Summary
Due to his role inJaws,Bruce the Shark has an important place in mainstream pop culture. Because of his connection to the franchise, Bruce is without question one of the most iconic creatures in the history of Hollywood. And with his fame andhigh kill count inJaws, it’s no surprise that since the 1970s, he’s helped generate a lot of interest in the Great White Shark species.
Designed by production designer Joe Alves, Bruce was named after director Stephen Spielberg’s lawyer, Bruce Ramer. The name originated as a tongue-in-cheek joke among the cast and crew, buthas since been adopted as the shark’s official moniker by fans.However, in bothJawsand the 1974 novel of the same name, Bruce was never referred to by any specific name but “Jaws.”
You Probably Didn’t Know About This Jaws Prequel
Jaws is a film classic based on a novel in the 1970s, and its story follows three men brave enough to take out the shark, but one has his own prequel.
The Shark In Jaws Was 25 Feet Long
Bruce Was Made To Always Be Ready For An Attack
Modeled after the Great White Shark, themechanical Bruce the Sharkmeasured a length of 25 feet, weighing approximately 3 tons. However, these measurements may be inaccurate in comparison to Bruce’s real-life counterparts. According to Alves,the model was designed using dehydrated shark specimens as a reference.Additionally, although several Bruce models were made to fulfill different purposes inJaws— for example, one model was specifically designed to be towed behind a barge to simulate swimming — each depicted the image of the Great White in its attack position.
Although several Bruce models were made to fulfill different purposes inJaws— for example, one model was specifically designed to be towed behind a barge in order to simulate swimming — each depicted the image of the Great White in its attack position.
The attack position of a Great White has its mouth wide open and pulled back. This means thatthe overall length of Bruce in the attack position may lead to inaccuracies when compared to the actual length of a Great Whitein either the attack position or a relaxed position. Furthermore, although this would not affect the length of the animatronic, the Bruce model was designed with jowls. As Great White Sharks do not have jowls, this is an error that was most likely done to disguise the machinery operating the jaw.
How The Shark In Jaws Compares To The Biggest Great White Sharks In History
Bruce Might Be Bigger Than Real Great White Sharks
Bruce’s overall size may have been exaggerated for the purpose of the film. The largest preserved female specimen measured roughly 19 feet in length and weighed approximately 2.2 tons. However, although Great Whites are primarily known for their size,the average Great White is smaller. Adult males typically measure between 11 and 13 feet, and adult females measure 15 to 16 feet.
Nevertheless, Bruce’s size may not be too far off. TheGuinness Book of World Recordspreviously listed two Great White specimens as being the largest(viaShark Divers). The first, discovered in Australian waters in the 1870s, reportedly measured 36 feet in length. The second was trapped in New Brunswick, Canada in the 1930s. It had an estimated length of 37 feet.
Unfortunately, mistakes were made in the measurement and identification of each respective shark. In 1970, American ichthyologist J.E. Randall examined the jaws of the Australian shark and deduced that it actually, most likely, measured a length of approximately 16 feet. Likewise, the New Brunswick shark was revealed to be a misidentified Basking Shark. The Basking Shark shares a similar build to the Great White, which is most likely the root of the confusion.Bruce’s model was most likely designed with those false recordings in mind, but it is unclear if Alves was aware of these inaccuracies at the time of production onJaws, or if he and Spielberg made the deliberate choice topresent the Great White as bigger than they really are.
