Jaws History Goes Under The Hammer
The Prop Store in LA brought several Jaws items under the hammer on August 26th, as part of a two day film prop sale.
Prior to the Jaws items we'd already had Peter Pan's sword from Hook get snapped up and various pieces from the Indiana Jones films sell, including a staff of ra headpiece from Raiders of the Lost Ark commanding an impressive $110,000.
So, what items from the Jaws series were going under the hammer and what - in the 45th year of the release of the original Steven Spielberg classic.- would they fetch.
The Daily Jaws takes a look at the range of Jaws items from the first summer blockbuster to Jaws 3D and Jaws The Revenge. Details and descriptions taken from The Prop Store website, with sale prices added at the end of each description.
Lot #386 - JAWS (1975) - Bruce the Shark Blueprint
A Bruce the Shark blueprint from the production of Steven Spielberg's shark thriller Jaws. The blueprint originates from the early production stages of conceptualizing the infamous man-eating shark.
The blueprint features the film's title and lists the art director as Joe Alves and set designer as F.T. Wurmser. The print also notes the scale as "1/6 Full Size." The piece features the print of a hand-drawn great white shark that measures over 19 feet, according to the measurement scale at the bottom of the page. The blueprint is torn and shows signs of discoloration, from both production use and age, and remains in fair and fragile condition. Dimensions: 20 3/4" x 55" (30 cm x 24 cm x 1 cm)
Estimate: $1,200 - 1,800
SOLD: $2,750
Lot #387 - JAWS (1975) - Final Draft Script
A final draft script from the production of Steven Spielberg's shark thriller Jaws. This unnumbered, 113-page typewritten draft, written by Jaws novelist Peter Benchley for producers Richard Zanuck and David Brown, features a Universal Studios logo printed on the front of a red paper cover labeled "Final Draft Screenplay JAWS No. 02074" and dated "April 3, 1974". The first page is marked "5267" in black ink. The script is held together with brass brads. It is in good overall condition with some wear from age and use, including staining and creasing. Dimensions: 11 1/2" x 9" x 1" (29.25 cm x 23 cm x 2.5 cm)
Estimate: $1,500 - 2,500
SOLD: $7,000
Lot #388 - JAWS (1975) - Shark Tooth Clapperboard
A shark tooth clapperboard from the production of Steven Spielberg's shark thriller Jaws. During production, a small number (possibly four) of clapperboards were custom-made in the style of the shark's jaws, in homage to the film's voracious antagonist.
This black-and-white wooden clapperboard has shark tooth-shaped slates, and reads "Zanuck/Brown Prod. Universal City Studios 02074," "PROD JAWS," "DIR. S. SPIELBERG," and "CAM. W. BUTLER." The slate operates vertically by pulling two metal poles, which are inserted on the reverse and affixed with elastic bands to metal screws at the bottom of the board. The clapperboard comes with a letter of provenance from Jaws assistant cameraman James A. Contner.
The piece is in excellent overall condition with minor chips and scuffs to the wood.
Dimensions: 12 1/2" x 11" x 1 1/2" (31.75 cm x 28 cm x 4 cm)
Estimate: $25,000 - 35,000
SOLD: $32,500
Lot #389 - JAWS 3-D (1983) - Clapperboard
A clapperboard from Joe Alves' horror sequel Jaws 3-D. In the film, a large great white shark terrorized the SeaWorld theme park in Orlando, Florida, where Mike Brody (Dennis Quaid), the son of Amity Island chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), worked.
This black-and-white clapperboard is made of wood, plastic and metal, and has black and yellow lettering that reads "JAWS 3D DIR. JOE ALVES, CAM. J.CONTNER." It is dated "1.14.83" and features magnets inserted into the wooden sections, with spare number stickers on a strip of yellow tape adhered to the back. The slate is in good overall condition with some scuffing and marks from removed tape.
Dimensions: 16" x 10 3/4" x 3/4" (40.5 cm x 27.25 cm x 2 cm)
Estimate: $3,000 - 5,000
UNSOLD
Lot #390 - JAWS: THE REVENGE (1987) - Script and Production Notes
A script and set of production notes from Joseph Sargent's thriller Jaws: The Revenge. The 160-page script by screenwriter Michael de Guzman is the revised final shooting draft, dated January 23, 1987 with handwritten annotations throughout. Multiple pages are revised and are dated from February and March, 1987.
The production notes consist of a list of costs to provide FX photography for the film, a handwritten packet of FX costs and build schedule, and one page of handwritten notes on one of three photocopied storyboard pages. The lot has minor tears from production use and age, but it remains in great overall condition. Dimensions (each): 11 3/4" x 9 1/2" (30 cm x 24 cm)
Estimate: $300 - 500
SOLD: $500
Were you bidding? Perhaps you won? If not, which Jaws item would you have liked best from the above items?
For Roy Scheider fans there was also the opportunity to snap up a remote control version of the Blue Thunder helicopter, which which used in the film of the same name. However, it didn't meet its reserve, so will live to fly another day at a future auction.
Lot #145 - BLUE THUNDER (1983) - 1:6 Scale Radio-Controlled Flying Blue Thunder Special Helicopter Model Miniature.
A 1:6 scale radio-controlled flying Blue Thunder Special helicopter miniature model from John Badham's action thriller Blue Thunder. Officer Frank Murray (Roy Scheider) was assigned to operate a highly advanced, militarized super helicopter.
As the visual modifications to the full-scale helicopter weighed it down and restricted movement, 1:6 scale radio-controlled model miniatures were used for action shots of the helicopter, allowing for more advanced aerial stunts like the 360-degree loop in the film's finale. This is one of four such models made and piloted by John Simone Jr. of American RC Helicopters Inc. for the film.
This custom-fabricated model is constructed of thin fiberglass with internal wood paneling, metal landing skids, and clear acrylic windows installed around a detailed miniature cockpit. Some of the original windows are yellowing with age, while others are replacements which remain clear. Mounted to the front of the vehicle is a miniature rotary auto-cannon with ammunition belts lining the underside. The exterior is painted dark blue with camouflage patterns and red edge work, and affixed with decals reading "02" and "GH-17A 25102".
Mounted inside the cockpit are the original radio-control components, including a gear, steel gas-powered engine, and rubber-coated wiring, but the flywheel, fuel cell, and exhaust have all been disconnected since production. As a result, while this helicopter was at one time operational, its current functionality is untested. It remains in excellent overall condition with minor scuffing to the fibreglass. Dimensions: 72 1/2" x 17" x 20 1/2" (184.25 cm x 43.25 cm x 52.25 cm)
Contains electronics; see electronics notice in the Buyer's Guide
Contains mechanical components; see notice in the Buyer's Guide
Special shipping required; see notice in the Buyer's Guide
Estimate: $20,000 - 30,000
Watch the auction below:
