Instagram, including a series of snapshots of her gazing at her belly in a white dress. 'Wish I had all the right words to describe this journey, but I guess if I had to define it, all I can truly say is: I'm grateful, terrified, anxious, nauseous, HANGRY 😂 all of thee above. 'As a teen mom, I was always hesitant about going thru pregnancy and parenthood again. (Iykyk) I want to thank my daughter for being here for me during this process, always demonstrating unconditional LOVE & reassuring me that, 'Everything is alright!' And for now…I choose to protect my peace and this beautiful energy.' Nicole has a daughter from a previous relationship. Ball liked the post and left a heart emoji with a lock and key in the comments. The pair previously attended the BET Awards and posed for photos together on the red carpet on June 9 in Los Angeles. 3 LiAngelo Ball filed for divorce from Rashida Nicole one week after she announced she was pregnant with the couple's child, per court documents. Instagram/Rashida Nicole LiAngelo's brother, Cavaliers guard Lonzo Ball, also attended the event. LiAngelo has two kids with his ex, Nikki Mudarris, who claimed he left her shortly after she gave birth to their second child, LaNiyah Nicole Ball, in December. 3 Lonzo Ball, left, and LiAngelo Ball arrive at the BET Awards on Monday, June 9, 2025, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP The former NBA G League player and the 'Love & Hip-Hop: Hollywood' star welcomed son LaVelo Anthony Ball in July 2023.
Cosmopolitan
2 hours ago
- Cosmopolitan
Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters cast: Verdict on who will thrive in dangerous sea-based challenges
Next week will see ITV introduce one of the most original reality shows we've seen in a long time, as seven celebrities face their fears of the ocean, sea creatures and the unknown in new series Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters. Released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Jaws, the TV series sets to disprove the 'dangerous' stereotype about sharks and show how important they are to the overall ecosystem, while also pushing the celebrities to their limits having them dive and interact with a variety of sharks. But of the celebrities taking part who will be most comfortable swimming with the predators and will be jumping back on board the boat? Well here's everything you need to know about the celebrities involved with the show and our verdict on who will thrive ahead of the show's release on Monday 14th July.
