Tension Between Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw in "JAWS"

UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN
Lecturer: Steven Bratter
Course: "The Writer's Journey"
Film and Media Studies MA
Description:
"Take the hero's journey and explore the mythic structure behind Hollywood hits! Case studies include "Star Wars", "E.T.", "Harry Potter", "The Matrix", and "Raiders of the Lost Ark". Contextual knowledge to be studied includes Joseph Campbell's vision of the hero's journey, Christopher Vogler's adaptation of the model to screenwriting formulae, and George Lucas's interview and analysis of this model. Outline of the Hero's Journey: "The Opening -- Ordinary World", "Call to Adventure", "Refusal of the Call", "Meeting the Mentor", "Crossing the First Threshold", "Tests, Allies, Enemies", "Approach to the Innermost Cave", "Supreme Ordeal", "Reward", "The Road Back", "Resurrection", and "Return with the Elixer".
Required Reading:
1. "The Writer's Journey" by Christopher Vogler
2. "Screenplay" by Syd Field
Filmed by Anne-Katrine Hjortkjær Thomsen & Anders Valentin Vogt
Final Cut by Rimantas Vancys

[@chrismellito]

All 3 actors could have have won best actor in JAWS

[@Jared_Wignall]

Well, Scheider was the lead of the film since we follow him throughout the movie as well as being put in his place with not knowing much of what’s going on. Shaw and Dreyfuss we’re supporting Scheider but they all deserved recognition for their performances from the Academy. Shame they were all snubbed along with Spielberg.

[@sega62s]

not, Roy was the one with the most success, the other actors were mainly support actors....for me Roy gets the lead and Shaw the supporting role

[@RafaelSantos-vd6be]

@@sega62s My Mother RIP Loved Roy Shnieder and my sister too .Roy played like Steve McQueen in a Bullitt Like Movie The SeVen Ups a Police Detective Nice Pontiacs Car Chase With Tony LoBiancho as a Mobster kidnapping his own Mobsters for $ Ransom very good Movie Rip Mr Roy Shnieder .

[@jameslemmons9737]

🤜🏾🤛🏼

[@monsterjambrony]

The three Rs. Roy, Richard, and Robert.

[@KG-vr3te]

I love hearing Richard talking about life with Robert Shaw, he was a huge character and obviously overwhelming. The catalyst effect between Richard and Robert was what made the movie. Thank goodness the mechanical shark kept going wrong and Spielberg had to film the acting instead. I wish computer generated images failed regularly nowadays so we could get great acting and wonderful emotions back on film like we had then.

[@warriorancient4897]

Spielberg originally wanted Lee Marvin to play the role of Quint. That wouldn't have been a bad choice but I think Robert Shaw was the best choice

[@oh8wingman]

Robert Shaw brought Quinn to life in a way that Lee Marvin never could. Quinn was not a thug, a gangster, or a tough guy which was Marvin's forte. Quinn was a hardened seaman who always knew that his life was always at the mercy of the sea but managed to push back the only way he knew, with wit, experience, courage, and humour. Robert Shaw brought the sailors of New England and the Canadian Maritimes to life like no other actor before or after...........R.I.P. Robert Archibald Shaw, 9 August 1927 - 28 August 1978

[@barryotoole6990]

Only Shaw could have played Quint. He drank to get into the role, he annoyed richard to get the true on screen friction. Robert was a true Shakesperian actor

[@ANFeuerstahl]

Marvin is great but Quint is Shaw.

[@DrCrabfingers]

I dunno...Marvin would have been brilliant...as would Sterling Hayden...it would have been very interesting to see the final result of those guys. But the chemistry betwen the three protagonists is just sublime....so it worked out in the end...it's all good...what ifs and what might have beens....it's just speculation now....the film has been made and it was sensational. Really sensational.

[@hankbiii]

@@DrCrabfingers Funny you should mention Sterling Hayden because that's who I thought was Spielberg's first choice. I know I've read that more that once, and have never heard Lee Marvin mentioned before. All three are superbly talented actors, but Shaw... the USS Indianapolis monologue is the film's centerpiece, acting-wise, and he absolutely nailed it.

[@redbarchetta8782]

I think back and one scene alone made Jaws more than any and that was Shaw's rendition of surviving the USS Indianapolis.

