Shark!

The movie Jaws was released 50 years ago this month. I thought it would be good to mark the anniversary by using one of its most famous lines.

The 1975 blockbuster, directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Peter Benchley’s novel, nearly failed during production due to a series of technical and environmental challenges. The film’s mechanical shark—nicknamed “Bruce”after Steven Spielberg's lawyer Bruce Ramer—repeatedly malfunctioned, having been mistakenly built for freshwater use and often breaking down or sinking. These issues, combined with rough sea conditions and a constantly revised script, extended the filming schedule by months and pushed the cast and crew to their limits.

Spielberg adapted by showing the shark less on screen and relying heavily on suspense, music, and creative cinematography to heighten fear—decisions that ultimately contributed to the film’s success. Jaws became the first summer blockbuster, earning over $100 million and launching a lasting cultural fascination with sharks.

However, the film also had unintended consequences. It spurred widespread fear of sharks and led to real-world shark killings. In response, Peter Benchley and his wife Wendy later dedicated themselves to shark conservation. Despite its rocky beginnings, Jaws became an iconic film that changed Hollywood and popular perceptions of the ocean.

Ian Shaw, son of actor Robert Shaw, co-wrote and stars in The Shark Is Broken, a Broadway play that revisits the behind-the-scenes events during the making of Steven Spielberg’s 1975 film Jaws. In the play, Ian portrays his father, who played the iconic shark hunter Quint. The show takes place entirely on the cramped boat set used during filming and explores the tensions between the lead actors, including Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider.

The play focuses on a challenging nine-week stretch in which the final 40 minutes of the film were shot off Martha’s Vineyard. It sheds light on the technical difficulties, particularly with the mechanical sharks, which frequently malfunctioned. These issues significantly delayed production, increasing the budget from $4 million to $9 million.

One key scene examined is Quint’s USS Indianapolis monologue. The script went through multiple rewrites, with Robert Shaw contributing the final version that appeared in the film. Ian Shaw credits his father’s writing and improvisational skills, which were especially crucial during long delays caused by technical setbacks.

Tensions between Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss are also addressed. The two actors often clashed, and their disagreements occasionally turned physical. Despite this, Ian notes there was mutual respect and that his father was trying to push Dreyfuss to focus more on his craft.

Robert Shaw’s struggles with alcohol are another central element. His drinking affected performance at times, including an incident where he was unable to deliver the USS Indianapolis speech, prompting him to ask Spielberg for a second chance the next day. The play also explores an episode where Dreyfuss attempted to dispose of Shaw’s alcohol in an effort to help, which escalated tensions further.

The show touches on Dreyfuss’s mental health, portraying him as someone dealing with anxiety and mood swings, though there is no documented account of a panic attack during filming.

Despite the challenges, Jaws ultimately became a massive success, grossing $477 million worldwide and earning four Academy Award nominations. Ian Shaw reflects that at the time, the cast had little confidence in the film’s potential, due to the production problems and doubts about the realism of the shark. The play offers a personal and dramatized look at a now-legendary film’s difficult journey to becoming a classic.