The Jaws Log (German) Paperback – July 1, 1975

Carl Gottlieb, co-screenwriter of "Jaws" and the actor who plays Meadows, the editor of the Amity town newspaper, wrote the original version of this book while the movie, itself, was being shot, edited, and prepared for distribution in 1974 and 1975. It's a highly entertaining account of a troubled production that nevertheless resulted in the biggest blockbuster of all time … up to that point. In fact, "Jaws" more or less invented the modern blockbuster (followed by "Star Wars" in 1977, which cemented Hollywood production and distribution patterns that persist to this day), though since this book ends before the release, we get none of that here. Instead, what we do get is a day-by-day account of how the film was made - a "making of" document before such narratives were popularized with the rise of the DVD. Gottlieb hasn't added much in the actual text for the 25th Anniversary Edition, but the new endnotes do update us on the lives (and deaths) of the movie production's participants. It's fun and informative, if not always brilliantly written. I recommend for all fans of the film.

Long, lost book I had when I was 11-somewhere along the line I lost it and wanted it so badly-thrilled to have again 43 yrs later-thanks!

For 'Jaws' addicts like myself, this book truly allows us to experience the sheer beauty of the making of the best man vs. fish story ever told. Gottlieb tells a rollicking tale and his afterword - written from the vantage point of 25 years - is wonderful, wonderful stuff. So turn on the John Williams music, set your DVD to a low rumble in the background, crack open this book and "farewell & adieu to you fair Spanish ladies . . ."

Gottleib gives a witty and insightful insider's account of the agonizingly protracted shooting schedule that produced one of the greatest films in history! His accounts of the production horrors, mishaps, over-runs, local hysteria (all these on a GOOD day of shooting) are as entertaining as the film itself. A great in-depth companion to the too-short documentary featured on the "Jaws" DVD (that documentary itself a shortened version of the spectacular one included in the Laserdisc Collector's Edition from the mid-1990's).

Great behind-the-scenes look at the filming of the movie that became a blockbuster. Full of humorous and insightful stories about the madness of film making. If you love movies, you will love this book!

Great behind the scenes diary.

As this book surround my favorite film, I was very excited when I found it in a used book shop. I promptly bought it and read it. However, a lot of the information covered within the book wasn't completely new to me. TV specials, special edition VHS and then later DVD extras and the like had given away much of this information. I suppose I shouldn't have been so surprised, but I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more.However, there was a particularly amusing anecdote with a drunk Murray Hamilton and a skunk that was particularly enjoyable. Obviously, however, I wouldn't really recommend this to someone without a high level in interest in the subject, particularly if you are already familiar with the bonus materials available today.

Even though we're now in the era of comprehensive "making of" documentaries that accompany so many movies on DVD, it's still fun to pick up a good old "behind the scenes/making of" movie tie-in book from time to time. Carl Gottlieb's updated edition of his "The Jaws Log" is a good example of how entertaining such a book can be. It's nothing spectacular, just a solid, anecdote-laced account of a movie now famous for its production horror stories. Lots of new footnotes (about 20 pages worth) update the reader on what's happened since the book's original 1975 debut as well as providing further details not in the earlier edition, but it should be said that the original 1975 manuscript was still pretty candid for a merchandising tie-in.