pirates of the caribbean - Cannes International Film Festival

This dark, wooded storage room of the Captain’s Daughter—so much larger than the
diminutive pub itself—became a fun-filled arena for an action sequence involving a
swordfight between two Captain Jacks, and then a detachment of intruding British Royal
Guards.
Another ornate set was designed by Myhre and built at Pinewood for the scene in which
Captain Jack and Barbossa play teeter-totter in attempting the retrieve the chalices
needed for the Fountain of Youth ritual inside of Ponce de Leon’s cabin on the
precariously perched “Santiago.” This set has the most overt link to the original Pirates
of the Caribbean attraction at Disneyland,
resulting from Rob Marshall’s research ride
“The Ponce de Leon cabin set
symbolizes what we’ve tried to do in all
of the film, which is to reference the
original ride but re-invent in fresh and
exciting ways.”
—Jerry Bruckheimer, producer
before he began filming “On Stranger Tides.” He
noted the tableau known as the ‘Captain’s
Quarters,’ in which a skeletal figure peers at a
map with a magnifying glass, surrounded by
mounds of treasure. This became yet another in
a series of direct tips of the pirate’s hat to the
original attraction in the four “Pirates of the
Caribbean” movies.
Once again, set decorator Gordon Sim and his department created a cornucopia of
furniture, pirate’s booty, a harpsichord, drapery and other accoutrements to contribute
even more atmospheric flair.
Surely, John Myhre’s piece de resistance was the gargantuan Fountain of Youth set. The
final concept of the Fountain of Youth, constructed along with a cavern which extended
the entrance filmed back at Waikapala’e in Kauai, was designed by Myhre and his team
of art directors, and brilliantly erected by Andy Evans’ construction department, on the
famed Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage at Pinewood Studios, the largest such facility in
Europe. Inhabiting nearly every inch of its 59,000 square feet—the only stage big
enough to contain Myhre’s vision—the set took three months to construct.
U.K. special effects supervisor Neil Corbould was responsible for keeping the Fountain of
Youth set filled with 1.5 million gallons of water, which had to be turned over every
three hours, with filters taking particles out and chemicals pumped in to keep it clean
for the actors, background and stunt players working in it. A separate tank in the back of
the set with pumps and 20 nozzles created a waterfall backdrop. And two tons of dry ice
per day kept an atmospheric mist on the water. Five thousand square meters of moss as
well as a few thousand ferns and roots and hanging plants were brought in to dress the
set.
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