Steven Spielberg’s Oscars snub and more

“Jaws” is still making a splash in cinema 50 years later.

National Geographic’s new documentary “Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story” directed by Laurent Bouzereau gives a behind-the-scenes look at Steven Spielberg’s iconic 1975 shark movie with rare archival footage and interviews with conservationists and famed directors.

Spielberg himself revisits the classic film including the troubled production, his Oscars snub for Best Director and more.

“To me, making ‘Jaws’ was a life-altering experience,” Spielberg said in the doc.

Here are the biggest revelations from “Jaws @ 50.”

The troubled production

The “Jaws” cast and crew dealt with a myriad of production issues while shooting the film on Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. in 1974.

“There was nothing fun about making ‘Jaws,’” Spielberg admitted.

The production struggles included a ballooning budget, mechanical issues with the sharks, challenging weather conditions, star Robert Shaw’s alcoholism and his tension with co-star Richard Dreyfuss.

“There were times making that movie when I thought ‘Jaws’ would probably be the last thing I ever made before people would stop hiring me,” said Spielberg.

“Star Wars” creator George Lucas recalled: “It was reported everywhere. And when I did talk to [Spielberg] once in a while, I knew he was having a hard time.”

Spielberg revealed that about 60 days into shooting the film, “somebody from Hollywood, an actor, came over to me and said, ‘Everybody’s talking about [how] you’re never gonna get a job after this movie because you’re irresponsible with budget.’”

“This actor was so sure I would never work again, they didn’t care if they told me that,” Spielberg shared, calling the unnamed actor’s comments “very mean” and “demoralizing.”

Despite the many production issues, Spielberg said he “never once felt like I wanted to quit. I was terrified I was going to be fired.”

Sidney Sheinberg, the head of Universal Pictures at the time, flew to Martha’s Vineyard “just to asses the damage.” When they sat down to talk, Sheinberg allegedly told Spielberg that he didn’t think finishing the film was possible.

“I just said, ‘No, I wanna go. I wanna finish it,’” Spielberg remembered.

Martin Scorsese would visit the “Jaws” set as well. “He would sit there feeling sorry for me,” said Spielberg. “We would commiserate.” 

Of course, Spielberg eventually finished production on “Jaws” before its 1975 release. He said in the doc that making the movie was “traumatizing” but worth it.

Steven Spielberg’s panic attack

“When the film wrapped Martha’s Vineyard, I had a full-blown panic attack,” Spielberg revealed in the documentary. “I was in it, shall I say, over my head, for about seven or eight months on Martha’s Vineyard. It was, logistically, I think the most difficult movie I think I’ll ever make.”

The award-winning director recalled that he “couldn’t breathe” and thought he was having a heart attack during his health incident.

“I was shaking. And I was out of it — I was completely out of it,” he said. “I had a great crew, and yet I felt responsible for everybody there. And I felt really responsible for keeping them there for as long as had to stay.”

“Jaws” had to keep shooting for another two months after wrapping in Martha’s Vineyard, at which point he refused to give up on the film.

“It didn’t stop me waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, where the sheets would be soaking wet,” he explained. “We didn’t have the words PTSD in those days, and I had consistent nightmares about directing ‘Jaws’ for years afterwards.”

Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss’ off-screen drama

The actors who played Quint and Matt Hooper in the film didn’t get along behind the scenes.

“There was a lot of Richard challenging Robert and Robert challenging Richard,” Spielberg recalled. “They were kind of sparring partners — but it really turned out in hindsight to be a playful banter that was unique to their personal relationships.”

Shaw’s son, Ian Shaw, explained that Shaw and Dreyfuss had “offscreen skirmishes” which “helped the chemistry of the peace.”

Ian also said: “There was a love-hate relationship with the two. Robert was very frustrated with Richard’s attitude. And Robert gave him a very hard time — at least publicly.”

“But also Robert could see the talent that was there, and wanted him to succeed,” Ian added.

Steven Spielberg’s Oscars snub

“Jaws” was nominated for four Oscars and won three, including Best Original Score for John Williams’ music.

However, Spielberg was completely snubbed from the Best Director category.

“When a film is on the cusp of being considered for awards, it’s not so much what you want for yourself — it’s what everyone else says is going to happen for you,” Spielberg explained. “So I just understood, ‘I guess I’m getting nominated.’ “

“So when I wasn’t, I was surprised. And I was disappointed,” he admitted. “Because I was believing the noise, and you have to not believe that stuff.”

Spielberg also admitted that he would’ve voted for “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” over “Jaws” like the majority of the Academy did at the 1976 Oscars.

The ‘SNL’ skit

“Saturday Night Live” spoofed “Jaws” with its iconic “Landshark” skit during the first season of the show in 1975.

“I was in the audience when the Land Shark showed up,” Spielberg recalled.

The first instance of the sketch depicted the Land Shark (voiced by Chevy Chase) showing up to people’s doors and attacking them after pretending to be repairmen or salesmen. The Land Shark character has since made multiple appearances on “SNL.”

“I thought it was hysterical,” Spielberg said.

“Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story” is streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.