Jaws




Jaws was released into theaters on June 20th, 1975. Filming locations include Aquinnah, Chilmark and Edgartown, Ma. All three of these towns are located on the island of Martha's Vineyard. The most economically efficient way of reaching the island is by Steamship Authority ferry via Woods Hole. Another option, would be to simply fly into Martha's Vineyard Airport. The film was directed by Steven Spielberg. The lead of Chief Martin Brody was played by Roy Scheider, who would reprise his role three years later in Jaws 2. Robert Shaw was cast for the role of Quint, who would go on to deliver one of the more memorable speeches in motion picture history with his USS Indianapolis monologue. What makes this scene all the more extraordinary is that he did the three and a half minute scene without a single cut. Richard Dreyfuss played Matt Hooper to round out the main trio. Dreyfuss and Spielberg would work together again two years later, in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The film is based on Peter Benchley's 1974 novel of the same name. By the time the film debuted, the paperback had already sold over $5.5 million copies. There are so many interesting stories associated with the filming of Jaws, from how the shark constructed for the film (Bruce) hardly ever worked properly to how Roy Scheider's famous line "You're gonna need a bigger boat." was ad-libbed, that someone could probably write a book about it. Thankfully, that's just what co-writer Carl Gottlieb did, with 1975's The Jaws Log. I highly recommend this book for any fan of the film. The score was done by legendary composer John Williams. It's Main Title has become synonymous with sharks and swimming. It won the 1976 Oscar for Best Original Score, as well as the Grammy and Golden Globe Awards for that year. Along with the for-mentioned score, the film also won the Oscar for Best Film Editing and Best Sound. On December 18th, 2001 it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. The films first DVD release was on July 11th, 2000.

Amity P.D. - S. Water St. and Davis Ln. Edgartown, Ma. 02539

Chief Brody exits from the rear entrance onto Davis Ln. and walks until he reaches S. Water St. From there, he walks north, past the Amity Gazette and Keisel's Bicycle Rental (now an empty space) until he reaches the intersection of S. Water St. and Main St.


All "Now" pictures taken in 2013.




The Chappy Ferry - 53 Dock St. Edgartown, Ma. 02539

The ferry connects Edgartown and Chappaquiddick Island. During it's Summer schedule, the ferry runs daily from 6:45am to midnight. Once you get to Chappaquiddick Island, you can take Chappaquiddick Rd. to Dike Rd. and once you reach the end you'll come to the bridge that Chief Brody drives over at the beginning of Jaws 2, on his way to the hotel dedication ceremony.


2013

Jaws 2


Amity Town Hall - 70 Main St. Edgartown, Ma. 02568
(Edgartown Town Hall)

Still present from the film, are the brown clock and curved table.


All "Now" pictures taken in 2013.



Billboard scene - 35 Aquinnah Circle Aquinnah, Ma. 02535

This scene was filmed at Aquinnah Circle, the western most point on the island. The Gay Head Lighthouse can be seen in the background. In June of 2015, the lighthouse was moved 129-feet back from the deteriorating cliff side, the spot it had stood at since 1844. The billboard was just made for the film.


All "Now" pictures taken in 2013.





Swimming beach - Beach Rd. Edgartown, Ma. 02539
(Joseph Sylvia State Beach)

The two mile long beach sits between Edgartown and Oak Bluffs. The bridge seen in the film is the American Legion Memorial Bridge. It serves as the gateway into Sengekontacket Pond, the spot where Michael Brody witnesses the gruesome demise of the man in the rowboat. At some point the bridge was renovated. It's also a popular spot to jump from into the canal. 






Myself jumping from the bridge.


Quint's shop - 513 N Rd. Chilmark, Ma. 02535

The building was constructed for the film and taken down once filming had concluded. The spot has been vacant ever since. It's architectural design was based on the Sculpin Gallery, located on the other side of the island at 58 Dock St. Edgartown, Ma. 02539


All "Now" pictures taken in 2013.



18 comments:

  1. Greetings from Denmark. Fantastic pictures.... Very interesting seeing all these locations in real life I bet

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  2. Thank you and yes Martha's Vineyard is beautiful. I'd suggest visiting the island whether you're a Jaws fan or not.

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  3. Hi Paul,

    Great photos! We are going to Martha's Vineyard next week and wondered how you got around the island. We can't take our car as the ferry is full. Would you suggest bikes or the buses they have?

    Thanks

    Andy

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    1. Use the VTA. This is the bus for the island. $7.00 for an all day pass or $18 for 3 day pass. Can get the pass on the bus. Exact change needed.

      Enjoy, wayne

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  4. Andy, glad you enjoyed the photos! On my visit to Martha's Vineyard I took the http://www.vineyardtransit.com/pages/vta_schedule/dates to the Quint's Shop and Billboard locations and rented a bike for all the other locations listed on my blog (as they are all relatively close to one another). Have a great time and feel free to let me know how your visit went :)

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  5. Wonderful post! Thanks to your pictures we were able to visit many of these sites on our recent trip to Martha's Vineyard- it was perfect, very accurate. We also made our way around with the VTA with our 2 daughters- it is economical, convenient, on time and clean. We enjoyed our visit very much. Thanks from fellow Jaws fans!

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  6. Very cool. I am Brazilian and I was on Martha's Vineyard in August 2015. When he learned that he had been the site of filming of the movie, I did everything to meet her. I have 55 years ... this film, at the time, made us die of fright beach ...

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  7. Great Job!. Enhorabuena por tu trabajo, un saludo desde Barcelona-ESPAÑA.

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  8. I am planning a trip to see my sister in Rhode island, and I am definitely taking a trio to the island. What true fan wouldnt. Thank you for mapping out the site's from the movie that terrified the world.

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  9. My pleasure, Billy. Hope you enjoy the island!

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  10. will there ever be a jaws event coming up any time soon and if so when roesch.roesch@gmail.com big jaws fan

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    1. In late September this year (2020) there will be an event on over the weekend of 25th-27th with tours, dinners and a screening as well. More info on Facebook - just search Amity 2020. All the best

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    2. I wasn't able to find any info on this event anywhere online.

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  11. I was surfing net and fortunately came across this site and found very interesting stuff here. Its really fun to read. I enjoyed a lot. Thanks for sharing this wonderful information.
    Alluc movies

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  12. Thanks for posting. Your information is very thorough and comprehensive. We're planning to visit Martha's Vineyard in May 2018 and tour the island on a moped. Seeing the sites where "Jaws" was filmed will be the highlight of our day. "Jaws" is simply one of the greatest movies ever made. Denice & James - Middle Island, NY

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  13. I was a commercial fisherman for years around the Islands.Nice to see the sites again,great pics and info, thanks for the memories!

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  14. Hello! I was born and raised on Martha’s Vineyard. Up until 2006 the remains of sunken Orca were left on the beach in Menemsha (right across from where Quints shack once stood). They took it down just before the first “Jawsfest” for fear that fans would hurt themselves trying to take pieces. We grew up climbing all over it. Never took any pieces of it, but the Murphy family, who bought it off production for $1, cut it up into inch pieces and they were included in the first edition of the making of jaws book. I actually worked at the hardware store that Brody goes into to by paints and brushes to make the signs, which still has the Amity Hardware sign hanging in the back. Cheers!

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  15. 1975 😃 2022 😩

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