Shooting sharks: on the set of Spielberg's Jaws - in pictures

The sharks are constructed under the supervision of special effects man Bob Mattey in Sun Valley, California Photograph: 1974 Joe Alves /Courtesy of Moonrise Media

Makeup artists moisten the shark’s quickly drying skin to preserve the illusion of freshness Photograph: 1974 Jackie Baer /Courtesy of Moonrise Media

Two different sharks were constructed for left-to-right and right-to-left movements – the other side has no skin. Here right-to-lefty is hoisted out of the water for a break Photograph: 1974 Edith Blake /Courtesy of Moonrise Media

The shark gets another wash and brush-up from effectsman Richie Helmer. Effects supervisor Bob Mattey is behind the wheel Photograph: 1974 Edith Blake /Courtesy of Moonrise Media

Another shark was mounted on a platform; here it's headed toward Orca's stern (just visible on extreme right) Photograph: 1974 Charlie Blair /Courtesy of Moonrise Media

The platform shark in action again; here riggers prep it for the boat attack scene Photograph: 1974 Cal Acord /Courtesy of Moonrise Media

Another sequence of the boat attack scene: the left-to-right shark smashes through Orca II’s transom. The prop shark was badly damaged as a result Photograph: 1974 Cal Acord /Courtesy of Moonrise Media

Effectsman Richie Helmer again, with the left-to-right shark. The shark props were nicknamed Bruce, after Steven Spielberg's lawyer Bruce Ramer Photograph: 1974 Cal Acord /Courtesy of Moonrise Media

Effectsman Cal Acord repairs the shark's teeth Photograph: 1974 Cal Acord /Courtesy of Moonrise Media

Director Steven Spielberg lines up a shot into the shark's mouth Photograph: 1974 Edith Blake /Courtesy of Moonrise Media

Another 'platform shark' was built for the underwater cage sequences. Here it is readied in MGM’s studio tank. The tank would additionally be used for the underwater point-of-view shots of bathers’ dangling limbs Photograph: 1974 Cal Acord /Courtesy of Moonrise Media