Jaws:Memories From Martha's Vineyard

**pelam123** · 06-06-12 11:38 PM

If you are a fan of Jaws then this is THE must-have book. It's definitely the most comprehensive story of the making of Jaws with nearly 300 pages packed with 100s of behind the scenes photographs, personal memories of cast and crew, diagrams, newspaper articles from the time, interviews and technical info and a forward from Spielberg who obviously approves. It's a huge coffee table-type book that isn't cheap (around £28) but well worth it as there is just so much info for fans of this truly great film and the travails of every aspect of its making. There's even a section on Pipit the dog!

**markrgv** · 07-06-12 07:16 AM

Yes agreed. Got this book at Christmas and it is very impressive. Great selection of behind-the-scenes photos. If you love Jaws you'll love this. And if you don't, you won't

**Richard_in_wales** · 08-06-12 03:37 AM

There was a documentary about it recently

**billy farmer** · 08-06-12 01:28 PM

Jaws is a film that i have no wish to ever watch again.

**MikeB** · 08-06-12 09:33 PM

I was tempted to buy the book before I read this thread, but now you've made it worse! Must resist...

Until I can convince my wife I really need this book, I'll reread my old and battered (original) copy of Gottlieb 'The Jaws Log'. Still an excellent insight into how the film got made (as well as the ways that it almost didn't), and the book that convinced me that the stories behind films are often more interesting than the films themselves (although not in the case of Jaws, which was a classic right from the start). Certainly worth buying it either in the original edition, or the slightly updated 25th anniversary edition.

The film is out in Blu-ray in September....more temptation.

**batman** · 08-06-12 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by billy farmer

Jaws is a film that i have no wish to ever watch again.

Why? Did it really scare you or did you think it was rubbish? It's one of my favourite films and I have watched it loads of times. Mrs Bat got bored after about 40 minutes and fell asleep the first (and only) she tried to watch it. She refuses to try again.

**billy farmer** · 08-06-12 11:34 PM

Originally Posted by batman

Why? Did it really scare you or did you think it was rubbish? It's one of my favourite films and I have watched it loads of times. Mrs Bat got bored after about 40 minutes and fell asleep the first (and only) she tried to watch it. She refuses to try again.

The film didn't scare me, i know the Shark in the film wasn't real, there is no doubt Jaws was a classic film, but it is just one of those films that i have no wish to ever see again, i have no wish to see any of the Jaws films ever again, i just can't enjoy watching films like Jaws.

**didi-5** · 09-06-12 10:50 AM

I can't say that watching Jaws is an enjoyable experience as such, but it is a film I admire and like to watch when I'm in the mood. I hadn't heard about this book so thanks for the heads-up.

**batman** · 09-06-12 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by billy farmer

... i have no wish to see any of the Jaws films ever again ...

I'm with you on Jaws 3 and Jaws-The Revenge .... terrible films.

**batman** · 09-06-12 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by didi-5

I can't say that watching Jaws is an enjoyable experience as such.

I am quite the opposite in that I find it an exciting and enjoyable film to watch .... the sequence where The Orca first sets off and all the crew are working together accompanied by John Wiliams stirring music is wonderful. The tension and suspense always keeps me on the edge of my seat even after all these years.

**billy farmer** · 09-06-12 12:48 PM

The worst scene in the first Jaws film is when

Spoiler:

that is a film scene that i have no wish to ever see again.

**batman** · 09-06-12 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by billy farmer

The worst scene in the first Jaws film is when

Spoiler:

that is a film scene that i have no wish to ever see again.

It is on of those scenes where the anticipation of what will happen next makes me want to vigourously grind my teeth together .... I remember the first time I saw it I was absolutely glued to the screen waiting for the outcome.

I have a similar feeling that you have about Jaws with Inglourious Bastards. It is a film I never wish to endure again. It is technically very good but some of the scenes are awful.

**markrgv** · 09-06-12 02:23 PM

Jaws is an amazing film; the greatest cinema viewing experience i've ever had. It's remained my favourite film. The shark i think looks great and you don't see too much of it - which was down to problems they had with it - but ultimately worked out for the better. The only one second of film i don't like is when the shark jumps out the water onto the boat. Though Great White Sharks can breech the water like this - the shark in the film looks very unrealistic when it does it - but throughout the rest of it is brilliant.

Who hasn't thought twice about what might be in the sea with them after seeing Jaws?!

