The Shark Is Broken: Strengthening the legacy of JAWS

You can catch The Shark Is Broken from 25th July 2023 at the Golden Theater, New York, NYC.

Hello, Islanders,

One of the definitions of the word “Legacy” is as follows: ‘the long-lasting impact of particular events, actions, etc. that took place in the past, or of a person’s life.’

Though the definition refers to a “person’s” life, it also applies to non-living things. The New York Yankees baseball team rose to national fame in the 1920’s, with such legendary figures as Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. That legacy continued over the next few decades with players like Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and, even today, slugger Aaron Judge. (As a long time Baltimore Oriole fan who despises the Yankees, you can’t imagine how painful it was for me to write that last sentence.)

Which brings us to JAWS. JAWS began as a novel. The legacy continued with the film. Then the sequels. The merchandising. Books including Carl Gottlieb’s “The Jaws Log,” Edith Blake’s “On Location: On Martha’s Vineyard – the Making of the Movie JAWS,” Matt Taylor’s “JAWS: Memories from Martha’s Vineyard,” heck, I’d even humbly add our “Jaws 2: the Making of the Hollywood Sequel,” as further literary extensions of the JAWS legacy. The Daily JAWS web site, and such Facebook groups as the original JAWS page, Amity Jaws Group and my own Let’s Talk Jaws Live! And JAWS 50 pages, continue building on the legacy daily.

The Daily Jaws Facebook page has over 100,000 followers alone.

It seems like every time you turn around, another great JAWS achievement comes along, further extending the legend that began nearly five decades ago in February 1974 when Peter Benchley’s novel was released. This past month, after a well-received run in both London and Toronto, the legacy continued to grow when “The Shark is Broken” made its debut at the Golden Theater in New York City. That’s right… Broadway!

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“The Shark is Broken” tells the story of the three stars of the film – Roy Scheider (Brody), Robert Shaw (Quint), and Richard Dreyfuss (Hooper) – as they kill time while shooting the film in the summer of 1974. That the show takes place on board the ORCA, Quint’s vessel, only makes the show resonate more with fans, who themselves have imagined what it would be like to sit below deck and have a conversation.

The cast of ‘The Shark Is Broken’ recreate one of the iconic 1975 publicity stills

Of course, one of the best contributions “The Shark is Broken” lends to the JAWS legacy is that the show was co-written by Ian Shaw, Robert Shaw’s son who, as a youngster, spent some time with his father on location on Martha’s Vineyard. And if that wasn’t enough, Mr. Shaw plays his father in the show, giving a performance that has been heralded by critics on both sides of the pond.

The Shark Is Broken’s ‘Orca’ set contains a production-used barrel for added JAWS-thenicity

More importantly, it is being praised by fans, many of them who were born long after Robert Shaw passed away. In the fan’s minds, they are back in 1974 and seeing Robert Shaw as he was. The final piece in this continuation of the JAWS legacy comes after the show, at the stage door. It is here that Ian Shaw takes the time to meet and chat with every fan who seeks him out, offering a humorous quip and an autograph to all he speaks to.

In less than two weeks I will mark the 48th Anniversary of the first time I saw JAWS. If you had told me then that nearly 50-years later this film would continue to have an incredible impact on my life I would have told you you were crazy! You’re not.

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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