Sink your teeth into Jaws exhibition in Los Angeles as film marks 50 years
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An interactive model of the shark from the 1975 movie Jaws on display at Jaws: The Exhibition in Los Angeles on Sept 10.
PHOTO: AFP
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LOS ANGELES – Take one very large shark, a boat and a movie that ran way over budget and you have all the ingredients of a career-making film for one of Hollywood’s most successful directors.
Now, fans of Jaws (1975) – American film-maker Steven Spielberg’s terrifying thriller about a man-eating shark – can relive the movie as it celebrates its 50th anniversary in an exhibition at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.
“The film certainly cost me a pound of flesh, but gave me a ton of career,” Spielberg, 78, told reporters recently, as he toured exhibits of props and memorabilia from the movie that propelled him to the top ranks of Hollywood directors.
“I thought my career was virtually over halfway through production on Jaws because everybody was saying to me: ‘You are never going to get hired again. This film is way over budget and way over schedule, and you are a real liability as a director.’
“So, I really thought that I better give this my all because I’m not working in the industry again.”
American film-maker Steven Spielberg speaking at the Jaws: The Exhibition press preview on Sept 10.
PHOTO: EPA
History had different ideas.
Jaws, starring American actors Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss and English actor Robert Shaw, established a benchmark for thrillers, winning three Oscars and spawning three sequels as it catapulted Spielberg to stardom.
An orchestra performing at the Jaws: The Exhibition press preview. The film starred, among others, American actor Richard Dreyfuss and won three Oscars.
PHOTO: EPA
With more than 200 artefacts spread across several galleries, Jaws: The Exhibition – which opened on Sept 14 – is the largest display dedicated to a single film at the museum.
They join “Bruce”, a life-size model of a shark that is on permanent display at the museum and the only one that was ever actually on set. Spielberg named the model after his lawyer.
Costumes worn by actors Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw on display at the exhibition.
PHOTO: AFP
A prop sign from the film is among the more than 200 artefacts on display.
PHOTO: EPA
Production notes, stills, costume pieces and original set items from collectors – and from the director’s personal archive – were all tracked down for the exhibition.
“It really was a cinematic treasure hunt,” said curator Jenny He. Museum staff focused on finding objects that would put the story of Jaws together for visitors in a tangible, physical way.
Members of the media explore the exhibition, which kicked off on Sept 14.
PHOTO: EPA
In addition to seeing behind-the-scenes footage of the production, members of the public will also be able to try their hand at reproducing the menacing, unmistakable “da-dum-da-dum” music that announces the arrival of the predator – music that earned American composer John Williams an Oscar.
They will also be able to handle a replica of the shark used in the film.
International posters of the film on display.
PHOTO: AFP
Spielberg said the exhibition was a wonderful showcase of work by collectors “who somehow knew something that I didn’t”.
“When we shot the opening scene of Chrissie Watkins being taken by the shark and we had a buoy floating in the water, how did anybody know to take the buoy and take it home and sit on it for 50 years?” AFP
