About this video

• Video Title: Jaws (1975): 20 Facts You Won’t Believe Actually Happened!
• Channel: Ultimate Cinema's
• Speakers: Narrator
• Duration: 00:24:05

Overview

This video delves into 20 surprising behind-the-scenes facts about the making of the iconic 1975 film "Jaws." It highlights the numerous production challenges, including malfunctioning mechanical sharks, budget overruns, feuding actors, and a director's constant fear of being fired. The video explains how these difficulties, far from ruining the film, ultimately contributed to its creative success and its status as Hollywood's first summer blockbuster.

Key takeaways

• Production Nightmares: The filming of "Jaws" was fraught with problems, from the notoriously unreliable mechanical shark, nicknamed Bruce, to significant budget and schedule overruns.
• Director's Anxiety: Director Steven Spielberg, then only 26, was convinced he would be fired daily due to the escalating issues, with producer Richard Xanuk shielding him from studio executives.
• Innovative Solutions: Many of the film's challenges, such as the decision to shoot in the actual ocean instead of a tank and the limited on-screen appearances of the shark, led to creative problem-solving that enhanced the film's impact.
• Actor Animosity: The genuine dislike between co-stars Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss added a layer of real tension to their characters' rivalry on screen.
• Iconic Elements Born from Chaos: Key elements like John Williams' minimalist score and Roy Schneider's improvised famous line, "We're going to need a bigger boat," emerged from unexpected circumstances.
• Marketing Revolution: "Jaws" pioneered the blockbuster marketing strategy of a wide, simultaneous nationwide release supported by extensive television advertising.
• Accidental Impact: The film inadvertently created a global fear of sharks and influenced public perception of these animals.
• Bonus Fact: The mechanical shark, Bruce, was initially constructed backward, a flaw that ironically contributed to the film's suspense by forcing creative camera work and editing.

Here are the 20 facts about "Jaws" presented in the video:

1. The mechanical shark, Bruce, was a complete disaster: It constantly malfunctioned due to saltwater corrosion and pneumatic failures, sometimes sinking to the ocean floor. Its skin would bloat, making it look ridiculous.
2. Spielberg thought he'd be fired every single day: The constant production issues and pressure from studio executives made the young director live in fear of being replaced.
3. The movie was originally going to be filmed in a tank: Spielberg's decision to shoot in the actual ocean was a major logistical and budgetary challenge, revolutionizing sea-based filmmaking.
4. Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss genuinely hated each other: Their real-life animosity, stemming from differences in acting styles and personal habits, translated into on-screen tension.
5. Martha's Vineyard was chosen for its shallow waters: This was crucial for supporting the mechanical shark rig on the seabed, a practical necessity for filming.
6. The first shark attack scene nearly killed the stuntwoman: Susan Benny suffered bruising and minor injuries from the intense cable rigs used to simulate the attack.
7. John Williams' iconic score was initially rejected by Spielberg: Spielberg found the simple two-note theme too basic, but Williams convinced him of its effectiveness in creating primal anxiety.
8. Roy Schneider improvised the most famous line in the movie: "We're going to need a bigger boat" was not in the script and was ad-libbed by Schneider during his first encounter with the shark.
9. The production ran out of shark blood: The special effects team underestimated the amount of fake blood needed for the numerous attack sequences.
10. Spielberg used his own hands for underwater shots: Due to budget and scheduling constraints, the director literally put himself into some close-up underwater scenes.
11. The movie created the first Hollywood feeding frenzy: "Jaws" was the first film to have a massive nationwide release simultaneously, supported by a huge TV advertising campaign.
12. Real sharks were used for some sequences: Footage of real great white sharks, filmed by Ron and Valerie Taylor in Australia, was seamlessly integrated with the mechanical shark scenes.
13. The Orca boat became a character itself: Two different boats were used, one for general sea travel and another specifically built for the sinking sequence, with its appearance reflecting Quint's personality.
14. The Indianapolis speech was rewritten multiple times: Robert Shaw heavily contributed to the historical monologue about the USS Indianapolis disaster, adding a layer of profound tragedy.
15. Spielberg hid the shark for most of the movie out of desperation: Bruce malfunctioned so often that Spielberg had to rely on suggestion and suspense rather than showing the shark.
16. The shark cage scene nearly drowned a stuntman: A real great white shark became entangled in the cage, thrashing violently and threatening to collapse the structure.
17. The movie was initially rated R for violence: Universal fought the MPAA's decision, editing scenes to achieve a PG rating and significantly broaden the film's audience.
18. Martha's Vineyard residents became unwitting extras: Many locals were incorporated into crowd scenes, adding authentic local color and unscripted reactions.
19. The film accidentally created shark phobia worldwide: The movie's portrayal of sharks led to a surge in shark hunting and a significant drop in beach attendance.
20. The shark's mechanical head kept breaking during the climax: The final explosion scene required multiple attempts due to the continuous failures of Bruce's head mechanisms.