Jaws (James Bond)

Lore & Background

Jaws first appeared in the 1977 film The Spy Who Loved Me as a henchman to the villain Karl Stromberg. He was an assassin, and is last seen swimming in the ocean after escaping from the Atlantis city ship. In the next film, Moonraker (1979), Jaws is employed by both Bond's unspecified enemy in the pre-credits sequence and the main villain Hugo Drax. In his second appearance Jaws changed from a ruthless and unstoppable killing machine to more of a comedic figure, and he eventually turns against Drax and helps Bond defeat him.

The character's teeth play a prominent role. Albert R. Broccoli is credited with adding steel teeth to the character. Katharina Kubrick Hobbs designed the teeth as cog-like in shape, as she felt pointed teeth could have injured Kiel. Broccoli originally hired John Chambers to make the teeth, but these were not used. Broccoli then sent Kiel to Peter Thomas, a dental technician, to construct the appliances. Kiel stated the props were uncomfortable and he could only wear them for less than one minute before gagging.

In Moonraker, Jaws gains a girlfriend, Dolly, who is never seen to speak aloud and who is the primary reason for his reformation. Jaws speaks his only line in the entire franchise: 'Well, here's to us.' The viewer is later informed that Jaws and Dolly made it back to Earth safely. In 1979, there were plans to bring Jaws back for a third film, but due to a change in production personnel and a desire to make the films more down-to-earth, the producers chose not to bring Kiel or Jaws back.

Reader's Guide

Jaws is significant as one of the most memorable henchmen in the James Bond franchise, largely due to his distinctive metal teeth and apparent invulnerability. His character evolved from a silent, unstoppable killer in The Spy Who Loved Me to a comedic figure in Moonraker, where his reformation through love added a unique dimension. The character's popularity led to his survival in the first film after a test screening, and he has appeared in various related media, including the animated spin-off James Bond Jr. and video games such as GoldenEye 007 and James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing. Jaws' legacy endures as a symbol of the franchise's blend of danger and camp, and his teeth were displayed at the Science Museum, London in 2002 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Dr. No.

Did You Know?

• The initial script of The Spy Who Loved Me concluded with Jaws being killed by the shark, but after a rough test screening, the scene was changed to have him survive.
• In the storyboard of Moonraker, Jaws appeared with an Emilio Largo-style eyepatch and a moustache, neither of which were seen in the films.
• Richard Kiel could only wear the steel teeth for less than one minute before gagging.
• Jaws speaks his only line in the entire franchise in Moonraker: 'Well, here's to us.'