A crocodile and a ute
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (357256)
Rockingham, Australia
July 1, 2025 8:01pm CST
The vehicle in the photo was used in the film Crocodile Dundee starring Paul Hogan. Paul has also written his signature on the dashboard. Thankfully, the realistic-looking crocodile is not real. We call this type of vehicle a ‘ute’, short for utility.
Utes are very popular with farmers and tradespeople. Festivals called ‘ute musters’ are held annually in rural and regional areas of Australia. There are usually competitions of various kinds, and they may be combined with agricultural shows or music festivals.
Crocodile Dundee was a very popular film but I blame it for a lot of the misinformation that non-Australians were inclined to believe about our country. Crocodiles don’t infest all of our waterways, just those in the most northern parts of the country.
19 people like this
17 responses
@Ineeddentures (8018)
•
2 Jul
Why is it not
A crocodile and an Ute
Like
A crocodile and an umbrella
Strange isn't it that I would think of that
2 people like this
@Fleura (31913)
• United Kingdom
5h
I think because the 'U' in umbrella is pronounced differently from the 'U' in utility. Of course that raises a whole different question. But if umbrella was pronounced 'youbrella' then it probably wouldn't be preceded by 'an' if you see what I mean.
2 people like this
@Ineeddentures (8018)
•
Just now
@Fleura
Yes
I was thinking similar but couldn't put it into words as well as you have done
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (192117)
• United States
17h
Trucks are big here too especially in rural areas. Guys like their trucks!
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (192117)
• United States
Just now
@JudyEv Yes, and I hate one parking beside me, or worse yet one on each side. You have to back out very far to clear them.
@RasmaSandra (86560)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
2 Jul
And the first Crocodile Dundee was a Latvian.
https://www.baltictimes.com/latvia___s_crocodile_harry__inspiration_for_hollywood/
2 people like this
@JudyEv (357256)
• Rockingham, Australia
15m
Yes, that's right. Many Australians have never seen a snake but people from other countries think we have dozens of them.
@aninditasen (17197)
• Raurkela, India
2 Jul
In India too these cars are used by some farmers and to carry goods.. In Odisha they breed crocodiles in a place called Bhitarkanika.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (357256)
• Rockingham, Australia
14m
Do you know what they do with the crocodiles? Do they use them for handbags, shoes, etc?
@LindaOHio (193298)
• United States
2 Jul
I've seen the movie. I always picture Australia as being hot and dry. I guess the central part is?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (357256)
• Rockingham, Australia
13m
The central part is hot and dry but around the edges it's not at all. Most of south-west Western Australia when I live the climate is more like that of California.
@arunima25 (91310)
• Bangalore, India
2 Jul
I have not watched the movie. This crocodile does look very realistic. The ute is cool.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (357256)
• Rockingham, Australia
10m
Those utes were very popular in their time. Now they are even bigger and tougher.
@Beestring (15559)
• Hong Kong
2 Jul
I haven't watched the movie.
The crocodile looks quite real.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (357256)
• Rockingham, Australia
13m
They've done a great job with the crocodile. It's very lifelike.
@DaddyEvil (152321)
• United States
2 Jul
I loved the Crocodile Dundee movies! And yes, I realized a lot of the stuff in the movies wasn't real... I kept looking everything up online to see what was real and what was BS just for the sake of the film. 
2 people like this
@JudyEv (357256)
• Rockingham, Australia
12m
I'm glad you checked out what was real and what wasn't! lol
@Nakitakona (57301)
• Philippines
2 Jul
Some movies are made with exaggerated packs of info. Those who are not in the know would tend to believe them.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (357256)
• Rockingham, Australia
10m
That's very true. People tend to believe things sometimes without checking if they are true or not.
