The filming locations used to create the world of JAWS

Think Steven Spielberg’s JAWS was just filmed on Martha’s Vineyard – doubling as the shark-stricken Amity Island – think again.

We take a chronological dive into the familiar, and not so familiar, filming locations of the cinematic shark classic, which first burst onto cinema screen in the US on June 20, 1975.

Santa Catalina Island, Channel Islands, California, USA

As first victims go, the death of Chrissie Watkins (Susan Backlinie) is a visceral and shocking one. Doing for nighttime swimming what Psycho did for motel showers, it is expertly filmed and edited scene heighted by the primal tones of the music by John Williams.

Although most of the scene was filmed Edgartown South Beach, MA, the shark point of view shots of Chrissie swimming through the water were filmed off Santa Catalina Island as the water was much clearer for the shot, which is reminiscent of some of those featured in Creature From the Black Lagoon.

South Beach, Edgartown, MA, USA

The opening of JAWS is no holds barred, the quietness and calmness of the beach party scene shattered by the death of Chrissie Watkins in the water, perfectly capturing that opening chapter in the Peter Benchley book.

It’s often said that Backlinie sustained a broken rib from her ordeal, which isn’t the case, you can discover the story of the filming of that scene right here. Of course, her demise was no surprise, one only had to look at the iconic poster by Roger Kastel for that. Yet its power to shock still remains, no wonder some people were surprised that JAWS was only rated a PG.

It's also the very same beach where the remains of Chrissie Watkins were found by Deputy Hendricks (Jeffrey Kramer), which was shot during the first day of principle photography on JAWS on May 2, 1974.

265 East Chop Drive, MA, USA

This is the location of what was Chief Brody’s house, we say what was, as since shooting the original house has been completely replaced and looks unrecognisable to what is featured in the Steven Spielberg classic.

However, it is still clearly the house location where the Brody family lived (apart from Mrs Brody’s cup, which she never got back), and still sees a steady stream of JAWS fans make the pilgrimage to see if the kids are in the yahd, not too fah from the cah.

Aquinnah Cir, Aquinnah, MA, USA

When Brody leaves his house he drives down a stretch of road and passes by the Amity Island 50th Regatta billboard, which will also form a pivotal backdrop for a heated discussion between Mayor Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) and Brody and Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss. It’s here that they mention the Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916.

The billboard was removed once filming its relevant scenes were complete, but the benches seen in that sequence are still very much there.

Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, MA, USA

Amity, as you know, means friendship. Stepping into Edgartown, even almost 50 years after the release of JAWS, is almost like stepping into a time machine, with many of the Main Street buildings remaining hardly changed in that time between filming and now.

Amity P.D.

You’ll still find the building used as Amity Police Department, complete with white picket fence as you walk by it just like Chief Brody, don’t forget that little skip.

Amity Hardware store

Where Chief Brody knocked over paintbrushes but bought all he needed to make the Beach Closed signs, thankfully his wasn’t in need of a sun lounger of beach umbrella.

Chappy Ferry, Edgartown, MA, USA

The setting for the “You yell Barracuda” scene between Chief Brody and Mayor Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) which is one of the most beautifully blocked and shot sequences in the film. You hang on every word and every character.

Okay, you can take us back now…

If you don’t go back, you’ll end up in Chappaquiddick.

Joseph A Sylvia State Beach, Oak Bluffs, MA, USA

Pipit, Alex Kintner and that iconic reverse zoom and simultaneous dolly shot on the beach on Chief Brody when he realises that there has been another attack, also known as the dolly zoom, or the JAWS shot.

Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, MA, USA

Edgartown Town Hall was Amity Town Hall. And you can still walk down the corridor – just mind that sign unlike Chief Brody - and step into the very room where the town meeting took place, which was interrupted by Quint (Robert Shaw) scratching his fingernails on the blackboard and his “Y’all know me” talk.

Edgartown Harbor, Edgartown, MA, USA

It’s here we meet the wonderfully quirky Harbor Master Frank Silva, where Ben Gardner greets Matt Hooper when he arrives on the island, where the tiger shark is strung up and where Mrs Kintner slaps Chief Brody.

Verna Field’s swimming pool, Encino, California

Spielberg knew he could get one more jump out of his audience and not happy with the original shot, he set about shooting a replacement that would be more effective. But where to film it?

The swimming pool of its eventual Oscar-winning Editor of course! Through in some milk to make the water the right murkiness and we have a winner, with the emerging head of Ben Gardner still scaring us in the aisles to this very day.

American Legion Memorial Bridge, Sengekontacket Pond, MA, USA

Otherwise known as the JAWS bridge where the dorsal fin and tail of the shark first enters ‘the pond’. Chief Brody runs up to it and the Estuary victim meets his maker, thanks to the shark, next to it.

Menemsha Harbor, Chilmark, MA, USA

Quint’s shack may have looked part of the scenery, but it was actually specially constructed by JAWS Production Designer Joe Alves, it only allowed to be built if it was taken back down once shooting its scenes had been completed.

Home to the wonderful shot of the Orca going out to sea as it is framed by the jaws of a shark. A portent of things to come.

Ocean, between East Chop and Oak Bluffs, MA, USA

The Orca and its crews shark hunting (and hunted) scenes were predominantly filmed on the open ocean east of Martha's Vineyard, between East Chop and Oak Bluffs.

MGM Studios, Esther Williams Tanks, Culver City, California, USA

The shark cage attack scene was shot in a tank at MGM Studios Lot 3. It is known as the "Esther Williams Tank" for all of the underwater ballet she was involved in during her career. Dick Warlock (who also played Michael Myers in Halloween II) was the stuntman used as Hooper in the shooting of this sequence. It took about five days to shoot the scenes that were used. Warlock – dad of Baywatch star Billy Warlock - had to have his hair permed because his hair is straight and the first time in the water after they had just curled it, it straightened right out. Richard Dreyfuss has curly hair.

Dangerous Reef, Spencer Gulf, South Australia

Bruce the mechanical shark gets lots attention, but there was also real life great white shark captured for the film, which was used for the sequence where Matt Hopper (Richard Dreyfuss) is in the cage.

These scenes were filmed by Ron and Valerie Taylor and great white shark attack survivor Rodney Fox. And in turns out the name Dangerous Reef was more than an apt name after the great white they’d been filming became entangled in the cage and thrashed it to pieces – luckily no one was inside, but they footage was so breathtaking that it stayed in the picture.

And that footage is still as spectacular today, although the cage was smaller – to create the illusion of o 25 foot great white – it certainly doesn’t diminish the pure strength of the fish. No wonder the stunt man was pleased he wasn’t in the cage, and also refused to go back in the water after those scenes were in the can.

Cape Poge on Chappaquiddick Island, MA, USA

The final shot of JAWS over the end credits as we see Brody and Hooper slowly but surely make their way back to shore on the yellow barrels. Note the shape of the shoreline, it is practically the shape of a shark.

Words by Dean Newman

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