Flying Dutchman (Pirates of the Caribbean)

Pirates of the Caribbean ship
name = "Flying Dutchman"


captained by = Davy Jones ( ' & ' )
Will Turner ( ' - )"'
ship type = Fluyt , Vasa
weapons = 48 cannons + 2 (possibly 4) triple cannons
appearances = '
'The "Flying Dutchman", or simply referred to as the Dutchman, is a fictional ghost ship in "Pirates of the Caribbean". The ship made its first appearance in "" under the command of the fictional captain, Davy Jones. The story and attributes of the fictitious ship were inspired by the actual "Flying Dutchman" of nautical lore.

During filming, Johnny Depp referred to it as "the Davy Jones Crocodile Machine" after forgetting its actual name. ["" 2-disc Special Edition / disc 2 / "Bloopers of the Caribbean"]

Background

As explained in film, the character of Davy Jones was given the "Flying Dutchman" by Calypso, his lover, to ferry souls lost at sea to the afterlife. ["Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End", Ch.8] When she failed to meet him after his ten years duty, he was both heartbroken and enraged. ["Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End", Ch.17] He abandoned his duties and transformed into the "monster" seen in the films. Apparently, the "Dutchman" is also believed to be nautical lore in the "Pirates" universe, as character James Norrington mockingly remarks, " [Davy Jones] ...captain of the "Flying Dutchman?"." The fictional "Dutchman" is also known as a fearful ship to those who are superstitious, and able to destroy any vessel (using the Kraken).

Appearances

"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"

In "", the "Dutchman" makes its first appearance when it rises from the sea to claim its victims' souls following a Kraken attack (instigated by Davy Jones). The "Dutchman", able to sail on the sea and underwater, emits terror and potency to those unfortunate enough to cross its path. Davy Jones captures Will Turner from the ship wreckage and demands that Jack Sparrow settle his overdue debt. Sparrow bargains for his life, and Jones finally agrees to accept 100 souls in exchange for Sparrow's, keeping Turner as "a good faith payment".

Will is reunited with his father, "Bootstrap Bill" Turner, who is an indentured sailor aboard the "Flying Dutchman". Shipboard life is harsh, and the crew is often whipped by the cruel boatswain, Jimmylegs. Will is also flogged, although it is his father who delivers the lash to spare his son from the boatswain's sadistic hand. With his father's help, Will escapes the "Dutchman", but he sneaks back aboard as a stowaway, making his way to Isla Cruces where Jones' heart is buried in the Dead Man's Chest. Will finds Elizabeth and Sparrow on Isla Cruces. The three escape the island on the "Black Pearl", pursued by the "Dutchman". Jones unleashes the Kraken, which attacks the "Pearl" and drags Sparrow and the ship to Davy Jones' Locker.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"

In "", the "Flying Dutchman" is first seen rising from the sea, mercilessly destroying pirate ships with its powerful guns. Captain Davy Jones now serves Lord Cutler Beckett, who possesses Jones' heart and forcibly controls him. The "Dutchman" accompanies Beckett's flagship, "Endeavour" in its mission to eradicate piracy. When the "Dutchman" attacks Sao Feng's ship, the "Empress", it takes its crew captive (including Elizabeth Swann who is made captain by the dying Sao Feng). Elizabeth and her crew escape the "Dutchman" with Admiral Norrington's help, although he is killed by a deranged Bootstrap Bill Turner. Jones and his crew attempt a mutiny against the Royal Navy marines stationed on board, but Mr. Mercer, Beckett's henchman, proclaims the ship is under his command, temporarily subduing the uprising.

The "Dutchman" leads the East India Trading Co. armada in battle against the Brethren Court. The "Dutchman" and the "Black Pearl" engage in battle while entering a monstrous maelstrom (caused by Calypso, Jones' ex-lover). Jones is killed when, aided by Sparrow, the mortally wounded Will Turner stabs Jones' heart. The "Dutchman" is sucked into the maelstrom as Swann and Sparrow escape. The "Dutchman" 's crew carve out the now-dead Will Turner's heart (to replace Jones' missing one) and place it in the Dead Man's Chest. The "Dutchman" re-emerges from the maelstrom with "Captain" Will Turner at the helm. Joining forces with the "Pearl", the two ships face off against the "Endeavour". Stunned by this unexpected alliance, Beckett is unable to respond, and his crew abandons ship just as the "Endeavour" is being destroyed and Beckett is killed.

The "Dutchman" 's crew revert to human form, and Will and Elizabeth are reunited on an island where they consummate their marriage. Will departs at sunset to fulfill his destiny as the "Dutchman's" captain, leaving his disembodied heart in Elizabeth's care. Following the end credits: ten years later, the "Dutchman" reappears upon the horizon amid a green flash as Elizabeth and her son await its arrival.

Attributes

Characteristics & Armament

The look of the fictional ship was inspired by the seventeenth century Dutch "fluyt" vessels and the "Vasa", a real-life Swedish warship which sank in 1628. [ [http://movies.ign.com/articles/718/718809p1.html IGN - Pirates 2 Exclusive: Davy's Sinister Ship] ] However, the ship itself resembles a sailfish. The "Flying Dutchman" has five staysails making it easer to sail against the wind than running before the wind. The ship is more organic plant matter than timber and sail, heavily encrusted with marine life that reflects its strong ties to the sea. This may be the result of the fictitious "Dutchman" often being submerged.

The fictional "Flying Dutchman" is armed with port and starboard guns. It carries 46 broadside 6 pound guns, 23 on each side; 18 guns are located on the main deck, 20 on the . The empty barrel can then be reloaded for its next turn. This enables the "Flying Dutchman" to continually fire at ships it is pursuing. When not in use, the bow chasers are concealed behind two doors carved in the shape of an angry demon's maw. A picture of the "Dutchman's" stern shown in the "Essential Guide to Pirates of the Caribbean" also depicts two stern gun-ports, but it is unknown what kind of guns comprise this pair.

The "Flying Dutchman" also has the Kraken Hammer, a massive hammer in the form of a capstan to summon the mighty Kraken. The Kraken can also be summoned by the "Black Spot". Any member of Davy Jones' crew can deliver the mark to a victim, but only Jones can remove it.

Life Aboard

Similarly, because Jones abandoned his soul-ferrying duty, he and the crew bear a curse that gradually mutates them into anthropomorphic amalgamations of sea creatures. In the "" DVD commentary, writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio mention that the crew actually become less and less human until they are literally absorbed into the fictional "Flying Dutchman". (Davy Jones knows this, but fails to inform new recruits). One fictional character, Wyvern, is so transformed that he is now integrated into the ship's hull. The crew has little or no human flesh remaining on them, although newer members, like character Bootstrap Bill, are only partially encrusted with sea life.

Nearly all the crew members' time in servitude is spent toiling on board the ship. For amusement, the crew play a game called Liar's Dice, in which they gamble years of service. In one scene of ", the crew works on well into the night, and even in the rain, while character Davy Jones plays on with his pipe organ. When Will is wrongly blamed for causing a work disruption, the boatswain proclaims that he is to be punished with a whip. In a later scene, the crew is excited when Jones commands the ship to submerge, and others continue on their duties unhampered.

External links

* [http://pirates.wikia.com/wiki/Flying_Dutchman "Flying Dutchman"] at the [http://pirates.wikia.com "Pirates of the Caribbean" wiki]

References