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While shooting his epic 'Cleopatra' (1934), legendary filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille sometimes had trouble directing his leading lady, Claudette Colbert. Somewhat of a diva, Colbert refused to film the finale, being a reenactment of the Egyptian queen’s famous suicide, citing ophidiophobia as her excuse. Using clever psychology, DeMille made a special trip to the Los Angeles Zoo and returned to the set with a boa constrictor coiled over his shoulders. He then gave the actress a choice: either she shoot the climatic scene with their sizeable guest from the zoo, or she perform with a more diminutive specimen that had been prepared in advance. Colbert opted for the latter option. “I uncoiled the large borrowed reptile from my body, with gratitude for his temporary services; and Claudette played her death scene with the proper little snake, and played it very well,” wrote DeMille in his autobiography.

Description

While shooting his epic 'Cleopatra' (1934), legendary filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille sometimes had trouble directing his leading lady, Claudette Colbert. Somewhat of a diva, Colbert refused to film the finale, being a reenactment of the Egyptian queen’s famous suicide, citing ophidiophobia as her excuse. Using clever psychology, DeMille made a special trip to the Los Angeles Zoo and returned to the set with a boa constrictor coiled over his shoulders. He then gave the actress a choice: either she shoot the climatic scene with their sizeable guest from the zoo, or she perform with a more diminutive specimen that had been prepared in advance. Colbert opted for the latter option. “I uncoiled the large borrowed reptile from my body, with gratitude for his temporary services; and Claudette played her death scene with the proper little snake, and played it very well,” wrote DeMille in his autobiography.