Over time, the team behind the iconic movie “Jaws” has shared numerous accounts of the obstacles they encountered during production, making it even more astonishing that the film became such a massive success. Although much has been said about the movie, there are still fresh perspectives to share, coming from both those who worked on its creation and those who were significantly affected by its impact. In the upcoming documentary “Jaws @ 50,” director Laurent Bouzereau offers new insights into the film, while Wendy Benchley, wife of “Jaws” author Peter Benchley and an ocean advocate, discusses the movie’s journey to the big screen and the influence of the feared shark on misunderstood marine life. The definitive inside story of “Jaws @ 50” will premiere on Nat Geo during its annual SharkFest event on July 10th.
National Geographic presents the documentary, “Jaws: 50 Years of Fins and Fury,” which offers a raw perspective on the tumultuous and inventive process behind the creation of the iconic film Jaws. This definitive account delves into previously unseen footage from Spielberg’s and Benchley’s personal archives, including home videos and outtakes, providing an intimate look at the high-pressure production. Steven Spielberg shares candid recollections of the production challenges, such as dealing with a malfunctioning mechanical shark, battling inclement weather, his own post-production trauma, and fears that the film might end his career. The documentary also revisits the infamous “Jaws effect” – the widespread fear of sharks it triggered – and recasts it as a legacy of awe, curiosity, and lasting respect for the ocean’s top predator. Enhanced by fresh interviews with cast, crew, filmmakers, and shark conservationists, “Jaws @ 50” encapsulates the full creative and cultural impact of the first summer blockbuster.
I had the chance to chat with Bouzereau and Benchley about their fresh take on the classic tale of Jaws, its influence, and other fascinating topics.
Movie-Buff: Has it been half a century since Jaws made its mark? Can you recall your initial encounter with this famous movie?
Living in France, a place called “The Teeth of the Sea,” or Les Dents de la Mer, significantly impacted my life. It sparked an intense fascination within me about the role of a director, as well as the importance of a score. From that point forward, I yearned to reside in America and not just interact with those individuals, but immerse myself entirely in American culture as showcased in Jaws. In essence, without Jaws, I might still be in France selling bread. I owe Jaws more than I may sometimes acknowledge, but I’m incredibly thankful, extremely grateful to Steven for providing me with a career in documentary filmmaking and storytelling. Making this film is, in a way, bringing me back full circle, whether it marks the end or a new beginning, I’m still deeply appreciative of it and never take it for granted.
In your long-standing connection with Jaws, reaching the 50th anniversary is truly significant. As you reminisced during these conversations, did you unearth many forgotten memories or stories that had lain dormant for years?
Wendy Benchley: Absolutely, Laurent is an exceptional interviewer who managed to prompt me to recall memories, indeed. It was delightful, nostalgic, heartwarming, and rich with emotion to discuss the past 50 years of my life, most of which were spent with Peter, and the last decade or so with Jon Jeppson, now my husband. I consider myself fortunate, and Laurent’s persistence in wanting to create a unique documentary made me feel even more blessed that he undertook the project.
As a follower, reflecting on the rich history of both the movie and its source material, I’ve noticed an abundance of accounts detailing the film’s production process – from behind-the-scenes books to documentaries. When considering how to contribute a fresh perspective for Jaws @ 50, my focus was on unearthing untold aspects of this cinematic journey that have yet to be fully explored.
It was a bit unsettling to think about another documentary on Jaws, considering if we should keep the film’s story untouched, but what seemed intriguing to me was unexplored human aspect.
Reaching fifty is a significant event, and it was a pivotal moment for me since I began to wonder if I remained relevant and could still resonate with a new audience. In the case of ‘Jaws’, this question was particularly pertinent. However, at age fifty, this milestone demanded reflection, and I chose to discuss it in a manner distinct from my other documentary on ‘Jaws’ thirty years ago. That earlier work focused more on the technical aspects of filmmaking, whereas this time, I wanted to delve into the heart and soul of Steven Spielberg, who faced an extraordinary challenge at a young age during the production of ‘Jaws’, and ultimately overcame it. My film is not just about the mechanics of the movie but also its drama, suspense, and survival story. I believe this perspective, which comes from a fifty-year-old viewpoint, brings something new to the table. This is a transformative stage in any person’s life, and it holds immense significance, especially when applied to a work of art. Consider films released the same year as ‘Jaws’ that have been forgotten – my film offers a fresh perspective on those shared images and moments.
