Pirate Captain

For other uses, see Pirate Captain (disambiguation)

For other uses, see Captain of the Wicked Wench (disambiguation)

"I'm gonna teach it to the whole crew. We'll sing it all the time!" This article covers material from Disney Parks attractions around the world, including Walt Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean. Therefore, the factual accuracy of this article or section is disputed. Please see this article's talk page to discuss possible changes.

Unknown
Biographical information
Gender	Male
Eye color	Black
Hair color	Black
Title(s)	Captain
Also known as	Pirate Captain
Statistics
Weapon(s) owned	Cutlass
Ship(s) captained or crewed	Wicked Wench
Battles	Attack on Puerto Dorado
Affiliation	Crew of the Wicked Wench
Behind the scenes
First appearance	Walt Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean
Latest appearance	Walt Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean
Portrayer	Paul Frees (voice)

"Strike yer colors, ya bloomin' cockroachers! By thunder, we'll see ya to Davy Jones! They needs persuasion, mates...Fire at will!"
"Two shot holes, Captain! One clean through the mizzen mast!"
"Cut the ruddy wreckage away! Stand by as yer guns bear! Surrender, ya lily-livered lubbers! Another broadside and ya goes down with the tide!"

―Pirate Captain and a pirate crewman

This man was a pirate captain who operated in the Caribbean during the Golden Age of Piracy.

Biography

"Give it to 'em again lads...Aye, that'll show the bilge rats. Avast, ya scurvy scum! Run up yer white flag!"
"We will never surrender! Cobardes!"
"Very well, then! Give 'em a broadside! Pound 'em lads! Pound 'em!"
"We're gonna sink your stinking ship yo!"
"Take 'em below! Clear the decks, lads."

―Pirate Captain and Spanish soldiers

At some point in his life, the captain led an attack on the Spanish port of Puerto Dorado. Though the Spanish managed to damage the pirate ship, the Wicked Wench, the pirate crew successfully invaded the town. The crew captured its magistrate, Carlos, and found the town's treasure.

Behind the scenes

Pirate Captain concept art.

• The Pirate Captain of the Wicked Wench first appeared in Walt Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Disneyland, originally credited as "Captain" in the 1967 final draft of the attraction narration script. Voiced by Paul Frees, the character was inspired by the infamous, real-world pirate Edward "Blackbeard" Teach. He was first heard as captain of the Black Mariah in the attraction soundtrack in 1966. The Captain appeared in the 1968 special Disneyland: From the Pirates of the Caribbean to the World of Tomorrow, which served as a bonus feature for the home video releases for the 2003 film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. The character was identified as "Pirate Captain" and "captain of the Wicked Wench" in the 2006 book Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies by Jason Surrell. Beginning with the 2006 revamp of the Disney ride, the Pirate Captain was replaced by Captain Hector Barbossa. Despite this, the "Captain of the Wicked Wench" would further be used for sculptures and figures sold exclusively at Disney Parks.
• In 2006, the toy figure of the Pirate Captain was released under the name "Captain".

Captain Barbossa saying "Strike your colors, ya blooming cockroaches!" in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

• The Pirate Captain was referenced several times throughout the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise:
  • In The Curse of the Black Pearl, Captain Barbossa yells "Strike your colors, ya blooming cockroaches!" during a ship battle, one of the first film's many references to the original Disney ride.
  • In At World's End, the Hai Peng sails from the world of the living and plummets over the edge at World's End, a massive waterfall, and ends up in Davy Jones' Locker. This was taken from the ride in which a ship from present day goes down a waterfall, and ends up in the era of pirates. The film crew even embellished the effect by putting the various audio from the ride, specifically to make that connection. Among the audio and sounds heard as the screen blacks out was Paul Frees's voice as the Pirate Captain ("Strike your colors, you bloomin' cockroaches!") can be heard.
  • Though coincidental, Barbossa replacing Blackbeard as captain of the Queen Anne's Revenge in On Stranger Tides seems to be reminiscent of Barbossa replacing the black-bearded captain of the Wicked Wench in the 2006-revamp of the ride. Barbossa even referred to his crew as "blooming cockroaches" in the scene.
  • The flashback scene of Dead Men Tell No Tales features a pirate ship named Wicked Wench, which a dying Captain Morgan gives young "Jack the Sparrow" command of.
• This character was based on the infamous, real-world pirate Edward "Blackbeard" Teach. The character was called "Captain Blackbeard" in the Spring 1995 issue of The "E" Ticket fanzine. The Captain identifies himself as Blackbeard in the non-canon novel Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark where the figures from the ride magically come to life at night. The 2012 video game Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two also makes reference to "Blackbeard" having recently arrived in Wasteland, a fantasy world inhabited by "forgotten" Disney characters; the implication is that he is the original Pirates of the Caribbean character following his removal from the ride.
• The Captain's design also seems to be inspired by Robert Newton's portrayal of Long John Silver from Disney's 1950 live-action adaptation of Treasure Island, as well as Blackbeard from the 1952 adventure film Blackbeard the Pirate. The mural of Blackbeard on the wall of the Tortuga Tavern uses the same design.
• For the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise, the pirate captain's appearance appears to have inspired the design of Captain Edward Teague. Notably both pirates wear similar forms of hats, have braided beards with ornamentation, a brown strap going from their right-shoulder to their waist, and red coats with gold ornamentations. The name "Edward Teague" is also likely a portmanteau of "Edward Teach", the name of Blackbeard whom the pirate captain was modeled after.
• The Funko Pop "Wicked Wench Captain" toy was released in 2017.

Appearances

• Walt Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean (First appearance)
• Disney Parks Presents: Pirates of the Caribbean
• Pirates of the Caribbean (Little Golden Book)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Voice only)
• Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark (Non-canonical appearance)

Sources

• Walt Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: The Sound Track of the Fabulous Adventure
• Disneyland: From the Pirates of the Caribbean to the World of Tomorrow
• Spirit Of The Ride
• Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies (First identified as Pirate Captain)
• Dead Men Tell New Tales: Re-Imagineering the Attraction