Quick Links
Summary
More than three decades after Steven Spielberg’sJurassic Parkreinvented the idea of a Hollywood blockbuster, each rewatch offers new ways to appreciate the movie. Whether it’s a subtle detail in the background or John Hammond’s now-iconic line “spared no expense,” the movie’s lore is still as good as new.
When movies are said to “age poorly”, it’s often because the story or dialogue feels dated orcampy to modern audiences. But here, it’s the line itself that doesn’t age well strictly within the context of events inJurassic Park. So, each time viewers hear Hammond declare with pride that he “spared no expense,” they can’t help but chuckle at the irony.
What does “Spared No Expense” mean inJurassic Park?
A quick recap is in order to better understandthe popular quote fromJurassic Park. John Hammond, the billionaire behind the titular park, states several times that he “spared no expense” in creating it. As the movie unfolds, disgruntled hacker Dennis Nedry (Wayne Knight) disables the park’s security system to steal dinosaur embryos. All hell breaks loose, and so do thecloned dinosaurs.This is when Hammond’s claim starts to contradict itself.
While Nedry is directly responsible for triggering the disaster, Hammond is also to blame for cutting corners. The billionaire owner does come off as a charming old man, in large part thanks to the late Sir Richard Attenborough’s warm on-screen persona. However, his character has a dangerous desire for quick results, despite claiming to have “spared no expense”. Though Nedry is to blame, the park spiraled out of control because it wasn’t equipped enough and up to code.
How Many Times Does John Hammond Say “Spared No Expense”?
John Hammond uses the iconic and ironic catchphrase a total offive timesin thetimeless dinosaur adventure movie:
Moments John Hammond Did Spare Expense
Simply stating that one spared no expense doesn’t mean they actually did, and that’s the case with Hammond in Jurassic Park. The line’s irony becomes evident in the obvious cost-cutting throughout the film. Hammond tries to rush the park’s opening, while keeping up appearances.
Dennis Nedry’s Money Problems
In an early interaction, Hammond dismisses Nedry’s struggles. He tells him that he’s sorry for his financial trouble , but they are “his problems”. While he doesn’t blame people for their mistakes, he expects them to pay for them. Nedry’s actions are inexcusable, but moments like this hint that he’s underpaid and overworked. In fact, this character sketch is one of themain differences between theJurassic Parkbook and the movie.
As the park’s sole programmer, Nedry is responsible for handling millions of lines of code and complex security systems all by himself. Hammond most likely paid what was agreed, but he could have hired additional staff or, being a billionaire, handed Nedry more money to help. In hindsight, paying the IT guy was an expense that Hammond should have paid more mind to.
Lack of Inspections and Staff
Before John Hammond even appears on-screen, the Mano de Dios Amber Mine scene explains his attitude toward cutting corners. The mine digger tells board lawyer Donald Gennaro that Hammond hates inspections because they“slow everything down.”Furthermore, the park is understaffed, with only one game warden, Robert Muldoon. The man suggests that the place cannot handlethe rogue, villainous dinosaursand that Hammond does not want his expensive investments harmed. These are critical expenses spared by the billionaire, which inevitably leads to catastrophe.
More Examples of Spared Expense
An interesting instance is when Dr. Sattler points out that Hammond has filled the park with poisonous plants – which later end up making the Triceratops sick – simply because they looked good. Another subtle detail is the exotic-sounding “Chilean sea bass” served at lunch, which is actually just cheap Patagonian toothfish. Some fans have even gone as far as noticing that the restraint bars in the DNA presentation scene are flimsy enough to be pushed off by hand. These overlooked details prove that Hammond compromises form and function for sheer cosmetic value.
John Hammond inJurassic Park: Novel vs. Movie
So, the question remains: is John Hammond the true villain ofJurassic Parkfor cutting corners in a dangerous park? In the movie, not really. But in theoriginal Michael Crichton novel, absolutely. The book version of Hammond is a greedy, eccentric billionaire whose frugal decisions directly lead to thepark’s disaster story. The novel also paints Nedry as a hard-working computer genius who is wronged by Hammond’s refusal to pay him more.
On the other hand, Spielberg softened Hammond by casting Richard Attenborough, who comes off as a well-meaning grandfather with an ambition to create a spectacle for the people. In the cafeteria scene with Dr. Sattler, his flea circus story paints him as a salt-of-the-earth capitalist who just dreamed a little too big. So, there’s no choice but to shift the blame and make Nedrythe obvious antagonist in the movie.
The “spared no expense” line is proof that a single phrase, repeated in the right context, can become a defining moment in pop culture history. It ties directly into the theme ofJurassic Park, and echoes another defining quote from the same movie:
