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New York Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
‘Jaws @ 50' doc biggest revelations: Steven Spielberg's shock over Oscars snub — and ‘sparring' co-stars
'Jaws' is still making a splash in cinema 50 years later. National Geographic's new documentary 'Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story' directed by Laurent Bouzereau gives a behind-the-scenes look at Steven Spielberg's iconic 1975 shark movie with rare archival footage and interviews with conservationists and famed directors. Spielberg himself revisits the classic film including the troubled production, his Oscars snub for Best Director and more. Advertisement 12 Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss in 'Jaws.' Courtesy Everett Collection 'To me, making 'Jaws' was a life-altering experience,' Spielberg said in the doc. Here are the biggest revelations from 'Jaws @ 50.' The troubled production Advertisement The 'Jaws' cast and crew dealt with a myriad of production issues while shooting the film on Martha's Vineyard, Mass. in 1974. 'There was nothing fun about making 'Jaws,'' Spielberg admitted. 12 Steven Spielberg during an interview for National Geographic's 'Jaws @ 50.' National Geographic/Chris Johnson The production struggles included a ballooning budget, mechanical issues with the sharks, challenging weather conditions, star Robert Shaw's alcoholism and his tension with co-star Richard Dreyfuss. Advertisement 'There were times making that movie when I thought 'Jaws' would probably be the last thing I ever made before people would stop hiring me,' said Spielberg. 12 Steven Spielberg, Bill Butler, and crew on the set of 'Jaws' in 1974. Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC 'Star Wars' creator George Lucas recalled: 'It was reported everywhere. And when I did talk to [Spielberg] once in a while, I knew he was having a hard time.' Spielberg revealed that about 60 days into shooting the film, 'somebody from Hollywood, an actor, came over to me and said, 'Everybody's talking about [how] you're never gonna get a job after this movie because you're irresponsible with budget.'' Advertisement 'This actor was so sure I would never work again, they didn't care if they told me that,' Spielberg shared, calling the unnamed actor's comments 'very mean' and 'demoralizing.' 12 A photo from 'Jaws.' Courtesy Everett Collection Despite the many production issues, Spielberg said he 'never once felt like I wanted to quit. I was terrified I was going to be fired.' Sidney Sheinberg, the head of Universal Pictures at the time, flew to Martha's Vineyard 'just to asses the damage.' When they sat down to talk, Sheinberg allegedly told Spielberg that he didn't think finishing the film was possible. 'I just said, 'No, I wanna go. I wanna finish it,'' Spielberg remembered. 12 Steven Spielberg on the set of 'Jaws' in 1974. Corbis via Getty Images Martin Scorsese would visit the 'Jaws' set as well. 'He would sit there feeling sorry for me,' said Spielberg. 'We would commiserate.' Of course, Spielberg eventually finished production on 'Jaws' before its 1975 release. He said in the doc that making the movie was 'traumatizing' but worth it. Steven Spielberg's panic attack Advertisement 'When the film wrapped Martha's Vineyard, I had a full-blown panic attack,' Spielberg revealed in the documentary. 'I was in it, shall I say, over my head, for about seven or eight months on Martha's Vineyard. It was, logistically, I think the most difficult movie I think I'll ever make.' The award-winning director recalled that he 'couldn't breathe' and thought he was having a heart attack during his health incident. 12 Steven Spielberg on the set of 'Jaws.' Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC 'I was shaking. And I was out of it — I was completely out of it,' he said. 'I had a great crew, and yet I felt responsible for everybody there. And I felt really responsible for keeping them there for as long as had to stay.' Advertisement 'Jaws' had to keep shooting for another two months after wrapping in Martha's Vineyard, at which point he refused to give up on the film. 12 Richard Dreyfuss, Roy Scheider in 'Jaws.' Courtesy Everett Collection 'It didn't stop me waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, where the sheets would be soaking wet,' he explained. 'We didn't have the words PTSD in those days, and I had consistent nightmares about directing 'Jaws' for years afterwards.' Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss' off-screen drama The actors who played Quint and Matt Hooper in the film didn't get along behind the scenes. Advertisement 'There was a lot of Richard challenging Robert and Robert challenging Richard,' Spielberg recalled. 