Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Earlier today I caught the beginning of the Clint Eastwood movie "Any Which Way You Can". The opening scene depicted a fight between a rattlesnake and what I took to be a mongoose. (Although, for all I know it could have been a ferret.) Anyway, several thoughts crossed my mind as I watched the scene. For one, where was PETA when that scene was filmed? It looked very realistic; as though the mongoose and snake were actually in the same glass container. Two, the snake strike that hit the mongoose looked very realistic; is there any possibility that the fight was real, not staged? Three, what would be the probability that a mongoose could survive against a rattler? I know that mongoose have been known to fight and kill cobras, so maybe some would think that a mongoose could survive against a rattlesnake. However, a cobra has a very different manner of combat and strike than a rattlesnake. My guess is that even if a mongoose is an 'experienced' cobra killer, cobra experience would not really be much help against the type of combat and strike posed by a rattlesnake. Any comments? Does anyone here have any "inside" info about this movie and that scene?

For the record, I'm not a herp keeper. I just find your hobby fascinating and like to read the posts here.

Regards,
thistlewait

Animals in movies are supplied by professional "wranglers". The animals you are talking about are valuable to the point that they likely would not waste them on a single scene-especially since PETA has large influence in Hollywood, to the point where movies almost allways have disclaimers stating no actual animals were hurt. My guess is that you witnessed some good old fashioned Movie Magic.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

That movie came out in 1980, by coincidence that is the same year PETA was founded. That scene could very well have been filmed before PETA existed, and even if it wasn't PETA would not have had nearly the same influence or power to do anything about it that it has in Hollywood today.

Animal rights were allready an issue by the sixties and devices like the running W (used to trip horses for better falling effects) were banned. While PETA it'self may have been begining, Hollywood was allready "animal sensitive" by that time.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."