SEMINAL JAWS BOOK CELEBRATES 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
June 20th 2021 marks 46 years to the day that Steven Spielberg’s Jaws was premiered in movie theatres across the US. It also marks the 10th anniversary for another important event in Jaws history.
Not only did Jaws change cinema by smashing box office records (making $100million in 38 days) and creating the summer blockbuster, it also reinvented the making of book with Carl Gottlieb’s game changing ‘The Jaws Log’.
Hired by Spielberg as a screenwriter to work with him on the set while the movie was being made, Carl Gottlieb, an actor and writer, was there throughout the production that starred Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss. After filming was over, with Spielberg's cooperation, Gottlieb chronicled the extraordinary yearlong adventure in The Jaws Log, which was first published in 1975 and has sold more than two million copies.
Many other books followed The Jaws Log, some retelling the infamous production woes and expanding to the include the sequels with others interpreting the hidden meanings of the film. But on June 20th 2011 (36 years to the day since Jaws’ cinematic release) a new book on Jaws was published - and it changed everything. That book was JAWS: Memories From Martha’s Vineyard.
The Book
One of the limited ‘Orca’ editions of JAWS: Memories From Martha’s Vineyard
JAWS: Memories From Martha’s Vineyard is over 300 pages of new interviews, stories, anecdotes and over 1000 behind the scenes photos. Written by Jaws Matt Taylor with Jim Beller, and includes a foreword by the film’s director Steven Spielberg. ‘Memories’ brought back to life the making of JAWS in a way few felt possible. A story based book, it cleverly blends the recollections of those involved in the making of the film with a focus on stories told many of the production’s locals.
Beyond the stories, the incredible range of never-before-seen photos is where the book comes into its own. You’ve never seen anything like it in any making-of book, before or since. Including images from the production’s inner workings, taken by local participants and bystanders readers are also treated to newy illustrated schematics by Jaws Production Designer explaining the intricacies of the revolutionary sled fin mechanism, to name just one.
The Authors
Author Matt Taylor is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, where he studied early American history. Jaws: Memories From Martha’s Vineyard, his first publication, is the culmination of a lifelong passion for art, film and New England history. He is a fifteenth generation resident of Marthas Vineyard, where he lives with his wife and children.
Jim Beller began collecting Jaws memorabilia in 1975, shortly after his mother took him to see the film upon its release. His collection is the largest of its kind and can be seen on his website jawscollector.com . Jim can also be found on instagram under the name @jawscollector75. Jim is also a key inspiration and source of support for Ross, creator of The Daily Jaws.
JAWS Memories From Martha’s Vineyard authors Jim Beller (back) and Matt Taylor (right) with Jaws Production Designer Joe Alves holding a copy of the book.
Legacy
Like the movie itself, JAWS: Memories From Martha’s Vineyard redefined what movie fans should expect from making-of books. No other book captured the movie making experience like ‘memories’. Considering the movie at time of publishing, the movie was 36 years old and virtually everything contained within its page was newly discovered. Today, it forms the literal foundation for all other Jaws books and was quickly recognised as the definitive resource on the production of the greatest movie ever made and was the only choice for number 1 in our list of ‘Top 10 Jaws Books’.
Words and video by Ross Williams
