Steven Spielberg admits 'I had consistent nightmares' after directing Jaws

Edinburgh Live

2 days ago

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Acclaimed director Steven Spielberg cemented his status with the iconic film Jaws, but the experience left him shaken.
To mark the 50th anniversary of the pioneering summer blockbuster, National Geographic is set to premiere the documentary Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story on July 11.
In this introspective film, Spielberg takes viewers on a behind-the-scenes journey through the making of Jaws, utilising archival footage and personal anecdotes to recount the trials and tribulations of his career-defining project.
The National Geographic documentary also features interviews with original cast members, including Lorraine Gary (Ellen Brody), Carl Gottlieb (Meadows), Jeffrey Kramer (Hendricks), and Oscar-winning composer John Williams.
Despite Jaws' enduring impact on cinema, its production was marred by numerous issues. The mechanical shark frequently malfunctioned, and filming on open water proved far more challenging than expected, reports the Mirror US.
(Image: Getty Images)
These setbacks resulted in significant delays and budget overruns, leading Spielberg to fear that Jaws would be his final film.
"It was logistically the most difficult movie I think I'll ever make," he reveals in the documentary.
However, the stress didn't dissipate once filming wrapped. For years after, the renowned filmmaker was plagued by nightmares about the arduous experience.
"The success was fantastic but it didn't stop the nightmares," he admits. "It didn't stop me waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat where the sheets would be soaking wet. We didn't have the word PTSD in those days.
"And I had consistent nightmares about directing Jaws for years afterwards. I was still on the movie and the film was never ending."
The 78-year-old star even began to slip away from his crew to release his emotions.
(Image: National Geographic)
He discloses: "When they brought one of the boats all the way back from Martha's Vineyard and shipped the boat, the Orca, to the Universal back lot and put it in the water right next to the Jaws ride.
"I used to get in my electric cart without telling anybody, and I would sneak behind the trams, nobody could see me, and I'd just sneak on board the boat and I would sit in the cabin in that little leather red booth and I would just sit there and sometimes cry."
He adds: "And I had nothing to cry about. The film was this phenomenon and I'm sitting here shedding tears, because I'm not able to divest myself of the experience.
"The boat helped me to begin to forget. That Orca was my therapeutic companion for several years after Jaws came out."
Elsewhere in the documentary, the director concedes that although its production was traumatising, he owes everything to Jaws.
(Image: Hulton Archive)
The thriller later scooped four Academy Award nominations, winning the Best Original Score, Best Film Editing and Best Sound prizes.
Despite being nominated for the prestigious Best Picture award, it was Milos Forman's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest that took home the prize.
While Spielberg's fans continue to debate whether he should have won the Oscar, the director himself concurs with the Academy's choice.
"Oh yeah, I would've voted for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest over Jaws for Best Picture, I would've done that," he admits.
Jaws, based on Peter Benchley's 1974 novel of the same title, tells the thrilling tale of a police chief, shark hunter and marine biologist who join forces to hunt down a deadly shark terrorising their small seaside town.
Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story premieres Friday 11th July at 8pm on National Geographic and streams the same day on Disney+