Which 1975 film featured a mechanical shark named Bruce?
Quick answer
Jaws (1975), directed by Steven Spielberg, featured a mechanical shark that the crew nicknamed “Bruce” after Spielberg’s lawyer, Bruce Ramer. Based on Peter Benchley’s 1974 novel, the thriller about a great white shark terrorizing a beach town became the first true summer blockbuster.
Key facts
- Director
- Steven Spielberg
- Released
- June 20, 1975
- Filmed on
- Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
- Oscars
- 3 (Score, Editing, Sound)
The shark that wouldn’t work
Three full-size mechanical sharks were built for the film. Filming at sea off Martha’s Vineyard, the machines kept breaking down: salt water corroded the pneumatic systems, and Bruce sometimes sank. The shoot ran about 100 days over schedule.
Because Bruce rarely worked, Spielberg had to suggest the shark instead of showing it, using yellow barrels, underwater camera angles and music. The shark doesn’t fully appear until well over an hour into the film. Many critics say this made Jaws far scarier.
Two notes of terror
Composer John Williams created the famous theme, built on two alternating low notes that speed up as the shark approaches. It won the Oscar for Best Original Score. Williams also wrote the music for Star Wars; see who composed the Star Wars music.
The first summer blockbuster
| What Jaws changed | Detail |
|---|---|
| Wide release | Opened in hundreds of theaters at once, backed by TV ads |
| Box office | Became the highest-grossing film ever until Star Wars in 1977 |
| Summer season | Studios began saving big releases for summer |
Famous line
Police chief Brody, played by Roy Scheider, first sees the shark and says, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” The line was reportedly improvised.
The shark’s reputation
The film made many people afraid of sharks. Peter Benchley later regretted how Jaws affected attitudes toward great whites and became an advocate for shark conservation. Shark attacks on humans are actually very rare. For the biggest shark of all, see what the largest shark is.
Spielberg returned to giant creatures in 1993; see who directed Jurassic Park.
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