In Peter Benchley’s original novel, and in director John Hancock’s original first draft script of “Jaws 2”, it is explained that the reason why the town council of Amity Island wanted the beaches open even after all the shark attacks was because they owed money to the mob.
While making the film, director Steven Spielberg named the shark Bruce. He named him after his lawyer. This is one of the reasons the great white shark in Finding Nemo is also named Bruce.
For a long time, the actor who portrays the voice of God went uncredited. It wasn’t until the 2004 special edition DVD of the film was released that an answer was revealed. As well as the role of Moses, Charlton Heston also voices God. The explanation was, “The idea that if God were to speak to you, it wouldn’t be like how one person speaks to another. It would be more like a voice you hear from within.”
Peter Cushing (Grand Moff Tarkin) found the boots he had to wear too small and uncomfortable. So, in all the shots where you don’t see his feet, he’s actually wearing his slippers.
The origin of Captain Jack Sparrow.
Jack Sparrow was once an employee of the East India Trading Company, delivering cargo throughout the Caribbean for Lord Cutler Beckett. The company gave him a ship called, the “Wicked Wench.” One day, after recieving instructions from Beckett to not examine the cargo, Jack looked anyway and discovered he was delivering slaves to a colonial plantation. Instead he sailed to Africa and set them free. Upon returning to the Caribbean, Lord Beckett branded Jack Sparrow a pirate.
Eventually, the Trading Company caught up with him and burned and sank the Wicked Wench. Around this time, Davy Jones appeared to collect Jack’s soul As he was about to die at sea, Sparrow made a deal with Jones. That if he raised the Wicked Wench from the ocean floor and allowed Jack to be its captain for 13 years that he would serve as a member of Jones’ crew for 100 years.
Jones agreed and raised the ship. But as a result of the fire that sank the ship, the hull turned into a burned black. Sparrow renamed the ship, the Black Pearl.
I’ve been a film critic on the radio for the past ten years. Although the show is on a bit of hiatus as of late, I hope you guys get a chance to listen to it.
It’s called “Double Feature” it’s on Sundays at 9:30am and Tuesday’s at 6pm.