[@beyond1957]

Mr Dreyfuss, Thank you for sharing your memories of Robert Shaw.

[@jakethemuss3]

All for method acting. Lead to an amazing performance, and great chemistry between the two. The greatest actors are method actors. They completely throw themselves into the role, and essentially become the character they are playing. Shaw was a brilliant actor.

[@dougtiffany1609]

jakethemuss3 l

[@tracimarks8009]

jakethemuss3 Yeah I think he was getting Dreyfus "in the role" to have that to bounce off. He played off him and he was a brilliant actor.

[@redbarchetta8782]

Imagine had Shaw stuck around long enough to act with Daniel Day-Lewis.

[@dbrand1]

thanks jake!

[@Nanu67-e9j]

I think Jaws is the best movie ever made.. it's just so rewatchable...

[@Bob31415]

Good point. It is definitely rewatchable.

[@pauloc8988]

You think right

[@dirtdobberblue]

i remember the whole theatre laughing our asses off when richard put his gloved hands in his mouth and stuck his tongue out.And then again when he did his pirate schtick

[@citizensaneusa]

Wonderful - no more to say - simply wonderful

[@robvegart]

Dreyfuss mentions the 'you got city hands' scene, and i thought that exchange was so brilliant that it sold the character feelings between the two as well as the intermediary character exchange of Brody... That really set the tone for the difference of characters and what the audience was to expect...

[@truemansparks]

I live not far from where Robert Shaw was born there is a pub there called The Robert Shaw after him

[@dougm659]

“The Robert Shaw after him”..... funny name for a pub!

[@robvegart]

His character really set the tone of what was to come in the movie after the 'ya got city hands Mr. Hooper' scene. Most people talk about his accent, but i know of many New Englander's with just that drawl. He was perfect for the film. Overshadowing, Imposing & assertive yet reasonable when he had to be.

[@trillywinkledinkle4323]

@@dougm659 it's a wetherspoons pub

[@disgruntledpedant2755]

Thats a beautiful tribute knowing alcohol killed him after destroying his family life.

[@leighnassau1158]

I Imagine it having Framed Jaws Bones from Large Sharks on the walls instead of pics! No doubt , Shark soup maybe on the Menu , in a small fishing town , like the pub in the Perfect Storm . Where all the Fisherman go.

[@bajaborracho9139]

Dreyfus has somewhat of a reputation for being difficult on set but I have never heard him say anything but good things about his fellow actors. He obviously has immense respect and admiration for Robert Shaw. Some find dreyfus aloof or self serving but I enjoy his reflections very much. He's a brilliant and engaging story teller.

[@michaelandrew964]

The on-screen hostility served the film.

[@googleaccount7986]

All 3 were great actors.and worthy of an oscar

[@elizabethbrown8833]

Richard Dreyfuss such a great actor not afraid to be human. Walks tall. 💜🥀🙏

[@radzillo]

Thanks for posting this. Love Jaws to this day. What a great story from Richard.

[@dbrand1]

watch it every summer at the beach! never gets old!

[@TH33QUALIZ3R]

Gawd I wish he was still alive to see how his career evolved after Jaws... :(

[@krystalharwood3123]

yeah but don't you find it spooky that his character died and the REAL man died in real life also?

[@TH33QUALIZ3R]

He died about 3 years later didn't he?

[@krystalharwood3123]

Marvin James me too. I don't wanna sound weird, but I can't wait to meet him up in heaven when it's my time to go and tell him how brilliant he was in that movie

[@haroldpark]

Krystal Harwood ...as opposed to him being immortal?

[@nicholasramsey5331]

He was such an incredible actor! Made the movie seem So Realistic!

[@stevemanuell8610]

Everything about this film is fantastic and no CGI

[@brennanarmacost1762]

Thanks, but please, you need to go into the area where the captions are, and correct them. I really rely on them, and they were all garbled. It was so nice, though, to see Richard Dreyfuss happy, even though I don't know what was said.

[@unclequack5445]

Shaw was a total genius, but needed The chief and Hooper to pull it off.

[@aleximarmott8994]

They are all so good that the script ( which is perfect) could have been awful and it still would have been amazing. Those 3 actors could have been literally barking at each other and it'd still work for me.

[@TheGodParticle]

Great casting for this movie with out a doubt.

