It has been 50 years since JAWS was filmed on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. The film was released a year later in 1975.

What a cinematic masterpiece that still captivates audiences 50 years later.

While vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard last month, two of my daughters, Mary and Cynthia, really wanted to take a guided walking tour about the movie JAWS. I joined them and, in the process, learned a lot of interesting facts about the movie that I did not know or had forgotten.

• Filming Location: “Jaws” was filmed on location in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.   We took a walking tour in Edgartown and discovered how they shot several different scenes.  We learned a lot about the why they reshoot scenes over and over again in order to make sure that every detail is consistent with previous scenes.

• Controversy:  Martha’s Vineyard had very mixed feelings about the idea that a movie about sharks would be made on their island.  Many islanders were worried that by doing so, that future tourist traffic would be harmed because of people associating Martha’s Vineyard with sharks.  Who would want to come to an island surrounded by sharks?
• Economic Boost:  50 years ago, the movie turned out to be an economic boost for island’s businesses in part because of the film’s prolonged shooting schedule, which lasted 159 days instead of the planned 55 days!

• Budget Overruns: The film’s budget initially was set at $4 million but ballooned to $9 million due to various production issues, including the shark malfunctions and the extended shooting schedule.

• Mechanical Shark Malfunctions: The mechanical shark, nicknamed “Bruce” after Spielberg’s lawyer, was plagued with problems during filming. It often malfunctioned, which led to Spielberg using the shark sparingly in the final cut. This unintentional decision actually heightened the suspense, as the audience’s imagination filled in the gaps.  The main reason they had problems with the mechanical shark was that it was designed and built in fresh water, not salt water. Needless to say, salt water wreaks havoc on mechanical devices.  The shark had only four minutes of screen time.

• Casting of Locals: Many of the extras and minor characters in the film were local residents of Martha’s Vineyard. This decision added authenticity to the small-town feel of “Amity Island.”
• Improv and Iconic Lines: One of the most famous lines from the movie, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat,” was ad-libbed by Roy Scheider. This line has since become one of the most iconic quotes in film history.

• Spielberg’s Nerves: Steven Spielberg was so nervous about the film’s reception that he didn’t attend the premiere. He went on vacation in Hawaii with his friend and fellow director, George Lucas, instead.

 

• John Williams’ Score: The iconic two-note shark theme created by John Williams is now synonymous with impending danger. Williams initially played the theme on the piano for Spielberg, who thought it was a joke. The simplicity and effectiveness of the score have since become legendary.

• First Summer Blockbuster: “Jaws” is often credited with creating the concept of the summer blockbuster. It was the first movie to earn $100 million at the box office. The movie was a massive success at the box office, grossing around $472 million worldwide. This success established “JAWS” as one of the highest-grossing films of its time and helped set the stage for the modern blockbuster era in Hollywood.
• Long Term Economic Benefit: There is no doubt that many tourists and visitors that come to Martha’s Vineyard have a fascination with JAWS and want to see spots on the island where certain scenes were shot.  The movie theaters on the island to this day show the movie at least once a week.

• The JAWS Bridge: Fascination with this bridge is real. My own family wants to go to the bridge every year that we vacation on the island. This year was no exception.  This year my daughter, granddaughter and son all jumped off the “JAWS bridge.” This apparently is an important rite of passage.

• Steve Spielberg’s Directing Catapult: This movie was Spielberg’s second theatrical feature film following “The Sugarland Express” (1974). “JAWS” was, however, the film that catapulted him to international fame and solidified his career as a major director in Hollywood.

 

These facts about the movie highlight its enduring legacy.  JAWS is a cultural phenomenon that redefined the thriller genre and created the summer blockbuster.  This cinematic masterpiece that still captivates audiences 50 years later demonstrates the power of suspense, storytelling, and enduring impact of cinema.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST