As a huge fan of “The Last Picture Show” and an admirer of Steven Spielberg’s genius, I can only imagine the excitement I would have felt if I had been part of the process to cast the iconic role of Martin Brody in his groundbreaking film “Jaws.”
The title of George Hang’s 1994 satire “Swimming with Sharks” suggests that the Hollywood film industry is a dangerous place, teeming with ruthless individuals who are eager to swallow up an unwary filmmaker.
At the tender age of 26, I received an incredible opportunity to direct my first major film – a gripping maritime thriller named “Jaws,” based on Peter Benchley’s beloved novel. It’s a title you’re likely familiar with. As the lengthy and challenging production began, however, I couldn’t help but feel like an anxious sailor lost at sea, anxiously awaiting the merciless tidal wave of the studio system that threatened to engulf my fledgling career before it had even set sail.
I’ve always been fascinated by the behind-the-scenes stories of iconic films, and Jaws is no exception. Forty-nine years ago, a young Jeffrey Voorhees made his mark in Hollywood by playing the role of shark victim Alex Kintner in this groundbreaking thriller. As I reflect on his experience, I can only imagine the excitement and trepidation he must have felt being part of Steven Spielberg’s first theatrical movie.
In this scenario, there were numerous factors in play and the stakes were high. Sadly, almost everything that could have gone wrong indeed occurred. These misfortunes are detailed in Laurent Bouzereau’s book, “Spielberg: The First Ten Years,” which explores various alternate possibilities – such as different directors or casting decisions – that could have significantly altered the first summer blockbuster from its ultimate form.
Universal Pictures Wanted to Hire a Different Director for Jaws
Back in the 1970s, it’s hard to believe that a major Hollywood studio would choose another director over Steven Spielberg before he became famous. At the time, however, the aspiring filmmaker was relatively unknown. He had a few television productions and only one feature film to his name.
Universal Pictures, led by producers Richard Zanuck and David Brown, were wary of entrusting a large-scale production to a young director barely over 30. Initially, the offer was extended to Dick Richards, a 38-year-old filmmaker known for “The Culpepper Cattle Co.” However, he lost the opportunity due to a common mistake – confusing his marine creatures.
“Zanuck and Brown pulled me aside and shared their decision: I was to helm ‘Jaws’, they told me. I asked, somewhat confused, “Who is the current director?” They replied, “We held discussions with him, but he persistently called the shark ‘the white whale’, which displeased Peter Benchley. Consequently, the project was handed over to you.”
Spielberg Wanted Lee Marvin for Quint & Jon Voight for Hooper
As a gamer, I can only imagine the what-ifs of movie history. Could Tom Selleck have brought a unique edge to Indiana Jones that Harrison Ford didn’t? Or perhaps Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss weren’t always meant to embody Captain Quint and Matt Hooper in “Jaws”? The beauty of gaming is that we can rewrite the past, but in reality, we’ll never truly know.
Eagerly searching for the elusive Academy Award-winning actor Lee Marvin (The Dirty Dozen) for the role of Quint, the director was as tenacious as a sailor pursuing the biggest catch at sea. However, there was a snag: Marvin wasn’t biting. “He wasn’t interested,” Spielberg shared. “Instead, I learned that he preferred the genuine experience of fishing in real life. He took his angling seriously and didn’t wish to do it from a ‘movie’ boat.”
After that, Spielberg targeted Sterling Hayden for the part of Quint in “The Godfather” due to his distinctive resemblance to Ahab, noticeably after portraying a harpoon-carrying whaler in “Terror in a Texas Town” (1958). I’m unsure of the reason, but he was unable to fulfill the role according to Spielberg.
As a big fan, I can’t help but share my excitement when I heard about the brilliant suggestion made by Zanuck and Brown. They proposed bringing on Shaw for an upcoming project, having previously worked with him on “The Sting.” Hearing that Spielberg was impressed by Shaw’s performances in “From Russia with Love” and “A Man for All Seasons” only fueled my enthusiasm. I exclaimed, “Wow, what a brilliant idea! If only I had thought of it first!” Thankfully, Shaw agreed to join the team, making this dream casting come true.
Hooper’s role as the bearded marine biologist in Spielberg’s film was originally offered to Jon Voight following his successful stint in “Midnight Cowboy,” but he declined the offer. The director considered Timothy Bottoms and Jeff Bridges among other actors for the part. Having been a fan of “The Last Picture Show” cast, Spielberg attempted to recruit Bottoms and Bridges as well. However, we were unsuccessful or they were already committed to other projects. Such occurrences are common in the industry.
I’ve always been a huge fan of George Lucas and his groundbreaking work on Star Wars. Before its release, Lucas suggested Dreyfuss for a role in the film, having been impressed by his performance in American Graffiti. As a devoted admirer, I, Spielberg, eagerly sought a meeting with this talented young actor. However, Dreyfus wasn’t very keen at first. But my friend and Jaws co-screenwriter, Carl Gottlieb, managed to persuade him to join the production.
In Bouzereau’s interview, it’s unclear who were the top contenders for the role of Amity Island Police Chief Martin Brody besides Charlton Heston, Robert Duvall, and Paul Newman, who have been mentioned over the years. Spielberg refused to name names but did reveal that he was considering an actor from “Serpico” (it wasn’t Al Pacino), and another person he had seen on stage in an off-Broadway production. However, the studio and producers insisted on a more well-known actor for the role.
As a gamer, I found myself stuck in a pickle, struggling to find a character in my game that resonated with me. Then, one evening, while attending a virtual party, I ran into an unexpected guest – Roy Scheider, whom I had admired from “The French Connection” in the real world. He sat next to me and noticed my pensive expression, asking if I was alright. I explained that I wasn’t depressed but rather having difficulty casting my in-game movie based on the novel “Jaws.” I shared the entire plot with him, and by the end of it, he exclaimed, “Wow, what a fantastic story! How about me for Chief Brody?” Surprised, I considered his suggestion, realizing he would indeed make an excellent fit.
Spielberg Wanted To Start the Movie in the Shark’s Throat
Although Spielberg is renowned as a major storyteller of the last century, he remains modest enough to acknowledge his occasional less-than-excellent ideas. For instance, one early misstep occurred with the beginning of “Jaws.”
He confessed that among his poorly thought-out plans was initiating the film with the camera within a shark’s throat, pointing towards its teeth as they gaped open. He filmed an example of this concept but soon realized it was a cheesy and unoriginal idea more suited for B-movies. Despite considering it effective for trailers – he experimented, yet it still appeared cheap to him, and he discarded it.
Ultimately, he chose a more straightforward close-up shot of the shark’s perspective beneath the water as it prepared to swallow Chrissie Watkins (the now deceased Susan Backlinie) in the end.
As a gamer, I can tell you that even though Spielberg didn’t get to realize his full vision for the dock scene in “Jaws,” he still managed to bring a part of it to life. When our brave trio embarked on their mission to hunt down the monstrous shark terrorizing Amity, the camera, guided by Bill Butler’s skilled hand, slowly zoomed in on their boat. The unique angle, framed by an old shark jaw with its teeth peeking out at the top of Quint’s shack, made it abundantly clear: we were venturing into the heart (and for Quint, the jaws) of the beast.
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2024-07-18 20:03