'They were kind of sparring partners — but it really turned out in hindsight to be a playful banter that was unique to their personal relationships.' Shaw's son, Ian Shaw, explained that Shaw and Dreyfuss had 'offscreen skirmishes' which 'helped the chemistry of the peace.' 12 Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss in 'Jaws.' Courtesy Everett Collection Ian also said: 'There was a love-hate relationship with the two. Robert was very frustrated with Richard's attitude. And Robert gave him a very hard time — at least publicly.' Advertisement 'But also Robert could see the talent that was there, and wanted him to succeed,' Ian added. Steven Spielberg's Oscars snub 'Jaws' was nominated for four Oscars and won three, including Best Original Score for John Williams' music. However, Spielberg was completely snubbed from the Best Director category. 12 Steven Spielberg looks at a film strip on the set of 'Jaws.' Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC 'When a film is on the cusp of being considered for awards, it's not so much what you want for yourself — it's what everyone else says is going to happen for you,' Spielberg explained. 'So I just understood, 'I guess I'm getting nominated.' ' 'So when I wasn't, I was surprised. And I was disappointed,' he admitted. 'Because I was believing the noise, and you have to not believe that stuff.' 12 Steven Spielberg and 'Jaws @ 50' director Laurent Bouzereau. National Geographic/Chris Johnson Spielberg also admitted that he would've voted for 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' over 'Jaws' like the majority of the Academy did at the 1976 Oscars. The 'SNL' skit 'Saturday Night Live' spoofed 'Jaws' with its iconic 'Landshark' skit during the first season of the show in 1975. 'I was in the audience when the Land Shark showed up,' Spielberg recalled. 12 'SNL' spoofed 'Jaws' with the infamous 'Landshark' sketch. SNL/Youtube 12 Chevy Chase voiced the Land Shark on 'SNL.' SNL/Youtube The first instance of the sketch depicted the Land Shark (voiced by Chevy Chase) showing up to people's doors and attacking them after pretending to be repairmen or salesmen. The Land Shark character has since made multiple appearances on 'SNL.' 'I thought it was hysterical,' Spielberg said. 'Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story' is streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Steven Spielberg reveals ‘one of the bad things' that came from ‘Jaws' success: ‘Horrified'
'Jaws' came with a price. In the new National Geographic documentary 'Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story,' Steven Spielberg spoke about how the success of his 1975 shark movie was harmful to marine life. 'One of the bad things that came out of the film was shark hunting spiked,' the 78-year-old director shared. 8 Steven Spielberg during an interview for 'Jaws @ 50.' National Geographic/Chris Johnson Executive producer and ocean conservationist advocate Wendy Benchley added: 'When Jaws came out, we were truly horrified to see that some people took it as license to go kill sharks.' 'The negative reaction hurt us and horrified us and we became passionate defenders with sharks,' said Wendy, the widow of 'Jaws' author Peter Benchley. 'We went with the National Geographic on expeditions and we were so fortunate to learn from these scientists and other experts.' 8 Steven Spielberg films the mechanical shark on the set of 'Jaws.' Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC 8 Steven Spielberg, Bill Butler, and crew on the set of 'Jaws' in 1974. Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC Cynthia Wigren, CEO and co-founder of Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, explained that trophy hunting became 'very popular' after 'Jaws' debuted, leading to the white shark population decreasing by as much as 80 percent. 8 Steven Spielberg on the set of 'Jaws.' Corbis via Getty Images 'People wanted to be like Quint,' Dr. Austin Gallagher, shark expert and chief scientist of Beneath The Waves, said about the shark-hunting captain played by Robert Shaw in the film. 'People wanted to have that trophy that they could show off,' Dr. Gallagher added. 8 Wendy Benchley, 'Jaws @ 50' executive producer and ocean conservationist advocate. National Geographic/Chris Johnson 8 Steven Spielberg and 'Jaws @ 50' director Laurent Bouzereau. National Geographic/Chris Johnson Shark conservation biologist Candace Fields agreed there was 'a negative connotation that came from 'Jaws' about sharks.' 'Which is very unfortunate,' Fields noted, 'because I think there's other takeaways as well.' In an exclusive interview with The Post, Wendy noted that the terror on shark life has significantly subsided in the 50 years since 'Jaws' premiered. 