Jaws is one of the most famous and influential movies of all time, and one of its most memorable elements is the boat that the shark hunter Quint uses to pursue the great white: the ORCA. But what is the story behind this iconic vessel, and how did it end up in the movie?
The Origin of the ORCA
The ORCA was not a real boat, but a prop built for the film. According to Daze Puzzle, the name of the boat was a crossword clue in the New York Times puzzle on January 16, 2022. The answer was ORCA, which is the scientific name for the killer whale, a natural predator of sharks.
The ORCA was designed by production designer Joe Alves, who based it on a 30-foot fishing boat called the Warlock. Alves modified the boat to make it look older and more rugged, and added features such as a crow’s nest, a harpoon gun, and barrels. He also painted the name ORCA on the side, as a homage to the novel Moby-Dick, which was an inspiration for the film.
The Fate of the ORCA
The ORCA was one of the most challenging aspects of the film, as it had to withstand the harsh conditions of the ocean and the mechanical shark. The production used two identical boats, one for normal scenes and one for sinking scenes. The sinking boat was equipped with pumps and valves that could be controlled remotely to create the illusion of the boat being damaged by the shark.
The ORCA was also the scene of some of the most memorable moments in the film, such as the bonding of the three main characters, the reveal of Quint’s backstory, and the final showdown with the shark. The ORCA became a symbol of the human struggle against nature, and the courage and sacrifice of the heroes.
Unfortunately, the ORCA did not survive the filming. The normal boat was sold to a local fisherman, who later scrapped it. The sinking boat was left to rot in a junkyard, where it was vandalized and destroyed. Only a few pieces of the ORCA remain, such as the wheel, the mast, and the nameplate, which are in the possession of collectors and fans.
The Legacy of the ORCA
The ORCA may be gone, but it is not forgotten. The boat has become a cult icon, and a source of fascination for many Jaws enthusiasts. Some fans have even tried to recreate the ORCA, either by building replicas or restoring similar boats. For example, a group of fans in Massachusetts launched a project called ORCA III, which aims to restore a 1975 lobster boat to look like the ORCA, and use it for educational and charitable purposes.
The ORCA is also a part of the pop culture, and has been referenced or parodied in many other media, such as The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Robot Chicken. The ORCA is also featured in the Jaws video games, where the player can control the boat and hunt the shark.
The ORCA is more than just a boat, it is a legend. It is a testament to the power of cinema, and the imagination of the filmmakers and the audience. The ORCA is one of the reasons why Jaws is still considered one of the greatest movies ever made, and why it still captivates and terrifies generations of viewers.
