Joe Alves
Biography
Joe Alves (born 21 May 1936, San Leandro, California) is an American film production designer, perhaps best known for his work on three of the Jaws films. He directed Jaws 3-D. Alves has designed three features for Steven Spielberg, firstly for The Sugarland Express. He designed the three mechanical sharks for the movie Jaws (1975) with mechanical effects man Bob Mattey supervising their physical construction in Sun Valley CA. After the sharks were completed, they were trucked to the shooting location, but unfortunately they had not been tested in water causing a series of delays that have become quite legendary over time. He was nominated for the Academy Award and won the BAFTA for Best Art Direction for his work on Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Alves worked on Jaws 2 (1978) in the capacity of both production designer and as second unit director. After John D. Hancock, the initial director of Jaws 2, was sacked, it was suggested that Alves co-direct it with Verna Fields (who edited the original Jaws). Jeannot Szwarc was hired, however, to complete the film. The model of New York he created for John Carpenter's Escape from New York (1981) has been described as "memorably derelict", and he was visual consultant on Carpenter's Starman (1984).
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (34)
The Farmer & the Shark
as Self
2025
Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story
as Self
2025
Les dents de la mer: Un succès monstre
as Self - set designer
2024
Sharksploitation
as Self
2024
Purgatory: Entering John Carpenter's 'Escape From New York'
as Self
2018
Viaggio nel cinema in 3D: Una storia vintage
2016
The Shark Is Still Working
as Self
2009
3D: A Brief History
2004
Return to 'Escape from New York'
as Himself
2003
The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'
as Self
2001
Sinbad: Beyond the Veil of Mists
Production Design (Art)
2000
Fire Down Below
Production Design (Art)
1997
Shadow Conspiracy
Production Design (Art)
1997
The Making of 'Jaws'
as Self
1995
Drop Zone
Production Design (Art)
1994
Geronimo: An American Legend
Production Design (Art)
1993
Everybody's All-American
Production Design (Art)
1988
Starman
Second Unit Director (Directing)
1984
Jaws 3-D
Director (Directing)
1983
Escape from New York
Production Design (Art)
1981
Jaws 2
Production Design (Art)
1978
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Production Design (Art)
1977
Embryo
Production Design (Art)
1976
Jaws
Production Design (Art)
1975
The Sugarland Express
Art Direction (Art)
1974
Scream, Pretty Peggy
Art Direction (Art)
1973
Double Indemnity
Art Direction (Art)
1973
Isn't It Shocking?
Art Direction (Art)
1973
See the Man Run
Art Direction (Art)
1973
Sarge: The Badge or the Cross
Art Direction (Art)
1971
Pufnstuf
Art Direction (Art)
1970
The Young Country
Art Direction (Art)
1970
Change of Habit
Assistant Art Director (Art)
1969
Winning
Art Direction (Art)
1969