"It's Only An Island If You Look At It From The Water" - "Jaws" and Martha's Vineyard
By Michael Lyons
Walking onto Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts is like stepping back in time and onto the set of Jaws. My wife, Michelle, and I traveled to Martha's Vineyard ten years ago this summer. We took part in one of the Island's "Jaws Tours," which takes visitors to different spots used as filming locations in Steven Spielberg's iconic film.
What we learned on the tour is that The Martha's Vineyard Commission seeks to preserve historic buildings on the island. This means that a majority of the buildings have remained untouched since Jaws was filmed there in 1974, and everything looks "frozen in time" from the movie itself.
In addition to the island being a beautiful, picturesque spot to visit and vacation, going to Martha's Vineyard is absolutely magical for a Jaws Fan.
Martha's Vineyard's first encounter with Jaws occurred not during the summer when the film takes place but in December of 1973 when producers David Brown and Richard D. Zanuck came to the island to scout locations for filming.
Filming was scheduled to begin on May 2, 1974. There were hopes that the filming would start so early that it wouldn't disrupt the all-important tourist season, but it lasted through October, with many extras who were supposed to be swimming during the heat of summer, shivering on the shoreline in early fall.
Several locals were used in key roles in the film, including Lee Fierro as Mrs. Kintner (who slaps Chief Brody across the face).
In author Matt Taylor's book Jaws: Memories of Martha's Vineyard, Todd Rebello, an extra in the film, recalled: "There was a level of excitement, but the production wasn't billed as 'the big boys are coming to town.' Not many people on the island had heard of the actors or director, so I don't think we understood the magnitude of what was coming."
Since the filming, and especially since Jaws has exploded in popularity, Martha's Vineyard has fully embraced their role as the real-life Amity Island. Martha's Vineyard is filled with souvenirs, references to Jaws in shops and bars, and, of course, movie-themed tours of the island.
This summer, for the film's fiftieth anniversary, Martha's Vineyard is hosting "Amity Homecoming Weekend," from June 19-23 (for more info, click here)
All evidence of how much the production of Jaws has had an impact on this small New England island. This is best summed up best by author Edith Blake in her book On Location on Martha's Vineyard (The Making of the Movie Jaws). She wrote about what it was like when the movie production concluded:
"As the last shout echoed in the harbor, outsized brand-new trucks arrived, and before the week was out, Jaws was gone.
...everyone was hoping the movie would be a success so they could watch it for years on the Late Show.
Not a sign was left (except perhaps in bank accounts) that an effort similar to a small war had been waged on Martha's Vineyard."
The production of Jaws was indeed that "war," filled with many battles before it made it to the screen. However, that's a story for Part 3, next week...
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Taylor, Matt, Jaws: Memories of Martha's Vineyard, Titan Books, 2011