8 A crew member works on the mechanical shark on the set of 'Jaws.' Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC 'Shark hunting barely exists anymore,' she stated. 'It's mainly catching sharks for shark fin soup and that's been happening for honestly hundreds of years, but really expanded in the last 40 years when there was a huge population increase in China and other Asian countries.' 'So I've been working, and Peter worked, with many groups, and especially with WildAid, who has done an excellent job in China educating the Chinese who want to be good citizens,' Wendy continued. 'And when they realized that shark fin soup was actually killing the sharks, and a hundred million sharks were killed every year for shark fin soup, they listened. And the demand for shark fin soup has gone down 80 percent in China. So that's a wonderful thing.' 8 Steven Spielberg on the set of 'Jaws' in 1974. Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC Wendy also gave a shoutout to Jackie Chan, Yao Ming and Maggie Q for their involvement with WildAid 'to really help with that particular issue.' 'Peter died in '06 and I wish he were here now to be able to see all of these changes and to see 'Jaws' is still relevant after 50 years,' Wendy said in the documentary. 'I think he'd be very pleased.' 'Jaws @ 50' premieres Thursday on National Geographic and will stream on Disney+ and Hulu.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
‘Jaws' doc director proclaims he never wants to see another sequel
He doesn't want any bigger boats. Laurent Bouzereau, director of the new National Geographic documentary 'Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story,' exclusively spoke to The Post about if he thinks there will be more sequels made to Steven Spielberg's 1975 classic. 'I hope not,' said Bouzereau, 63. 'You look at Mona Lisa and you go, 'Oh, will we ever see a copy of the same person seen by someone else?' I sure as hope not. So I apply the same thing to something as perfect as 'Jaws.'' 10 Laurent Bouzereau in his interview with The Post. New York Post Describing the iconic shark movie as 'a piece of art that stands the test of time,' Bouzereau said he thinks the film 'should be re-examined constantly or discovered even by new generations.' 'Which is in fact one of the goals of this documentary film is to get people to watch 'Jaws' again,' the French-American filmmaker added, 'or to watch it for the first time.' 10 A crew member works on the mechanical shark on the set of 'Jaws.' Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC 10 Steven Spielberg on the set of 'Jaws.' Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC 'Jaws,' based on Peter Benchley's 1974 novel, was followed by three sequels that didn't involve Spielberg, 78, or Benchley. The new documentary gives a behind-the-scenes look at 'Jaws' with rare archival footage and interviews with conservationists and directors, including Spielberg himself. 'I was thrilled to be able to tell the story of a true masterpiece and a true auteur in Mr. Spielberg,' Bouzereau told The Post. 'And I found myself really rediscovering it in a way way that actually I had never suspected.' 10 Steven Spielberg and Laurent Bouzerea during an interview for 'Jaws @ 50.' National Geographic/Chris Johnson 'It is a love letter,' Bouzereau added about the doc, 'but I hope that it's also a very inspirational film for people who may never have seen 'Jaws,' because it's a story of persistence and perseverance and overcoming the odds and the triumph of the human spirit when you're faced with a situation like Steven was.' 10 Steven Spielberg on the set of 'Jaws.' Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC 10 Steven Spielberg on the set of 'Jaws.' Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC Bouzereau said it wasn't difficult to get famed directors James Cameron, J.J. Abrams, Guillermo del Toro, George Lucas, Jordan Peele, Robert Zemeckis and more to participate in the doc. 'People were really wanting to talk about 'Jaws.' The only thing that was in the way was my very, very fast production schedule,' he explained. 'Even though we didn't compromise over anything, those great directors are extremely busy and to match up with everybody's schedule is definitely a challenge.' 'However, the list was very carefully put together and had nothing to do really with the profile of the people as much as it had to do with what they represent in culture today and how great it is that from Jim Cameron to Guillermo del Toro to J.J., Jordan Peele, Bob Zemeckis, all of them own a part of 'Jaws' in a very unique and specific way,' Bouzereau added. 