After reading it overnight, the two were hooked, calling it ”the most exciting thing they’d ever read.” They bought the film rights in 1973 for $175,000 (about $1.2 million today) and brought Jaws to life.
Interestingly, Spielberg admitted that when he first read the book, he was actually rooting for the shark — because the human characters were so unlikeable!
Stiff drinks and shark drama
“We went and had a very stiff drink,” Brown recalled in the 25th-anniversary DVD exploring the making of Jaws.
But as the lights dimmed, their fears quickly vanished. “We went into the theater, and the screams started, and they never stopped. And we were pinching each other. It was incredible.”
Across all its releases, Jaws has earned an impressive $476.5 million worldwide.
Robert Shaw robbed of an Oscar?
Many believe Robert Shaw was robbed of an Oscar for his unforgettable performance in Jaws. From start to finish, every moment he’s on screen, he absolutely owns it. His intensity is almost unbelievable, yet he also brings a surprising depth of emotion when talking about his harrowing experience aboard the USS Indianapolis
The ”USS Indianapolis” speech, where Shaw’s character Quint recounts the traumatic events of the sinking, is one of the most chilling and powerful moments in film history.
Who wrote the USS Indianapolis speech in Jaws?
The debate over who wrote the iconic “USS Indianapolis” speech in Jaws remains unresolved.
While playwright Howard Sackler initially conceived the speech, screenwriter John Milius was asked to expand it, resulting in a 10-page monologue. Director Steven Spielberg credits Milius for the words, but Robert Shaw’s editing made the speech what it is in the film. However, co-screenwriter Carl Gottlieb argues that it was Robert Shaw himself who wrote the final version.
“Somehow, the mythology was that Milius wrote that speech, but there were 10 versions of that speech, including my own,” Gottlieb said.
”And one night while we are all at dinner … he came in with a handful of paper and said, ‘I think I have the pesky speech licked,’” Gottlieb recalled. “And he basically performed it for the table. And we all went, ‘Wow.’ And Steven said, ‘That’s what we’re shooting.’”
Delivered the speech while drunk
When it came time to film the famous USS Indianapolis monologue, Shaw attempted to deliver the speech while drunk, thinking the scene, which takes place late at night, called for it.
Unfortunately, nothing from that take could be used. Realizing his mistake, Shaw called Steven Spielberg later that night, expressing regret and asking for another chance. The following day, Shaw delivered the monologue flawlessly in one take, his performance electrifying and haunting, cementing Quint as one of cinema’s most memorable characters. Continue reading…
