DtH Episode 99 – Jaws 50th Anniversary

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Book Review: Jaws Unmade

Jaws Unmade
Published by Bicep Books, 2020. 341 pages
By John LeMay

One only needs to look at all the rip-offs and inspired titles from a particular film to really know how successful it was. Granted, for Steven Spielberg’s 1975 film Jaws, it might have some to do with the box office profits as well. As we all know, movie monsters only die at the box office, which means if it made money, there will be a sequel. Or two. Or more, until the cash cow, or shark as the case may be, is completely dead and resting at the bottom of the ocean. Now we have to remember that in the mid ’70s, sequel-itis hadn’t really spread in Hollywood, but the money Jaws made was just too much to leave well enough alone, so we got Jaws 2 in 1978. Now the story of that production is enough for a book on its own. In fact, there is! Jaws 2: The Making of the Hollywood Sequel, by Louis R. Pisano & Michael A. Smith, is essential for any fan of the Jaws series, not only because it’s on the sequel, but you get a real insight of how much the producers have control of what the final movie is going to be. And Pisano and Smith books gives plenty of info. Continue reading

Last Shark Soundtrack?!?!

Great White CDSure, we’re probably getting close to the End of Days, with all the idiots in our governments, the climate change going out of control, and the world basically just turning to shit. But how can we not forget about all of that negativity when someone has released the soundtrack for one of the greatest Jaws rip-offs ever committed to film?!?!?

Exactly!

Thanks to the wonderful people at Beat Records, Guido & Maurizio De Angelis’ score for Enzo G. Castellari’s L’ultimo Squalo (aka The Last Shark or Great White) is coming out on CD! This 1981 film was actually pulled from release after playing in the states for about a month, after Universal sued the makers of the film for copyright infringement, and won! With James Franciscus and Vic Morrow hunting a very smart and very large Great White, it is a perfect slice of Italian cheese.

Being released here in the states for the very first time, this release is limited to only 500 copies and is priced at $19.95. Having close to 75 minutes on this release, that is a damn good price. I know I’ve already ordered my copy! The release also comes with a 12-page booklet. You can order your copy from Screen Archives by clicking HERE.

Movie Review: Last Shark (1981)

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The Last Shark (1981)
Directed by Enzo G. Castellari
Starring James Franciscus, Vic Morrow, Joshua Sinclair, Giancarlo Prete, Stefania Girolami Goodwin, Gian Marco Lari, Chuck Kaufman, Gail Moore, Joyce Lee

It was not uncommon for a foreign film studio to make their own version of a popular US film. I’m not talking remakes, mind you, since that would imply buying the rights for it. I’m just talking on using the same ideas, storyline, or theme, but changing them enough to make it their own. Just look at when William Friedkin’s The Exorcist came out … there were tons of rip-offs … sorry, films made that were “inspired by” just in Italy alone. Now this wasn’t a bad thing, and we’re not complaining, since we love a lot of those … variations. But when a new film called Great White hit the US shores in March of 1982, Universal Pictures filed a lawsuit against the producers of the film, stating that it was too similar to their film Jaws and Jaws 2. After only a month on the screen, it was pulled. Of course, that didn’t stop the producers from making a reported $18 million for that single month. Not too bad for a rip-off, huh?

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