10 Laurent Bouzereau in his interview with The Post. New York Post 10 Steven Spielberg, Bill Butler, and crew on the set of 'Jaws' in 1974. Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC The filmmaker also spoke to how the success of 'Jaws' impacted the 'Star Wars' franchise, which debuted two years later. 'I think it does sort of continue what 'Jaws' has started as far as merchandising, for example,' said Bouzereau. 'I think there is a realization, although much more from George's point of view, because the studio didn't get the rights to all of the merchandising.' 10 People line up outside of the Rivoli Theater in New York City to see 'Jaws' in 1975. Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC 10 Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford in 'Star Wars – A New Hope' (1977). ©Lucasfilm Ltd./courtesy Everett / Everett Collection 'So that realization that when a film has a cultural impact, like 'Jaws,' people want to own it, they want to wear it, they want to listen to it constantly. You are part of a movement of people who loved something and you want the world to know it,' he continued. 'And you want them to know that you're part of the culture and you belong in the 'Jaws' culture and you belong in the 'Star Wars' culture.' 'Jaws @ 50' premieres July 10 on National Geographic and will stream on Disney+ and Hulu.
National Geographic
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- National Geographic
Jaws was filmed on Martha's Vineyard 50 years ago—and the island has never been the same
Food fights, freezing water, and barrels of fake blood: locals reminisce about the time Hollywood invaded their small community. Director Steven Spielberg on the set of Jaws. Photograph Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC JAWS DIDN'T JUST CHANGE cinematic history. The summer blockbuster also transformed Martha's Vineyard. Long before the Clintons, Obamas, Oprah, and Larry David moved in to make it the starriest second-home locale on the Eastern Seaboard, the tranquil New England island was everything Hollywood wasn't. In fact, prior to director Steven Spielberg and crew setting up cameras to create the definitive shark thriller, the last movie to shoot there was in the silent era. 'Jaws put us on the map,' explains Martha's Vineyard Museum research librarian Bow Van Riper. 'It was what really kicked off the world coming to the Vineyard, and certainly nowadays it's nothing to see cars from every state in the country over the course of the summer and people from all over the globe planning pilgrimages to see Amity in person.' Locals and tourists make their summer splash by jumping from the Martha's Vineyard 'Jaws bridge,' a wooden walkway connecting the towns of Edgartown and Oak Bluffs that was featured in the film. Photograph by Matt Cosby, The New York Times/Redux In honor of the 50th anniversary of the movie, which premiered June 20, 1975, we talked to current and former locals about the massive impact it had on its shooting location. And how, in turn, Martha's Vineyard helped define one of the box office's biggest hits. There's the harbormaster who helmed 20 boats for Universal Pictures, and the local child actor who (fictionally) lost his life to the great white. A swim on extra, and Deputy Hendricks himself, star Jeffrey Kramer. They share their memories of how it all went down, from food fighting to a faulty animatronic shark. Plus, their thoughts on the ensuing tourist frenzy, and what it means for their slice of sandy paradise today. Jeffrey Kramer Deputy Hendricks in Jaws 'My grandparents came here many, many years ago, in the early 1900s. We were the first Jews of the Vineyard. When Jaws came to town, it was such a big thing, but nobody really knew what to make of it. I had my agent call [casting director] Shari Rhodes, and we became great friends. She was so smart and so dear. She's the one who hired all of the [local] people here, and that made such a difference. Because they were real. [Production designer] Joe Alves chose the Vineyard only because the boats weren't running to Nantucket that day. So he said, 'Well, I'll take it where it's going.' And he came over to the Vineyard. The first day of principal photography was the [scene where] I find a hand on the beach. I was so nervous, I could have probably thrown up. [The filmmakers] often added me to scenes, because the [animatronic] shark [named Bruce] wasn't working. But you had no choice, you had to keep trying to shoot something. They were masterful in keeping the production going. What an effort it was. The rumors were that they were going to pull the plug. That this was never going to work. That they were going to just eat their losses and say no more. But it was a perfect creative storm. The music, the editing—everything came together. You