I Just Found Out Steven Spielberg Used To Hideout On The Jaws Set Of The Universal Studios Tour, And The Story Is Heartbreaking

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It’s often the case that when a film becomes an enormous hit at the box office, it eventually finds its way into a theme park. This trend holds true whether we look back to the past or observe the present. For instance, the movie Jaws, which is frequently considered the first summer blockbuster, has been a permanent fixture at Universal Studios Hollywood for many years as part of their renowned Backlot Tour.

When constructing the miniature replica of Amity Island for the tour, they initially incorporated the real-life boat, the Orca, which was prominently featured in the challenging filming of “Jaws.” In the upcoming documentary titled “Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story” (to be released next month on Hulu or Disney+), Steven Spielberg shared that he would often step into the boat as a nostalgic reminder of the hardships encountered during production, and occasionally, he would become emotional. Spielberg expressed…

Whenever they returned a vessel from Martha’s Vineyard, transported The Orca to Universal Studios’ backlot, and moored it by the Jaws ride, I’d seize opportunities when no one was around to slip onto my electric cart, skirt past trams unnoticed, and clandestinely board the boat. Hidden away in the cabin’s small leatherette booth, I would sit, sometimes shedding tears.

The tale of making the movie “Jaws” is well-known in Hollywood lore. The filming on Martha’s Vineyard took significantly longer and ended up costing much more than initially planned. Later, in the documentary, Spielberg admitted to experiencing a panic attack during production and having nightmares for years afterwards due to this experience.

The successful filmmaker expressed he had no reason for tears, given that the movie turned out to be an unprecedented box-office success, making all his efforts more than worthwhile. However, the project undeniably left its mark on him, as it appears he struggled to let go of it. Interestingly enough, returning to the set of “Orca” seemed to provide significant relief for him. Spielberg then went on…

After seeing that Orca movie, it left such an impression on me that I couldn’t stop crying about it. The boat gave me a momentary respite, but that movie stayed with me as my therapeutic friend for years after Jaws was released.)

There seems to be some ambiguity about how long Steven Spielberg actually spent on the Orca. This makes me ponder if perhaps he was aboard the ship during my very first Studio Tour ride. It’s a bit sad to imagine him there, grappling with the intense emotions that would later propel him towards becoming one of cinema’s greatest directors, as a result of the film that originated from the Orca.

Initially, the Orca on the Studio Tour started showing signs of wear and tear, necessitating its replacement. Now, a reproduction stands where the original once was. On my upcoming visit to the Studio Tour, I’ll be gazing at that replica and reminiscing about the boat that came before it. It seems that the history hidden within its hull ran deeper than we had initially perceived.

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2025-06-24 20:39