[@paul1962uk]

I live about 100 yards from where Robert Shaw was born here in Westhoughton

[@vincebevis2277]

paul1962uk Respect ! Will always love the guy.

[@denisdemey9624]

Pretty 😎. The man was a LEGEND

[@skat1140]

Came here because Shaw's son is currently trying to drum up publicity for his play by saying that there actually was a Shaw-Dreyfuss feud, when obviously there was not.

[@realdealio1]

In interviews, Robert Shaw hints that he "drank alot to pass the time" while making JAWS..so that cold be why he was being so difficult to work with...especially with Dreyfuss.

[@cynthiasmith4130]

I live Richard Dreyfus!!!! He was so good in JAW'S!!!!!! Robert Shaw was so good in it!!!!! This movie scared the hell out of me!!!! Now, I record it, everytime it COME'S on!!!! I still watch it, their chemistry is terrific!!!!👍👍👍👍💯💯💯!!!!!! THANK'S for all your great 🎥🎥🍿🎥🍿🎥🍿!!!! I love them!!!!❤️❤️❤️.. 🥀🥀🥀🥀....

[@nicholasramsey5331]

I'd much prefer to be with Robert Shaw any day over some boring, generic, clean-cut suburban.

[@jgarrison1309]

Terrific! Thank you for sharing!

[@HandyMan657]

That was good, thanks man.

[@staciejones04]

I just love Richard Dreyfus !!!!

[@jordan390a]

I first saw Dreyfuss in The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz and he was great in it...!!!

[@normal_media]

seems there wasnt any negative tension. Professional acting and character flow.

[@LetsGetMikey982]

Shaw wasn’t the only actor who had a problem with Dreyfuss onset….Bill Murray did as well. Maybe Richard wasn’t the easiest guy to work with

[@pauloc8988]

Everyone has a problem with Bill Murray

[@shiprek2011]

He seems about 8-10 glasses of Chardonnay deep .

[@jakethemuss3]

Shaw drank liquor.

[@vickit.1797]

jakethemuss3 I think he was talking about Dreyfus in this interview

[@barryotoole6990]

Thats no harm Richard is human... well his was prior to boarding the spaceship in close encounters

[@nedmerrill6228]

I must have seen Jaws 100 times. Jaws 3, once, unfortunately.

[@TheShowman52]

Another great actor in Jaws.

[@mrh9635]

There's a curious silence around Shaw's The Man In The Glass Booth. I've never seen the stage play, or seen the film. The occasion never seems to be there.

[@staciejones04]

Funny thing happened to me yesterday, I went to a discount store and found a pop vinyl figure from the Jaws movie Matt Hooper! My favorite person. I loved him on the Goodby Girl! My favorite movie!!!!

[@luishumbertovega3900]

Early on something that called my attention was the Rs at the begining of their names, Robert, Richard, Roy...

[@joebondo2422]

Hooper drives the boat, Chief.

[@chiefscheider]

I know, I know... 🙃

[@SueBeaWho]

Total THUMBS UP!!!!

[@g6rcteam81]

Dreyfuss was awsome in Always

[@artdeco9535]

g6rcteam He was good in " American Graffiti "

[@Firemarioflower]

He was great in the Poseidon too

[@BillMorganChannel]

Why didn't the shark with the Oscar for best actor? It was the acting force that scared me and everyone else to a near heart attack!

[@chiefscheider]

Remember when the Academy snubbed Spielberg for Jaws? Joe Spinell exclaimed "Who directed it, the shark?!"

[@lyricmannixon1793]

the thing about most of jaws is , its not what you see that scares you , its what you dont see . the barrels and the girl at the beginning . the ship being hit by the shark . i am glad the shark broke down . the only great shark moment is when you see it eat quint .

[@Agui007]

If they made Jaws today it would be a shambles! On one condition....a mechanical great white would be much improved. 🦈

[@Predators--cz2fb]

I have no respect for Dreyfus. This fkng guy sat there while he ignored that creep Kevin Spacey touched his sons leg and didn’t say a thing.

[@jefflanham1080]

‘I know what a shark looks like…I’ve seen one up close!”

