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Behind the Scenes of Jaws: The Making of a Hollywood Classic

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Jaws is a 1975 American thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Peter Benchley’s 1974 novel of the same name. The film tells the story of a great white shark terrorizing a New England beach town and the three men who set out to hunt it.

The film was shot on location in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, and at Universal Studios in California. Filming began in May 1974 and lasted for several months. The production encountered numerous difficulties, including the mechanical failure of the shark, nicknamed “Bruce,” which frequently malfunctioned during filming. The filmmakers were forced to devise creative solutions, such as using a smaller shark for close-up shots and a miniature shark for long shots.

The film’s score, composed by John Williams, became one of the most iconic and recognizable in film history. Williams’s main theme, a simple two-note melody, is often cited as a significant contributing factor to the film’s suspenseful atmosphere.

Jaws was a huge box office success, grossing $470 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of all time at the time of its release. The film received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It is widely considered to be one of the greatest films ever made, and it also spawned several sequels.

Jaws also marked the beginning of the summer blockbuster era, and it helped establish the careers of director Steven Spielberg and actor Richard Dreyfuss. The film is considered a classic of the thriller genre and has had a significant impact on popular culture.

#1 Martha’s Vineyard with Director Steven Spielberg, camera operator Michael Chapman and cinematographer Bill Butler on the set of ‘Jaws’ in 1975 in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.

Martha's Vineyard with Director Steven Spielberg, camera operator Michael Chapman and cinematographer Bill Butler on the set of 'Jaws' in 1975 in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

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#2 British actor Robert Shaw on the set of Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg.

British actor Robert Shaw on the set of Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg.

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#4 Police chief Martin Brody, played by Roy Scheider (1932 – 2008) holds a torch while marine biologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) cuts open the stomach of a recently caught tiger shark, in ‘Jaws’, 1975

Police chief Martin Brody, played by Roy Scheider (1932 - 2008) holds a torch while marine biologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) cuts open the stomach of a recently caught tiger shark, in 'Jaws', 1975

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#5 Steven Spielberg watching crew filming scene in ‘Jaws’, 1975.

Steven Spielberg watching crew filming scene in 'Jaws', 1975.

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#6 Martha’s Vineyard, with Director Steven Spielberg and camera crew on the set of the Universal Pictures production of ‘Jaws’ in 1975 in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.

Martha's Vineyard, with Director Steven Spielberg and camera crew on the set of the Universal Pictures production of 'Jaws' in 1975 in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

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#7 American actor Richard Dreyfuss inspects the mouth of a dead Great White shark in a still from director Steven Spielberg’s film, ‘Jaws,’ 1975.

American actor Richard Dreyfuss inspects the mouth of a dead Great White shark in a still from director Steven Spielberg's film, 'Jaws,' 1975.

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#9 Crowds line up outside movie house to see, ‘Jaws’

Crowds line up outside movie house to see, 'Jaws'

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#10 Crowds line up outside movie house for ‘Jaws, 1975’

Crowds line up outside movie house for 'Jaws, 1975'

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#11 American director Steven Spielberg on the set of his movie, Jaws.

American director Steven Spielberg on the set of his movie, Jaws.

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#12 Roy Scheider on the set of Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg.

Roy Scheider on the set of Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg.

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#13 The Triestine boxer Tiberio Mitri, the Italian and European middleweight champion, Jaws, 1975

The Triestine boxer Tiberio Mitri, the Italian and European middleweight champion, Jaws, 1975

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#14 Boys attempt to escape the shark in a scene from the film ‘Jaws’, 1975.

Boys attempt to escape the shark in a scene from the film 'Jaws', 1975.

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#15 Murray Hamilton, Roy Scheider, and Richard Dreyfuss standing in front of defaced billboard in a scene from the film ‘Jaws’, 1975.

Murray Hamilton, Roy Scheider, and Richard Dreyfuss standing in front of defaced billboard in a scene from the film 'Jaws', 1975.

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#16 Steven Spielberg watching crew filming scene in ‘Jaws’, 1975.

Steven Spielberg watching crew filming scene in 'Jaws', 1975.

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#17 Roy Scheider on top deck as crew set up to film a scene from the film ‘Jaws’, 1975.

Roy Scheider on top deck as crew set up to film a scene from the film 'Jaws', 1975.

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#18 Roy Scheider (2nd left) on beach as crew films in a scene from ‘Jaws’, 1975.

Roy Scheider (2nd left) on beach as crew films in a scene from 'Jaws', 1975.

