We would never question the authenticity of Captain Jack’s wardrobe, especially since Johnny Depp himself described it in such elaborate detail for last week’s cover story. But we’re not Dave Nichols, editor of Pirates Magazine, who wrote us to point out some additional technical specifications.
“As the editor of Pirates Magazine and an expert on all things piratical, I have to let your readers know that Johnny Depp left out a few interesting facts about his new, improved Jack Sparrow costume.
1. The deer bone seen holding his ponytail on the right side of his head is a shinbone from a reindeer that has been carved into a marlinspike or “fid” and is used to mend sails and rigging.
2. The bird foot hanging from his Anna Maria belt together with the piece of fish vertebrae and mermaid is a talisman to ward off evil. Sailors were extremely superstitious and often picked up such “gris-gris” while in exotic ports.
3. The pelts hanging at his right side are not rabbit, but are the hind legs and feet from a red fox. Sailors often wore such pelts to draw vermin from their bodies. Once the pelts were full of ticks, fleas, mealworms and maggots, they were discarded.
4. It is also interesting to note that Johnny’s famous dreadlock wig is entirely new for POTC IV, has been partially bleached by the sun and saltwater and includes all sorts of new trinkets he picked up on his adventures. These include coins from many lands, a tiny ivory skull, a handcuff key and a tassel from a belly dancer. Much of what is found in Jack’s hair could be bartered or traded when in a tight spot. Jack’s hair is truly his treasure.
5. Captain Sparrow has also added a new Queen Anne pistol in his sash to go along with his famous, period-correct Perry of London flintlock.
6. As for Jack’s rings, real sailors and pirates would only wear such finery when in port since pulling lines on a sailing vessel would tear them right off, savvy?
Read more:
EW Cover: Johnny Depp helps chart a new pirate course
‘Pirates’ Gallery: 17 Red Carpet Pics
Michael Bolton talks about his Jack Sparrow ‘SNL’ digital short
the makeup,the dreadlock..comeon…
to much details kill the pirate!
too much drag drama pirate…
sorry johnny
Capt jack is no ordinary pirate, Mate!
Who knew? Pirates shave their chests…
One gets the feeling it’s been a long, looong time since Mr. Nichols had a date.
there is a PIRATES magazine?? wow….speechless on that one.
I’ve been wondering about the furry pelts – very interesting! So’s the rest of the info.
How many lines would a CAPTAIN have to be pulling on? I think Jack’s pretty safe having his rings ON.
Any pirate who wears eye makeup is not ordinary.
But are pirates ordinary to begin with?
It’s not “eye make-up”, it’s the same stuff athletes use to keep the glare from the sun out of their eyes.
Pirate \Pi”rate\, noun [L. pirata, Gr. ?, fr. ? to attempt, undertake, from making attempts or attacks on ships, ? an attempt, trial; akin to E. peril: cf. F. pirate. See {Peril}.]
1. A robber on the high seas; one who by open violence takes the property of another on the high seas; especially, one who makes it his business to cruise for robbery or plunder; a freebooter on the seas; also, one who steals in a harbor.
2. An armed ship or vessel which sails without a legal commission, for the purpose of plundering other vessels on the high seas
Thanks for the trivia no one could be a more convincing pirate than Johnny Depp
Tossing tea into the harbor of Boston in 2776 was considered an act of piracy interesting huh
The only way you could possibly know that is if you were from the future! Take me to your time machine!
Space Pirates! Good movie!!!!
Lookin good Johnny boy!
More Pirates!
That would be disgusting to carry around dead fox legs!
Better than letting maggots and mealworms and whatever other vermin settle into your own body, though….I guess.
“Pirates” magazine? I’m worrying about the magazine industry losing money, and there’s a “Pirates” magazine? Who the heck advertises in *that*?
You could always buy an issue and find out. Sheesh, what’s with all the snobbery about “Pirates” magazine? Walk into any Barnes & Noble, and you can find all kinds of magazines aimed at specific areas of interest. Some people like to read about finance, others about pirates. (And those topics are not so far apart on the spectrum if you think about it.)
Interesting. I never noticed all these little bits of Jack’s outfit. Can someone please explain what Will Turner is doing in the trailer? In the trailer, Will, or someone like him, is sopping wet, talking to someone offscreen. Someone explain.
Just hope the next film is not an act of piracy.
Sorry dancing fingers tee hee I meant 1776. The reason I know that fact it was written in a Journal my grandmother had received that was written by a relative who was there.