Loose story threads ultimately lead to box office gold for Disney’s “Dead Man’s Chest”

Jim Hill

18 years ago

It’s getting harder & harder to not be impressed by “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.” Given this Gore Verbinski film has earned (to date) $407.5 million during its initial domestic run. Which makes this “Pirates” sequel the sixth highest grossing film in U.S. history.

Now $407.5 million is admittedly a very impressive figure. But even that enormous amount pales in comparison to the $929 million that this Jerry Bruckheimer production has earned (to date) worldwide. Which makes DMC the fourth highest grossing film in world history.

There’s just no getting around it now. Audiences worldwide have truly embraced this “Pirates” sequel. Which is — to be honest — is kind of astounding. Given that when Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio were initially writing “Curse of the Black Pearl,” they never dreamed that they’d get the chance to create a sequel to that film. Let alone two.

As Rossio explained in a recent interview with “Scr(i)pt” magazine:

When we were making the first movie, we had no idea that we’d be doing any more. We figured that we had killed off the pirates genre for another decade.

But once “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl” proved to be one of 2003’s box office behemoths (Earning $305 million during its initial domestic run as well as an additional $348 million overseas), it was almost inevitable that Walt Disney Studios would order up a follow-up. Which was why — once Ted & Terry landed this assignment (Johnny Depp reportedly refused to reprise his role as Captain Jack Sparrow unless Elliot & Rossio were hired to write the film’s screenplay) … Well, they approached their new duties with considerable caution.

After all, Ted & Terry had seen more than their share of disappointing sequels over the years. In a recent feature article in Sci-Fi magazine, Rossio described how let down he had been by “Return of the Jedi.” How disappointed he was that this Richard Marquand film had recycled so many story ideas (I.E. The Death Star) from the first “Star Wars” film.

I remember going, “Uh, oh!” We already saw that. You didn’t come up with anything else?’ It was supremely disappointing.

Elliot & Rossio wanted to avoid having “Pirates” fans have the same sort of reaction to their “Curse of the Black Pearl” follow-up. But then how do you write a satisfying sequel to a film that was never supposed to have a sequel in the first place?

And the answer is … You watch “Curse of the Black Pearl” over and over and over again. Looking for loose story threads that you can then tease out into full-blown plotlines for your follow-up film. As Rossio explained:

Our decision was to reverse-engineer a trilogy. Create a second and third film that appeared to be set up by the first … If we’ve done the work right, then somebody watching all three films will get the sense it is all one larger story, sort of like a large story told in three books.

Sometimes these new storylines were just the results of some happy accidents. Things that these two screenwriters had accidentally left unexplained in the first “Pirates” picture. Take — for example — Jack’s compass. As Ted Elliot explained in a recent interview with “Creative Screenwriting” magazine:

In the first movie, we established that Jack had this compass and it’s implied very strongly that the compass points to Isla De Muerta. In fact, we went back and looked at it and in no place in this movie do we definitively state that the compass points to Isla De Muerta. So in “Dead Man’s Chest,” we had a chance to redefine the compass — whoever’s holding, the compass will point to what you want most.

This was just the sort of thing that Ted & Terry tried to do with “Dead Man’s Chest” and “At World’s End.” Take advantage of plot points that hadn’t been completely explained in the first film, concepts & characters that had been introduced in “Curse of the Black Pearl” but had not been fully delinated yet … and then using this new material to expand & enhance the known “Pirates of the Caribbean” universe.

It may surprise you to learn how many loose threads from “Curse of the Black Pearl” Elliot & Rossio actually used while spinning the screenplays for “Dead Man’s Chest” and “At World’s End.” Don’t believe me? Well, then let’s take a closer look at some of the lines & scenes from Disney’s first “Pirates” picture that were used to inspire its sequels.

” … and then they made me their chief.” — Jack says this line to Murtogg & Mullroy (I.E. The two sailors that were left to guard the Interceptor) as Elizabeth falls from the parapet into the sea. This piece of dialogue reportedly inspired the Isla de Pelegostos sequence in “Dead Man’s Chest.” Where Sparrow is made king of that cannibalistic tribe.

“Had a brush with the East India Trading Company, did we, Pirate?” — Commodore Norrington’s comment to Jack Sparrow after discovering that the letter “P” has been branded on the Captain’s inner wrist. Ted & Terry used this seemingly thrown-away line as a way to set up the East India Trading Company as the pirate world’s chief nemesis in “Dead Man’s Chest” and “At World’s End.”

