SUMMER OF THE SHARK

They needed a scuba-diving midget. Exactly why was a secret. "We wanted to keep that," says Director Steven Spielberg, "for the sapper."

The casting call specified that the midget ought also to have had some experience doing stunt work. At his office in Universal Studios, Spielberg interviewed anyone with this curious combination of credentials. Then Carl Rizzo walked in.

At 4 ft. 11 in., Rizzo is not a full-fledged midget. But he did have stunt experience. And when he arrived in the office, his face was covered with blood. He explained that rushing...