couldn't see it then, but Jaws reshaped the way movies are made. It was a Hollywood invasion that worked." Director of Marketing at Harbor View Hotel '[There was a] legendary food fight that happened among the crew in what's now Bettini Restaurant at Harbor View Hotel. Between the weather, the constant issues with the shark, and the long hours, emotions were running high. That food fight was a bit of catharsis. A chaotic, silly moment that helped break the tension. It wasn't planned, but it's now part of the hotel's lore and one of those only-on-Martha's-Vineyard stories.' Bow Van Riper Research Librarian at Martha's Vineyard Museum 'I was on the beach watching them [film] and the assistant director said, 'Hey, we need 100 brave people to go in the water and pretend to be the crowd.' So my friend and I waded in. There we were in water a bit above our waist, pretending that we were swimming in water above our head. We did it and then we did it again and again. The water was really cold. By the time we were done, we knew why he said 100 brave people.' Charlie Blair Former Harbormaster of Edgartown, Massachusetts "The [Jaws] Teamsters gave up the water because they didn't have anybody that could do it. They wrecked a couple of boats and lost a lot of gear, including a camera. We met with the bosses that evening, and they brought me on to manage all the small boats. I ended up working 20 to 22 hours a day for Universal. These people knew nothing about the water. Absolutely nothing. They didn't know about currents or tides. I [was overseeing] 20 boats. Every day, somebody would wreck a boat or sink a boat. They didn't have a clue. I escorted [star Robert Shaw] off the beach every morning in pitch dark. [He would] have a little nip of Wild Turkey as we idled to the dock. His makeup guy was mixing martinis out of a sterling shaker. By the time he got to breakfast, he was on fire. More credit to him, because he never missed a line." Jeffrey Voorhees Alex Kintner in Jaws and former Wharf Pub manager 'A couple months before they were shooting, my family moved up to the island. I was 12, and [the filmmakers] said we'll pay you $40 a day to be an extra. [My friends and I] all said, 'Let's do it.' We went down to this hotel where they showed us the paperwork. They called a few people back, and said, 'You're getting a speaking part.' Spielberg [told me] there was a barrel full of blood [for when Alex Kintner gets eaten by the shark], but the first time we tried shooting, he was like, 'No, your arm came out of the water a little.' It took seven or eight hours for the blood to clear out of the water and start over. By day five, Spielberg finally goes, 'This is taking too long. This time, when that thing explodes, you have two guys in wetsuits on the water. They're each going to grab one of your legs and pull you down in the water a few times.' This sketch of Jaws character Matt Hooper in an underwater cage was done by production designer Joe Alves from the point of view of the shark's mouth. Photograph by Joe Alves/Greg Nicotero Archive From sketch to screen, Alves' vision helped create many iconic Jaws scenes, like this underwater one. Photograph by Diltz, © Universal Pictures / Bridgeman Images You get Jaws tours all the time down here. Through the years, [when I managed] the Wharf Pub, I hid from [my part in the movie], until I finally started doing signings. You get Jaws nuts. This one girl goes, 'Can he sign anything?' And she starts pulling her shirt up, and security is like, 'No private parts.' So I signed her collarbone, and then she got [my signature] tattooed. It makes some people so happy. I just did a Cameo [an app offering personalized videos from celebrities] this morning for like $40. I got a strange [Cameo request] last year from someone who said, 'Our father was a big Jaws fan, but he died watching the movie on the couch.' Holding my phone up, I go, 'You know, your father and I had a little something in common. He died watching me die.'" Executive Director at Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce 'Jaws and Martha's Vineyard will always be inseparable. The film captured not only the suspense of the sea, but also the soul of this place: its harbors, its people, its character. Martha's Vineyard didn't just host the film. We helped shape it, and it shaped us in return. It also made this small community think about sharks in a different way. I think that that was one of Stevens Spielberg's regrets, because sharks are beautiful. They're predators, obviously, but these are their waters.' "Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story" premieres on National Geographic starting July 10 and streams on Disney+ and Hulu starting July 11. Check local listings.
