Jack Sparrow Before Johnny Depp and Pirates of the Caribbean
Before Johnny Depp’s role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, there was Jack Sparrow, original gangsta, from the Uncle Remus story “The Fate of Mr. Jack Sparrow.”
Curtis tells a wonderful version of the story. As Uncle Remus explains, Jack Sparrow is a tattler who meets his demise whilst tattling atop Brer Fox’s snout.
I guess the little boy hadn’t seen The Wire yet.
Disney put out both Pirates of the Caribbean and that movie based on the Brer Rabbit tales — oh, what is it called again? — but I think the similarities may stop there. Then again, I haven’t seen the Pirates films so what do I know. Can anyone who has seen ‘em connect the dots?
Joel Chandler Harris offers this note on the text at the end of the story:
Previously:
• 1937 Uncle Remus Illustrations by Fritz Eichenberg
• “I bin mixin’ up wid fokes now gwine on eighty year”





3 Comments to Jack Sparrow Before Johnny Depp and Pirates of the Caribbean
Have you seriously not seen the Pirates of Caribbean movies??
Seriously!
I’ve always thought it was funny that Captain Jack Sparrow shares his name with a character from the Brer Rabbit stories. Especially since he’s more like Brer Rabbit than Jack Sparrow The Bird. Sort of. Same Trickster archetype, at least.
And their rides are right next to each other in the Disney parks, too.