"Benchley's screenplay was an example of a "journalist who didn't understand screenplays," Gottlieb said. "Sackler did a workman-like job of translating the novel faithfully. A faithful rendition of the novel was not what was needed. Something else was needed, and I came on board." Spielberg sent him a copy of the script "with the word 'eviscerate' scrawled across the title page. I sent a lengthy memo of what the script needed."" - Steve C, Team Marina

"Gottlieb also jettisoned a few subplots from the novel, including a love affair between Sheriff Brody's (Scheider) wife, Ellen (Lorraine Gary), and oceanographer Matt Hooper (Dreyfuss). "When we saw Lorraine Gary, Dreyfuss and Scheider interacting — these were three lovely people — we said, 'We are not going to show her cuckolding [Brody] with this dweeb." In the book, the oceanographer was a studly guy. In Sackler's version of the script, the casting choice was Jan-Michael Vincent instead of Richard Dreyfuss." Gottlieb also ended up pruning his own character. "The hardest thing I have ever done in show business was to cut my part as an actor, because the writer side of me said, 'This character is superfluous.' " - Steve C, Team Marina