Stories From The Making Of 'Jaws:' Fiasco On The High Seas 

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Left: Bruce the shark. Right: Richard Dreyfuss feigns happiness during production. Sources: (IMDB; Universal Pictures/Getty Images)

Jaws (1975) has taken on legendary status as the first summer blockbuster and the film that launched Steven Spielberg's career. But it was a mess -- just a mess. Production on the film was beset by issue after issue, including technical difficulties with the shark, the lack of a script and Spielberg's decision to film in the Atlantic Ocean. A simmering feud between Richar Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw didn't help.

When Jaws swam into theaters in June of 1975 audiences were unprepared  -- what could have been a b-picture at a drive-in was transformed into a horror picture that redefined the genre while bringing about a new era of blockbuster films. No one believed that some kid named Steven Spielberg would make one of the most thrilling pictures of all time. He pulled it off and somehow managed to turn some of the crises into strengths.