Inside "Jaws": Making the film classic
Inside "Jaws": Making the film classic

Fifty years ago, a monumental movie premiered that forever changed Hollywood: Steve Spielberg’s “Jaws,” adapted from Peter Benchley’s bestselling novel, which became the highest-grossing film of its time. Richard Dreyfuss returned to Martha’s Vineyard, which hosted the film production in 1974, and talked with Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz about the notoriously difficult shoot that nonetheless birthed a blockbuster. Mankiewicz also talks with actress Lorraine Gary and screenwriter Carl Gottlieb about their experiences working with Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and a young director making his first big-budget studio film.
Read the full article on CBS Entertainment
Truth Analysis
Analysis Summary:
The article is mostly accurate, highlighting key aspects of the making of "Jaws." It correctly identifies the film's impact and some of the challenges faced during production. Minor claims, such as the specific details of the on-set difficulties, are not fully verifiable with the provided sources, but the general sentiment is supported.
Detailed Analysis:
- Claim:** Fifty years ago, a monumental movie premiered that forever changed Hollywood: Steve Spielberg's "Jaws."
- Verification Source #2: Mentions the 50th anniversary of "Jaws" in June 2025, implying the film's significant impact.
- Verification Source #5: Refers to "Jaws" as a classic thriller movie.
- Analysis:* Supported.
- Claim:** Adapted from Peter Benchley's bestselling novel.
- Analysis:* This is widely known and considered common knowledge. While none of the provided sources explicitly state this, it is a well-established fact.
- Internal Knowledge Used:* Yes.
- Claim:** Which became the highest-grossing film of its time.
- Analysis:* This is widely known and considered common knowledge. While none of the provided sources explicitly state this, it is a well-established fact.
- Internal Knowledge Used:* Yes.
- Claim:** Richard Dreyfuss returned to Martha's Vineyard, which hosted the film production in 1974.
- Verification Source #1: States "Jaws" was shot on Martha's Vineyard.
- Analysis:* Supported. The year 1974 for filming is generally accepted as accurate.
- Internal Knowledge Used:* Yes.
- Claim:** Mankiewicz also talks with actress Lorraine Gary and screenwriter Carl Gottlieb about their experiences working with Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and a young director making his first big-budget studio film.
- Analysis:* This claim is about the content of the CBS video itself, which is not directly verifiable by the provided sources. The sources do mention Roy Scheider (Verification Source #1, #2) and the film being a classic (Verification Source #1, #2, #3, #4, #5).
- Internal Knowledge Used:* No.
- Claim:** The shoot was notoriously difficult.
- Verification Source #2: Mentions "how everything going wrong made the film a classic."
- Analysis:* Supported.
Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:
- Verification Source #1: Supports the claim that "Jaws" was filmed on Martha's Vineyard.
- Verification Source #2: Supports the claim that the making of "Jaws" was difficult.
- Verification Source #5: Supports the claim that "Jaws" is a classic thriller.
- The claim that "Jaws" was adapted from a bestselling novel and became the highest-grossing film of its time is widely known, though not explicitly stated in the provided sources.