**MikeB** · 10-06-12 06:20 PM

Like almost any great film, Jaws isn't for everyone (how many classic films do you secret hate/fell asleep watching. etc? - I know I've not watched a number of them all the way through), and 'Bruce' was kept out of sight for as long as possible because of his limitations in portraying a real shark. On the other hand, like Hitchcock, Spielberg knew that its what we imagine is much scarier that what we see. As a masterclass in the building of tension, its hard to beat, unlike the later ones in the franchise.

According to one website, there is speculation that the later Jaws films might come out on Blu-Ray. 'According to Cinema Blend, "although no special features or specifications are currently available for the upcoming Blu-ray release, if the Jurassic Park Trilogy set is any indication, the Jaws Blu-ray may come as a stand alone, and also as a set involving some or all of its sequels." Jaws the Revenge on Blu-ray?! It better include Richard Jeni’s comedy routine about watching the movie, and other bad movies, late at night in some hotel room as an extra. Actually, having it as a commentary track will make the movie much more enjoyable.'

Indeed. The routine is a classic from a sadly missed comedy great, and is indeed much more entertaining than the film itself.
Enjoy
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e07_1251153180

**markrgv** · 12-06-12 11:45 AM

Brilliant routine

Thanks for the clip - hadn't seen it for years.

**billy farmer** · 12-08-12 01:33 PM

Jaws will be showing on ITV4 tonight at 9.00pm, i don't think i will be watching it, i can remember when i did see Jaws on TV a long time ago, i found some of the scenes to be awful viewing, the worst scene (which i wrote about in post 11 on this Thread) is near the end of the film.

**Marky B** · 20-08-12 02:05 AM

It remains one of my all time favourite films. The script,the direction,the music,the acting - it is a timeless classic,never bettered by the crappy sequels or by the Samuel L Jackson shark type film that came later. In the hands of a young visionary,it was rumoured it was to be directed by Sir Alfred Hitchcock,Steven Spielberg delivered a masterclass in tension,tautness,and a step by step rise to a climax unequalled. Maybe the shark looked like a glove puppet when it arrived,but in the hands of Spielberg,the story telling remedied it.
The film - and original book - has been criticised for giving the Great White a bad press. As much as I loved the film and whooped and applauded when the shark met its demise at the end,I looked upon the film as being fictional and the shark being the villain which got its come uppance. In reality,I am all for the preservation of sharks.
After all,it came as a relief when Jame Gummer came to grief at the end of Silence Of The Lambs,yet Ted Levine is a favourite actor of mine!
Ta Ta
Marky B

**markrgv** · 20-08-12 07:39 AM

Originally Posted by Marky B

Maybe the shark looked like a glove puppet when it arrived...

I don't think it does though. Actually think it looks very good. It's something the anti-Jaws brigade always say - but i think very unfairly. Most of the time we only see glimpses of it - just enough to scare and show its size without over-revealing. The only time i find it looks unreal is the shot of it jumping up from the water on to the rear of the boat.

Certainly with each sequel the shark looked worse and took on puppet looks.

**Marky B** · 20-08-12 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by markrgv

I don't think it does though. Actually think it looks very good. It's something the anti-Jaws brigade always say - but i think very unfairly. Most of the time we only see glimpses of it - just enough to scare and show its size without over-revealing. The only time i find it looks unreal is the shot of it jumping up from the water on to the rear of the boat.

Certainly with each sequel the shark looked worse and took on puppet looks.

Fair comment,markrgv! The non-appearance of the shark was a great asset to the film (more by accident than design,due to problems with the mechanical shark),but like you the only disappointed was its appearance when it jumped on the boat. Maybe a bit of tinkering with CGI could apply there!
Ta Ta
Marky B

**Steve Crook** · 20-08-12 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by Marky B

Fair comment,markrgv! The non-appearance of the shark was a great asset to the film (more by accident than design,due to problems with the mechanical shark),but like you the only disappointed was its appearance when it jumped on the boat. Maybe a bit of tinkering with CGI could apply there!
Ta Ta
Marky B

The best monsters are always the ones you don't see much of. Compare the first Alien movie to the sequels. It's best when the audience has to use their imagination to scare themselves. It's a mistake when film-makers don't expect the audience to have any imagination

Steve

Brit Movie

Thread: Jaws:Memories From Martha's Vineyard

Thread Tools

Display

Similar Threads

Some Memories Of TV

Martha Cope

Memories................

In The Teeth Of Jaws

Martha Fiennes announced as April’s judge on Shooting People’s Fi

Posting Permissions