[@richardmonteith1641]

A very fine actor is Richard Dreyfuss although it took Shaw and Scheider to make the film really sparkle, the three of them in the boat is class stuff, it's hardly really acting the three of them were so good. Oliver Reed was originally down to play Quint but didn't want to leave England, they then approached Sterling Haydn who didn't want it but lucky for Jaws fans they got Shaw

[@chiefscheider]

Oliver Reed was never in the running for Quint. The Spiel wanted Lee Marvin first, Hayden second, then Zanuck and Brown suggested Shaw

[@danielberg7644]

Richard Dreyfuss seems to have a lot of conflict with his co-stars.

[@mws755]

True lol

[@prayingmantis6777]

Is this the same actor who was in the James Bond movie?

[@Jerseybytes2]

he was in the movie from russia with love

[@RafaelSantos-vd6be]

Yes in James Bond in from Russia With Love .

[@prayingmantis6777]

@@RafaelSantos-vd6be Si... He had blonde hair and was built like Hercules!

[@scottknode898]

Robert Shaw played assassin Red Grant in From Russia With Love in 1963

[@prayingmantis6777]

@@scottknode898 I wasn't sure. He looked like he was on some steroids but I doubt people took them back then.

[@aprildannettegosa5381]

No way could anyone have played Quint but Robert Shaw he almost beat the shark as far as being scarier LOL

[@Riskmangler]

Dreyfuss has always come off as a smug little creep. Shaw was right to tweak that guy whenever he had the chance.

[@jimthompson8947]

Fire your boom operator. That's film speak for "get rid of your microphone guy".

[@beyond1957]

I reckon so.

[@garcia4717]

I can imagine Brando in the role. A quirky, kind of bizarre quint. Richard Harris coud have done the job, but i agree shaw was the best choice.

[@peterfeltham5612]

It's nice to know I'm not the only person who can't tie a knot.

[@mws755]

It sounds to me that this was 100 % method acting. Nothing personal lol

[@seangrexa4707]

Bet Richard threw a couple of Goodbye Girl jabs Richard's way lol

[@chiefscheider]

Um...Richard and Richard's? C'mon, captain 😄

[@johntitorii6676]

Dryfuss always fussin

[@Viktor-Krolock]

I give the oskar on robert, roy and richard. And spielberg regie. And for the music. For all. Basta!

[@krystalharwood3123]

Richard looks like Santa Claus

[@nala3038]

Yeah we all get old including you!

[@johndoe883]

There is always tension between actors lol 🤣 wat gets them to do there jobs is if there professionals

[@paulccrimmins]

Shaw was a marvelous actor but was a bit of a Bully is all. Especially after drinking alcohol which he frequently did on and off of movie sets

[@billyz5088]

One of the few times he was not loaded on the set of Jaws was during the great 'USS Indianapolis' segment. He had done it once while loaded and was embarrassed by the result - and then he did it again stone cold sober and that's the take you see in the film.

[@paulccrimmins]

@@billyz5088 you are absolutely correct

[@ainsleylucky3511]

Dreyfuss us full of beans. A terrific actor but he should not lie. The hostility he harboured to Shaw is legendary yet he had the temerity to go on television and sob while talking about Shaw while Shaw's granddaughter was in the audience . Shaw has always carried his own. He is still to be revered as the most menacing villain on screen in "From Russia With Love" . Do not forget his threatening characterization in Joseph Sergeant's "The Taking Of Pelham 1,2,3" 1974.

[@billyz5088]

Dreyfuss was still very young when Jaws was made - and by his own admission he lacked self-confidence. He even did interviews before the film opened saying he did not think that *he* was very good in the film - which some took to mean that he thought the film itself would be a flop. Its not too difficult to imagine how he would have felt pretty intimated by a presence like Shaw - and yet the film speaks for itself - Drefuss held his own and proved his worth in that film and many others that followed.

[@scoobedoo1008]

First time to notice the KZbin DISLIKE button without a count. I don't like it.

[@fifthbusiness1678]

I do.

[@fivizzano]

Shaw was a great actor but a bit of a psycho....

[@lisanairnnairn6]

that was my dr Shaw brother they look so much a like he was telling me he brother die with big heart attack on the beach real life I remember he was petty upsetting now I still see my dr now but he not a dr no more he so old now but I still go's see him

[@anthonywhite6289]

😊👍

[@vaughnlewis1953]

Hoooooooooopeeeerr

[@janicemurphy7878]

He seems like the kind of guy that would bitch slap a woman, or man that needed it. Awm

[@johnhetherington8830]

Shaw was great unlike Dreyfuss