One of the iconic phrases (frequently misunderstood) from the movie Jaws, “You’ll need a larger boat,” was actually an on-set joke that later transformed into a legend, as it turns 50 this summer. Actor Roy Scheider came up with the line spontaneously during filming, and it has since become legendary. It’s challenging to conceive of one of the greatest monster films ever made without it.
The Production Of Jaws Has Become Legendary
It’s fascinating that I hadn’t known before now one of the most frequently recounted tales in Hollywood lore – the making of the classic film “Jaws”. Despite being a die-hard fan and regarding it as not just a standout horror movie, but an exceptional film overall, this detail had eluded me all these years. The shark, a central character in the movie, is rarely seen, adding to its eerie and terrifying nature – a choice largely due to technical difficulties with the mechanical shark, which posed problems for director Steven Spielberg, leading him to creatively work around this issue.
I adore the scene penned by John Milius, Robert Shaw, and Carl Gottlieb, where Quint (played by Shaw) narrates the tale of the USS Indianapolis. Interestingly, Richard Dreyfuss has confirmed that the film began without a complete script initially, leading to Milius’ involvement in crafting the memorable monologue. During production, due to problems with the shark prop and script challenges, the crew behind-the-scenes often joked about the movie being called “Flaws.
Another Inside Joke Made It Into The Movie And Became Iconic
During the filming, one issue that arose was the small size of one support boat. This boat was utilized to resupply a larger barge carrying most of the production equipment during scenes filmed on the ocean. As per Carl Gottlieb, the screenwriter, the crew felt the producers were frugal and expressed this sentiment to The Hollywood Reporter.
Everyone kept telling them, ‘You’re gonna need a bigger boat.’
Adding that the phrase became a regular saying around the set whenever anything went wrong,
This phrase was often used whenever something went amiss – be it a delayed lunch or a camera being rocked by waves; people would remark, ‘A larger boat will surely be needed.’
As Gottlieb points out, Roy Scheider, portraying Brody, subtly incorporated the line into various scenes for amusement. However, when he uttered it in the scene where he first encounters the shark, it turned into one of the most legendary quotes in Hollywood – sheer luck at work. The expression on his face and Quint’s response are precious, and such moments are what make Jaws transcend beyond just a typical monster movie, elevating it to something truly extraordinary.
As Independence Day nears, it’s perfect timing to revisit one of the most chilling summer horror films in history, and a memorable quote that unexpectedly turned out to be iconic.
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2025-06-11 01:07