Instead of delving into the past castings of “Jaws,” I decided to focus on making it understandable for those who may not be familiar with the film industry. By simplifying the narrative and focusing on the human aspect, such as courage and perseverance, I believed that the story would resonate more deeply with a younger audience. In essence, stripping down the complexities of the filmmaking process enhanced its appeal by making it more relatable to everyone.
Reflecting on the last five decades, has the portrayal of sharks in popular culture, largely shaped by ‘Jaws’, had more negative than positive effects? Given your and Jon’s lifelong efforts, along with many others, to improve the public perception of sharks, have those efforts ultimately outweighed the initial impact of ‘Jaws’ or is there still work to be done in reshaping their image?
Peter Benchley clearly believes that the impact of “Jaws” on public perception of sharks is undeniably beneficial. The movie has managed to maintain global interest in these marine creatures, leading to a surge of shark enthusiasts worldwide. An intriguing fact he often shares is the 30% increase in applications for marine science at the Rosenstiel school following the release of “Jaws.” This rise didn’t take four decades; it occurred immediately after the movie. Similarly, other institutions reported a significant surge in interest as well. While some may have misconstrued the film as justification to hunt sharks, remember that it was purely fictional. However, the majority of people, despite experiencing fear, were captivated and eager to learn more about these fascinating creatures.
Upon rewatching ‘Jaws’, I’m consistently struck by the truth in Hooper’s statement, “This machine only swims, eats, and produces small sharks,” as it perfectly encapsulates their simple desires.
Benchley: Well, they’re an animal, just like us. You’re born, you eat, you propogate, and you die.
Wondering if there was a surprising fact about Jaws that you didn’t know before diving into this project? Is there any intriguing detail or trivia that caught your attention?
Every time I converse with Mr. Spielberg, whether it’s face-to-face or casually chatting, I always gain new insights. His warmth and compassion are consistently evident, and I feel fortunate to have been a part of some enlightening conversations with him. I was certain that I would learn something valuable. I believe the tales about his challenges, such as the incident at a party during filming when an unnamed actor allegedly told him his career was finished, are particularly illuminating.
For that actor, not caring about hurting feelings to gain the director’s favor, suggested that everyone believed his career had hit rock bottom. He was extremely successful at a young age, and Hollywood quickly learns to both elevate and destroy talents. Despite being before the social media era, the news of his struggles spread within the industry. The aftermath, including PTSD, continued even after the movie’s success. This new understanding completely alters my previous conversations about Jaws with him: “Oh, my God, the shark wasn’t working, ha ha ha,” and “Yes, oh, my God, the shark wasn’t working, my career is over,” now hold a profoundly different meaning.
What specific message or key insight would you like the viewers of the Jaws documentary at its 50th anniversary to walk away with, whether it’s related to your conservation efforts or educating people about Jaws?
Benchley suggests that the main point is that sharks are captivating creatures, and he hopes people will grasp the importance of maintaining a balanced ocean ecosystem by preserving shark populations. He emphasizes the urgency of this matter as approximately 90% of all sharks in the ocean have been lost over time, leaving us with just 10%. To ensure the survival of these vital marine creatures and to maintain the health of our oceans, it’s crucial that they are allowed to reproduce and sustain their numbers.
To put it simply, when deciding which individuals outside of the Jaws production, such as Jordan Peele, Steven Soderbergh, and Emily Blunt, I wished to interview, I carefully considered who would provide valuable insights or perspectives that aligned with my research focus.
