REMEMBERING VERNA FIELDS THE GENIUS EDITOR BEHIND JAWS

It may have been Spielberg calling the shots on shots on Jaws, but cutting them - and more importantly making them work - was Verna Fields.

Her contribution to Jaws is immeasurable and is part of why it is just so damned (re)watchable each and every single time.

She is ofen regarded as the unsung hero of Jaws, crafting the film, making it work when the shark did not, maximising the footage and cranking up the pace and suspense.

She won one of the films’ three Oscars (it was nominated for four) and edited the movie on location - where she was affectionately known as ‘Mother Cutter’ - as the footage slowly crept in, not only editing around the underperforming shark but also continuity problems of an ever changing sea and sky, not that you’d notice.

She was also instrumental to adding the Ben Gardner ‘head in the boat’ scene that was shot in her very own swimming pool and added long after filming had wrapped.

And that scene gave the extra jump that Jaws needed, even after all those viewings it is still hard to judge exactly when it will pop out.

Fields never worked with Spielberg again - she'd also edited his previous film Sugarland Express - but she did introduce the Jaws director to George Lucas - she also helped edit American Graffiti - so without her we might not have had Indiana Jones either.

As well as taking home an Oscar, Fields was rewarded by Universal with the role of Studio Executive. It was a role that kept her from directing Jaws 2 (imagine the potential) and was one she would continue until her death in 1982.

Words by Dean Newman

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