Elliot & Rossio also use this brand to establish that Captain Jack Sparrow has some history with the new commander of Port Royal, Lord Cutler Beckett. Do you remember the scene in “Dead Man’s Chest” where Beckett is brandishing a red-hot fire poker that features the letter “P” on it? Cutler’s next line of dialogue — “We’ve had dealings in the past. And we’ve each left our mark… on the other” — clearly indicates that Cutler has previously crossed swords with Jack. And will no doubt do so again in “At World’s End.”
“You cheated.” “Pirate.” — Will Turner’s exchange with Captain Jack Sparrow in the blacksmith shop, after that pirate has broken the rules in order to come out on top in their first sword fight, is echoed on the deck of the Black Pearl in “Dead Man’s Chest.” After Elizabeth — in order to give the crew a chance to escape from the Kraken — distracts Jack with a kiss before manacling him to the mizzen mast.

Though Miss Swann tries to justify her underhanded action by saying “It’s after you, not the ship. It’s not us. This is the only way, don’t you see? I’m not sorry,” the Captain won’t hear of it. Now looking up at Elizabeth with genuine admiration, Jack only has one word to say: “Pirate.”

“According to the code of the Brethren, laid down by the Pirates Morgan & Bartholemew, you have to take me to your captain” — Elizabeth’s quick exchange with Pintel & Ragnetti (As she invokes the rights of Parlay after being cornered at the governor’s mansion) may not mean all that much to “Pirates” fans now. But trust me, folks. By this time next year, after you’ve seen “At World’s End” and watched as Miss Swann makes her trip to Shipwreck Island for a meeting with the Brethen … You’re going to be amazed at how well all of the pieces of this film trilogy seem to fit together.

“My name is Will Turner. My father was Bootstrap Bill Turner. His blood runs in my veins. On my word, do as I say. Or I’ll pull this trigger and be lost to Davy Jones’ locker” — Will’s colorful threat to blow his own brains out right there on the deck of the Black Pearl not only adds some tension to the first “Pirates” picture, it’s also the very first time that the name of the villain of “Dead Man’s Chest” villain is actually mentioned in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” universe. Which is why it is yet another one of those loose plot threads that Ted & Terry were happy to take advantage of.

“You’re off the edge of the map, mate. Here there be monsters” — This is one of the more memorable lines that Captain Barbossa tosses off during his epic swordfight with Jack in the Treasure Cave at Isla De Muerta. Little did Elliot & Rossio realizes that — when they first wrote this piece of dialogue back in 2002 — that it would hold the key to “At World’s End.” When — in order to rescue Captain Jack from the underworld — his crew would literally have to sail ” … off the edge of the map.”

And speaking of the third “Pirates” film …
“Clearly you’ve never been to Singapore” — Jack’s throwaway comment to Murtogg & Mullroy after he cuts Elizabeth out of her wet corset will seem a whole lot more surprising next May. Once you see Barbossa, Elizabeth & Will journey to Singapore in order to secure …

No. It wouldn’t be fair to Ted & Terry — given all of the hard work that they’ve put in, all the ingenuity that they’ve used in order to turn the “Curse of the Black Pearl” ‘s dead-end plot into the proper launching place for a truly entertaining trilogy — to reveal anything else about the storyline of “At World’s End.” Other than to say that two themes that have already been explored in the first two films in this series (I.E. The concept of using leverage to get what you want. As well as the somewhat unique notion that just because you’re a pirate doesn’t mean that you can’t also be a good person) will be carried through the third installment of this trilogy.

I know, I know. I’m forgetting all the great little gags that provide connective tissue between “Curse of the Black Pearl” and “Dead Man’s Chest.” Like how Governor Swann accidentally breaks off one of the lanterns in the hallway when he first visits Elizabeth in prison in “Pirates 2.” Which echoes what happens to Will Turner in “Pirates 1,” when he comes by the governor’s mansion to deliver Norrington’s sword.

Or — better yet — how about Capt. Jack’s throwaway comment to Gibbs after he discovers Miss Swann in disguise on the docks of Tortuga? Sparrow first says — in this loud happy voice — “Elizabeth!” As if he’s truly pleased to see the governor’s daughter there . But then in a sotto voce aside to Gibbs (Perhaps because Sparrow remembers all too well that it was Miss Swann who set fire to all that rum when they were stranded together on that deserted island), Jack quickly says “Hide the rum.”

I mean, surely I can’t be the only one who noticed how well “Curse of the Black Pearl” and “Dead Man’s Chest” fit together. The many ways that Elliot & Rossio tied these two films to one another. Perhaps some of you JHM readers out there have your own favorite moments from these motion pictures, things that you noticed that cleverly connect “COTBP” & “DMC” that you’d now like to share.

Your thoughts?