Portland's Fritzi Cohen Didn't Have to Be Asked Twice to Join the Cast Of

Swimming Fritzi Cohen’s big fish story is no exaggeration.

Portland’s Fritzi Cohen didn’t have to be asked twice to join the cast of Jaws…she was askedf it’s summer three in New England, times. you’ve got to be thinking Jaws. Especially if it’s Ithe summer of 2012, when Universal Studios is behind a monster clambake on Martha’s Vineyard from August 9-12 called “JAWSFEST: The Tribute.” Sponsored by MV Promotions Networks, the event will celebrate Universal’s 100th anniversary as well as the cast and crew of this frighteningly successful film. While the late Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Jaws author Peter Benchley will sadly miss the BBQ, the event will still be thronged by well-wishers and fans hoping for glimpses of original cast members Richard Dreyfuss (Hooper), Susan Backlinie (Chrissie, the most famous night- swimming shark attack victim ever), Lee Fierro (Mrs. Kintner), and possibly Maine’s Fritzi Cohen (under the stage name of Fritzi Jane Courtney), who made the most of her part as a selectwoman in the fictional town of Amity. She reprised her role as Mrs. Taft 1 1 6 p o r t l a n d monthly magazine c l a ssi c s With the Swimming Sharksfrom staff & wire reports

Roy Scheider, far left, Murray Hamilton, and Fritzi Cohen grab audience attention during the emergency town council scene in Jaws.

in both Jaws 2 (1978) and Jaws: The I’d’d justjust beenbeen working onon Lenny Revenge (1987). Faced with tourism reve- at Charles Playhouse inin Boston e c

i nues in free fall because of great

ff when I got the call to audition. white shark attacks, Cohen when I got the call to audition. ilm o f is memorable in juicy scenes I was exhausted. I asked s I was exhausted. I asked

ett where the audience sees her ss staring into the public-relations what’s it about.. ““A big fish.”.” hu c a equivalent of the abyss. ss Who’sWho’s directing it?it? “Some“Some kid.”.” “When I auditioned for Spiel : ma s berg for a role in Jaws, he was 24,” Cohen remembers, “just at the beginning could do it. Our month’s work on Martha’s viewers can clearly see Cohen at work and

tion image of his incredible career. He saw every actor per- Vineyard was no glamorous picnic. It was channeling a Maine sensibility when she tells c sonally and couldn’t have been friendlier. freezing on the beach in May. In the water, it Chief and Mrs. Brody, “You’re not born here, rodu p “I was about to read from a script hand- was supposed to be July!” you’re not an Islander. That’s it.” ed to me, when he waved it aside and said, During shooting, Cohen impulsively told As shooting continued, a New England

k & White ‘Let’s do an improvisation instead. You’re an the young director, “‘I have a feeling you are cliquishness ran through the entire cast. c Islander and this guy (another actor with me) going to have a dynamite career.’ To which he “There was a little gazebo on the beach,” al; Bla

s isn’t. He wants to rent the Katharine Hepburn replied, ‘From your mouth to God’s ear!’ The Cohen says, “where Richard Dreyfuss, three suite in your hotel. Who does he think he is? rest, as they say, is history.” Spielberg also told crew members, and I’d meet to play poker. Okay, you know the attitude. Go!’ Cohen, “You sound just like my Aunt Sophie.” Peter Benchley walked by, and Richard

art: univer “And so we did, and both of us got the When Bruce the shark begins devouring asked him to pick up a pack of cigarettes.

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Planning207.282.7697 at Blanchette Laura call renovation major a perform and budget, plan, to manager construction a need you When the credit union’s normal business hours. and exterior renovations without disrupting interior the all preformed seamlessly Construction PM renovation. major a needing Union Credit PeoplesChoice had technology and needs Evolving Vineyard, along with andPhil Murray support Scheider between takes on Martha’s THEY’RE GOING TO NEED A BIGGER BOAT–Cohen, Lorraine Gary, a l c residuals keep coming!”the well, Oh me. to kind any of word one saying Only then was the star pacified,hair was without pulled ever back off the up’–sofacemy makeup andwas removed dowdy.and my want the excitement taken out of her makethat Ms. Crawford needed no ofcompetition–’I makeup, the works. The Joanword in hiscame mind. down I’d had my hair done, lotsyears before. There’s a dissolveremembersCrawford samethesettingin and I become Patrick O’Neal. theset. I played a librarian in a scene with Bountiful, dispensing Pepsi to the peonsto on the Pepsi Cola magnate and she was Lady a shark. didn’t blink at the prospect of workingthe years with is Joan Crawford. No wonder she Co teach him courtesy at this pointto about innot ‘I’m said, Peter hisButplease.’ life.’” > sode of the television series in ‘Same Picture, Different Frame,’ an epi I worked and briefly with Joan Playhouse, at Poland Spring Kennebunkport the yearsago when we were both working at mother,Joan,” Cohensays. knew“I Tina novel, ford’s Craw Tina by surprised bit a wasn’t “I cra com/portmag/2012/05/jaws-extras. >

For more, visit portlandmonthly. hen’s caught. Among her co-stars across “The scenario is that he sees me and me sees he that is scenario “The “At the time Ms. Crawford was married Of course, Of w

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