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#19 Great White Shark attacks swimmers (above), Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss on boat in serious contemplation in a scene from the film ‘Jaws’, 1975.

Great White Shark attacks swimmers (above), Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss on boat in serious contemplation in a scene from the film 'Jaws', 1975.

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#20 Richard Dreyfuss is lowered into the water in a diving cage in a scene from the film ‘Jaws’, 1975.

Richard Dreyfuss is lowered into the water in a diving cage in a scene from the film 'Jaws', 1975.

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#21 A group of actors are running out of the ocean in a panick in a scene from the film ‘Jaws’, 1975.

A group of actors are running out of the ocean in a panick in a scene from the film 'Jaws', 1975.

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#22 Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss prepare to do battle with a mammoth man eating Great White Shark in a scene from the film ‘Jaws’, 1975.

Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss prepare to do battle with a mammoth man eating Great White Shark in a scene from the film 'Jaws', 1975.

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#23 Roy Scheider and Lorraine Gary huddle anxiously over their son Chris Rebello in a scene from the film ‘Jaws’, 1975.

Roy Scheider and Lorraine Gary huddle anxiously over their son Chris Rebello in a scene from the film 'Jaws', 1975.

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#24 Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss stand next to a giant man eating Great White Shark with a hook piercing through it in a scene from the film ‘Jaws’, 1975.

Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss stand next to a giant man eating Great White Shark with a hook piercing through it in a scene from the film 'Jaws', 1975.

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#25 Robert Shaw stands over Jaws in a scene from the film ‘Jaws’, 1975.

Robert Shaw stands over Jaws in a scene from the film 'Jaws', 1975.

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#26 Robert Shaw lying down in boat in a scene from the film ‘Jaws’, 1975.

Robert Shaw lying down in boat in a scene from the film 'Jaws', 1975.

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#27 Robert Shaw stands around netting in a scene from the film ‘Jaws’, 1975.

Robert Shaw stands around netting in a scene from the film 'Jaws', 1975.

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#28 Martha’s Vineyard, and Director Steven Spielberg and producer Richard Zanuck on the set of the Universal Pictures production of ‘Jaws’ in 1975 in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.

Martha's Vineyard, and Director Steven Spielberg and producer Richard Zanuck on the set of the Universal Pictures production of 'Jaws' in 1975 in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

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#29 British actor Robert Shaw, American actor Roy Scheider, American director Steven Spielberg, and American actor Richard Dreyfuss laugh together on a boat during the filming of Spielberg’s ‘Jaws’, 1975

British actor Robert Shaw, American actor Roy Scheider, American director Steven Spielberg, and American actor Richard Dreyfuss laugh together on a boat during the filming of Spielberg's 'Jaws', 1975

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#30 American actors Richard Dreyfuss, Roy Scheider and Robert Shaw on board a boat in a still from the film, ‘Jaws,’ 1975.

American actors Richard Dreyfuss, Roy Scheider and Robert Shaw on board a boat in a still from the film, 'Jaws,' 1975.

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#31 Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw hold ropes while leaning off the back of their boat, ‘Orca,’ in pursuit of the giant Great White shark in a still from the film, ‘Jaws,’ 1975.

Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw hold ropes while leaning off the back of their boat, 'Orca,' in pursuit of the giant Great White shark in a still from the film, 'Jaws,' 1975.

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#32 Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw lean off the back of their boat, holding ropes as they watch the giant Great White shark emerge from the water in a still from the film, ‘Jaws,’ 1975

Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw lean off the back of their boat, holding ropes as they watch the giant Great White shark emerge from the water in a still from the film, 'Jaws,' 1975

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#33 A female swimmer screams as she is attacked by a giant Great White shark (not pictured) in a still from the film ‘Jaws,’ 1975

A female swimmer screams as she is attacked by a giant Great White shark (not pictured) in a still from the film 'Jaws,' 1975

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#71 English actor Robert Shaw as Quint, viewed through a set of shark jaws, in a publicity still for ‘Jaws’, 1975.

English actor Robert Shaw as Quint, viewed through a set of shark jaws, in a publicity still for 'Jaws', 1975.

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#72 Harpooned many times by a fisherman bent on its destruction, a great white shark surfaces in an attempt to wreck a fishing boat in a scene from the film ‘Jaws’, 1975.

Harpooned many times by a fisherman bent on its destruction, a great white shark surfaces in an attempt to wreck a fishing boat in a scene from the film 'Jaws', 1975.

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Written by Aurora Hale

I am a blogger, entrepreneur and small business coach. I'm an introvert and cat lover. My favourite hobbies are breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

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