Steven Spielberg sits in the mouth of the mechanical shark for Jaws. (1974–5)

Steven Spielberg sits in the mouth of the mechanical shark for Jaws. (1974–5)

Rare behind-the-scenes photographs taken on the set of Jaws have surfaced 45 years after the classic film was released.

The previously unseen colour snaps were taken by Charlsie Bryant, the script supervisor for the 1975 film, and they have been in her family ever since.

Many of her photos show the huge rubber shark out of the water between shots as the crew maneuvered the 25ft mechanical model

The model, which the cast and crew affectionately named Bruce, is seen with all of his mechanical parts on show.

Other shots feature director Steven Spielberg and stars Richard Dreyfuss, Roy Scheider, and Robert Shaw.

The pictures come in a brown faux leather photo album and were taken off the island of Martha's Vineyard, in Massachusetts, US.

They have been consigned to sale with auctioneers Bonhams who are expecting offers of up to £3,700.

The pictures include candid shots of Spielberg standing on a boat with no shirt on while a crew member can be seen in the background wrestling with the rubber shark in the water to move it into position.

Another shows him directing a scene from the water the while a camera man balances on the end of a wooden plank to film the thrilling final scenes of the movie.

Bruce, the mechanical shark named after Spielberg's lawyer, features prominently both in and out of the water, and in one snap is seen being carried out on a wooden pallet with its mechanisms exposed. 

'Bruce' is also seen mounted on top of a metal arm which allowed the shark to move menacingly and realistically.

Spielberg initially wanted to film with a real great white shark but they quickly realised this was not possible.

It was the first major film shot on the ocean, and it went massively over budget, costing $9million with an original budget of $4million to the dismay of its producers who first envisaged it as a small picture

The film was also a troubled shoot, with sinking boats, wet cameras and an inexperienced director at the helm. The actors were seasick much of the time and screenwriter Carl Gottlieb was nearly decapitated by a propeller. 

Principal photography was meant to take 55 days but took 159, and the crew nicknamed the film Flaws. 

Despite its problems, the film grossed an astonishing $7 million-plus in its first weekend and ended with box-office takings of $124 million - a record at the time - beating the Godfather.

All the 110 photos going up for auction measure 3.5ins by 4.5ins and remain in fantastic original condition, and are being sold by by Mrs Bryant's family.

Caren Roberts, from Bonhams, said: 'These Jaws behind-the-scenes photos are fantastic.

'They come from the script supervisor of the film, Charlsie Bryant. Her family consigned the photo album to us.

'The photos have never been seen or published before.

'I think they would appeal to a whole range of buyers from Jaws fans to film history fans, science fiction fans and Spielberg fans.

'There is also a market among museums or collectors who are interested in one-of-a-kind memorabilia.

Charlsie Bryant worked with Spielberg again on the 1977 hit Close Encounters of the Third Kind after they collaborated on Jaws.

He described her as his favourite script supervisor and wanted to have her work on the comedy blockbuster 1941 which came out in 1979.

However, she passed away unexpectedly shortly before production got underway and the final movie was dedicated to her memory.

Her 30-year-career also saw her working with the likes of Alfred Hitchcock and Nicholas Ray.

The sale of her photographs takes place on December 11.

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