Wilde says he came up with the idea for the film in 1969 but could not raise the finance until Jaws. "I would rather have had the field to ourselves, without Jaws," he said.[3]
He called the film "a very down to earth treasure hunting story of today... It shows guys who get hooked on to a real find, hock everything they have, give up jobs... The characters and incidents are based on a lot of true accounts."[3]
"It was the most dangerous picture I've ever worked on," said Wilde. "Working 70 feet underwater, surrounded by sharks, you're pressured by all sorts of possible hazards... but I was much more excited than I was afraid."[3]
After seven weeks of release in three major markets in the United States, including California and Florida, the film had grossed $2 million.[5]
"Money, Money"
The opening theme song "Money, Money" was written by Wilde (under the pseudonym Jefferson Pascal) and sung by British musician and voice of the much-loved children's character Postman Pat, Ken Barrie.
^SHARKS' TREASURE
Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 42, Iss. 492, (Jan 1, 1975): 269.
^ abcdTreasure-hunting star: Cornel Wilde talks about the vivid sea epic he wrote, directed, stars in Local sharks join in Based on true experiences A Hollywood do-it-all
By David Sterritt. The Christian Science Monitor 1 Oct 1975: 19.
^Thomas, Kevin (4 June 1975). "MOVIE REVIEW: 'Sharks' Treasure' by Cornel Wilde". Los Angeles Times. p. f12.
^""Sharks' Treasure"-First 7 Weeks (Basically 3 major markets) $2,000,354 (advertisement)". Daily Variety. July 9, 1975. pp. 6–7.