I think it would be safe to assume that Mae West was superimposed onto the lion cage scenes. There were times you could see right through her and the lions. I don't think they woud risk her in amongst lions.
shareShe always claimed that she was in the cages with them, I think she probably was for a few bits (the lions could have been sedated) but not for all of them.
shareI love Mae West and I know this movie was from a different era, but I really hated the circus scenes. I don't know how anyone could find animals being provoked, scared and tormented entertaining. Glad the times have (mostly) changed and people are more enlightened about animal issues.
shareGlad the times have (mostly) changed and people are more enlightened about animal issues.Me too. I feel sorry for those lions, as dangerous as they are.
At times a moving split-screen effect was used---both Mae and the lions were actually filmed in the cage, but they weren't in the cage at the same time.
shareEspecially the head-in-the-lion's-mouth bit. You can see right through the lion to West. Not well done.
But, it definitely looks like it's West petting the lion on the head previous to this. Agreed that the lion was most likely sedated for this.
I too am glad that the awfulness of circuses is over with!