Joyeux anniversaire JAWS 2 director Jeannot Szwarc!
Hello, Islanders!
Thought I’d take a brief look at the career of JAWS 2 director Jeannot Szwarc, who turns 84 on November 21st.
Szwarc got his start in America helming several episodes of such popular programs as “Ironside,” “It Takes a Thief,” and “Marcus Welby M.D.” – all of which were produced by Universal Studios. Impressed with his work, Universal soon set Szwrc up in an office with two other up-and-coming directors: John Badham and Steven Spielberg.
As his career progressed, he moved on to other series before becoming the main director on Rod Serling’s “Night Gallery.” It was on “Night Gallery” that he first worked with Joe Alves, a relationship that would later reap benefits for both men.
In 1975, he directed his first feature film, a story about incendiary cockroaches called BUG. The film received some critical attention but is best remembered for featuring a fire in the same kitchen used on “The Brady Bunch.”
In the spring of 1977, production on JAWS 2 came to a halt as director John D. Hancock was let go from the film. As the studio decided whether or not to continue the production or shut it down, Joe Alves, who was not only the production designer on the film but an associate producer, suggested Szwarc to the producers, citing his ability to work under pressure. Szwarc was hired and, within days, the pressure was on. Most directors have six months or more to prepare for a film. Szwarc had mere weeks, choosing to shoot some of the larger set pieces, including the water skier attack, while newly hired Carl Gottlieb attempted to rewrite the script.
After a grueling six month shoot, and a few on-set scuffles, the film was completed and released on June 16, 1978. While some critics compared it unfairly to JAWS, fans ate it up, making it the third highest grossing film of the year.
Overjoyed with his work on JAWS 2, Universal offered Szwarc to make any film he wanted. His choice, a period romance called Somewhere in Time, which starred Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. The film opened to critical acclaim and gained a devoted fanbase that continues today.
Other films helmed in the 1980s included Enigma,Supergirl, Santa Claus: the Movie and Honor Bound. He also continued to direct made-for-television films including “True Life Stories” and “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.” He even found time to return to episodic television, helming two episodes of the rebooted “Twilight Zone” series.
In the 90s he split his time between America and his native France, doing both film and television on both sides of the Atlantic. As the 21st Century came about, he helmed multiple episodes of “Ally McBeal” and “The Practice,” both produced by JAWS 2 star, and one of Szwarc’s dearest friends, Jeffrey Kramer.
He continued to work steadily through 2019, helming multiple episodes of “Heroes,” “Smllville” “Bones,” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” He currently lives in France.
Let me finish with something I’m not sure many fans don’t know. If you watch a lot of his early television work, you’ll see that the directing credit belons to JEAN SZWARC. I asked him about this once and he told me that, as it was the 1960s, there were very few women directing in television (or film for that matter). A local woman’s group contacted him and wanted to honor him, thinking that JEAN was a woman’s name. To avoid any more confusion he began using his full first name.
Words by Michael A Smith. Michael is co-author of Jaws 2: The Making Of The Hollywood Sequel. You can order the book by contacting Michael at OsFanMike@aol.com.
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