Steven Spielberg is set to reveal behind-the-scenes secrets about Jaws, the thriller that launched his career, in a new documentary for National Geographic UK.
Often hailed as the first summer blockbuster, Jaws was released in 1975 to critical acclaim and won three Academy Awards. Now, fifty years on, Spielberg will revisit this cinematic masterpiece in Jaws At 50: The Definitive Inside Story.
This 90-minute feature is the first authorised documentary about Jaws, and includes interviews with Spielberg himself, as well as key cast members such as Lorraine Gary, who played Ellen Brody, and Ian Shaw, son of actor Robert Shaw, who portrayed shark hunter Quint.
Scheduled to air at 8pm on July 11th, the film will also feature appearances from celebrity fans of the thriller, including Star Wars director J. J. Abrams, actress Emily Blunt, and Titanic’s director James Cameron, reports Surrey Live.
The synopsis promises viewers “an unfiltered look at the chaos and creativity behind the making of Jaws, featuring never-before-seen footage from Spielberg’s and author Peter Benchley’s personal archives, including home videos and rare outtakes.”
Despite now being one of Hollywood’s biggest names, Spielberg candidly discusses his fears that the high-stakes production could have ended his career. Prior to Jaws, he had directed one feature film, The Sugarland Express, which seemingly faced few production challenges.
In stark contrast, he encountered everything from equipment malfunctions to weather delays while filming Jaws.
The documentary also explores the surge in public fear of sharks following the film’s debut, and its enduring influence on popular culture over the years.
Based on Benchley’s bestseller, Jaws narrates the tale of a man-eating shark terrorising a seaside town, and the local authorities’ efforts to capture it.
Remarkably, it bagged the Best Sound, Best Film Editing and Best Original Score awards at the 48th Academy Awards. The Spielberg masterpiece was also in the running for the Best Picture award, but was pipped to the post by Miloš Forman’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
Jaws At 50: The Definitive Inside Story premieres Friday July 11th at 8pm on National Geographic UK and streams the same day on Disney+