In my own words: During our production of this project, I worked closely with Steven, Amblin, producers, Nat Geo, and even scientists to create something unique. Each person involved brought their distinct viewpoint to the “Jaws” aspect of it all. For instance, Jordan Peele, a multi-talented filmmaker who once wore a “Jaws” t-shirt as a child, has a fascinating story with that movie. Emily Blunt, an actress known for her love of “Jaws,” offered intriguing insights during our interview. Janet Maslin, a critic at the time, had a unique perspective due to Steven Soderbergh’s obsession with the production schedule and call sheets. Guillermo del Toro, who often explores inner and outer monsters in his films, naturally found “Jaws” to be his monster of choice. Lastly, James Cameron, an ocean enthusiast and filmmaker known for movies like “Titanic,” “The Abyss,” and the “Avatar” series, brought a fresh perspective to our project due to his passion for water.
In a nutshell, I meticulously selected every voice, and if only I could create the cinematic masterpiece of “Jaws” comparable to “Lawrence of Arabia,” there was so much more depth to explore. However, I was resolute about maintaining a tight narrative, keeping it within 90 minutes, and making it concise for an entertaining experience. The key to being entertaining is structure, so my team and I followed a structured, creative yet scientific approach, using cards on the wall as our guide.
Before I had thoroughly read the book Jaws, I had watched the film multiple times. The movie deviated from the original story in several ways, such as introducing an affair between Hooper and Brody’s wife, and suggesting that Mayor Vaughn was involved with organized crime. I am curious to learn about Peter Benchley’s response to these changes made during the adaptation process.
Benchley pointed out that while novels can afford to be intricate due to readers’ ability to follow complex plots, movies require a straightforward A-B-C-D storyline for clarity. Given his sophistication, he understood this distinction well.
One thing he consistently put a lot of effort into was persuading Steven to scale down the shark slightly, as a true-to-life great white shark measures around 15 feet, not 25. However, Steven’s skill and genius were such that he understood a larger shark was essential for creating a film that would grip audiences and instill genuine fear.
Regarding a similar topic, could you share what Peter thought about the sequel films and, for that matter, what was your take on movies like “Jaws: The Revenge”?
Benchley clarified: We didn’t interact much with them, as Jaws’ author Peter focused on writing more novels, while we were engrossed in ocean conservation and expeditions, thus we weren’t involved in any of the other related films.
Did Peter write any other books similar to Jaws, where the characters take up the cause for sharks? I’m curious if there’s another novel of his that could be adapted into a modern movie or miniseries for today’s audience.
Benchley: Indeed, you’ve touched a soft spot, as we long for the day when someone brings The Girl of the Sea of Cortez to life on screen. This was Peter’s cherished book, and though I won’t delve into the tale here, it’s a stunning portrayal of a young Mexican woman’s bond with a manta ray. Remarkably, Laurent Bouzereau is currently working on securing its production, so perhaps your interview can lend a hand in making this dream a reality.
The definitive insider account, titled ‘Jaws @ 50’, makes its premiere on National Geographic on July 10th, as part of their yearly SharkFest celebration.
Here’s the edited version of the interview for brevity and understanding. Reach out to Patrick Cavanaugh personally on Twitter or Instagram.
Read More
- Wrestler Marcus “Buff” Bagwell Undergoes Leg Amputation
- Gold Rate Forecast
- ENA PREDICTION. ENA cryptocurrency
- PS5’s ChinaJoy Booth Needs to Be Seen to Be Believed
- AI-powered malware eludes Microsoft Defender’s security checks 8% of the time — with just 3 months of training and “reinforcement learning” for around $1,600
- Minecraft lets you get the Lava Chicken song in-game — but it’s absurdly rare
- Lewis Capaldi Details “Mental Episode” That Led to Him “Convulsing”
- Microsoft is on track to become the second $4 trillion company by market cap, following NVIDIA — and mass layoffs
- xAI’s $300/month Grok 4, billed as a “maximally truth-seeking AI” — seemingly solicits Elon Musk’s opinion on controversial topics
- Powell’s Exit? A Financial Drama! 🎭
2025-07-07 18:12