Jaws (Universal, 1975), ORCA II Breakaway FX Transom with "O" and "R" ...

Description

"You're gonna need a bigger boat!"

Jaws (Universal, 1975), ORCA II Breakaway FX Transom with "O" and "R" Letters. Before Raiders of the Lost Ark or Jurassic Park, Steven Spielberg was a young director struggling to make Jaws, and its famously malfunctioning mechanical shark, "Bruce," work on a demanding ocean shoot. He had no idea he was creating the film that would launch the modern blockbuster era. Released in 1975, Jaws became the biggest box-office hit of its day-a cultural juggernaut that redefined summer movies and made Spielberg a household name. It was the first in a long line of audience favorites that would shape his extraordinary, decades-spanning career. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Jaws shows no signs of fading from memory. Its cultural impact continues to grow, with annual events on Martha's Vineyard, and a major retrospective at the Academy Museum. Offered here is an original FX breakaway transom panel from the sinking ORCA II, Quint's (Robert Shaw) fishing vessel the shark destroys in the film's climactic sequence. Made from lightweight balsa wood, the panel measures 39" x 11" x 0.5" and includes the painted letters "O" and "R", detailed in a rusty red tone to resemble corroded metal and affixed to the plank with nuts and bolts. The exterior of the piece is finished with a dark wood stain, while the inboard side is painted the distinctive seafoam green appearing on the boat. This piece was specifically built for the dramatic moment when Bruce lunges onto the boat and smashes through the transom and onto the boat deck. Two versions of the ORCA were built for Jaws: one seaworthy boat (ORCA I); the other, ORCA II, a non-seaworthy replica rigged to sink for interior shots and shark attack sequences. Eric Ropke, a local carpenter hired for the production, described making the breakaway transoms in Jaws: Memories from Martha's Vineyard: "We used balsa wood and glued the planks together in particular places so they'd break a certain way on camera... Scoring the back sides of everything helped, too, so that when the impact of the shark came, the pieces would break dramatically." Only three transoms were made for the climactic sequence-one for each take. Distinctive seafoam green pieces-marked by jagged edges, scuffing, and scoring-can clearly be seen drifting in the water as Quint is devoured whole, screaming bloodcurdling screams, in one of the film's most terrifying sequences. This balsa wood transom comes from the sinking ORCA II, designed to shatter on cue. Because the boat's fiberglass hull couldn't withstand repeated attacks, it had to be stabilized by nearby support boats, and crew members-including actor Allan Miller-were often tasked with retrieving floating debris like this piece between takes. This particular panel was acquired from Donald McDougall, owner of MacDougall's Cape Cod Marine Services, one of the many local craftsmen recruited by Spielberg's team for their marine expertise. The back of the plank features visible score marks for planned breakage, along with studio distressing and deliberate damage, including a 1" crack near the bottom left of the "O," a 3.5" internal crack in the top of the "R," jagged edges, scuffing, and general weathering from production use and consistent with a giant mechanical shark attack. Provenance: Accompanied by a 3-page signed affidavit from the previous owner, outlining the piece's history, evidence of authenticity, and detailed chain of custody. A historic and visually striking artifact from the making of one of the most important films in cinematic history and one of the most memorable scenes ever shot on water or, for that matter, anywhere else. Comes with a COA from Heritage Auctions.

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