Governor Ratcliffe (Disney)

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Governor Ratcliffe
First appearance Pocahontas (1995)
Created by Carl Binder
Voiced by David Ogden Stiers
Also known as John Sicklemore (Perhaps Ratcliffe's real name)

Governor Ratcliffe is the primary villain from Disney's 1995 animated feature Pocahontas and its direct-to-video sequel, Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World. Unlike other Disney villains, he is based upon a combination of actual historical figures. While the captain of The Discovery, John Ratcliffe, was the governor of the Jamestown Settlement at one point, he was not the first, nor was he the captain of the ship that John Smith and the rest of the Virginia Company arrived on. He sailed to Virginia on December 19, 1606 from England. His voice was provided by David Ogden Stiers, who had done work on other Disney classics. He is also featured as one of the villains in the Walt Disney World nighttime light and fireworks show Fantasmic!

In reality, his first name was John, but there was never any mention of his first name in the film, most likely to avoid confusion with the more prominent character John Smith.

Contents

[edit] History

He leads an expedition to Virginia to find rawr gold and other riches (which he wants to keep for himself). He fails to tell any of the other crew of his real reason of going to Virginia and recites the "Adventure of our lives" and "Freedom" speech to cover it. When they see land, Ratcliffe meets with John Smith, whom the crew admire, about his plan on dealing with the "savages" and "filty heathens" (what he calls the Native Americans) and Smith assures his success and the meetings through. Ratcliffe arrives on the Shore of Virginia shortly after Smith and Thomas, a new recruit, then takes some land in the name of King James and calls it Jamestown.

After Smith leaves to search for the Indians, Ratcliffe orders men to build a fort and clear the ship while he has the rest men dig for gold. When he sees John Smith running off somewhere, he sends Thomas to follow him, hoping the "poor excuse for a soldier" will be of some use. He overhears the men talking about Smith's capture and realizes he could steal the Powhatan's gold once they are through with them (though it's noted that they have no gold, Ratcliffe refuses to believe it). He wages war against the Powhatans, but to assure the men's back up he states it's to rescue Smith. After the two sides march their way to one and other, they are stopped abruptly by Pocahontas who tells everyone that they were led onto the path of hatred. Ratcliffe is not moved and tries to gain the uphand by firing a shot at Chief Powhatan, but Smith takes the bullet causing Thomas and the other men to outrage on Ratcliffe. They bind and gag Ratcliffe and load him into a boat back to England, finally seeing that John was right about the Powhatans being good all along. Ratcliffe returns in Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World and allows Smith to "fall to his death" after Smith tries to escape the English soldiers (he has been framed by Ratcliffe as a traitor). Working with King James, he learns of Pocahontas' court with the king (he and the king were expecting the chief, but ultimately let that fact pass) and invites her to the ball to prove she is not too savage (But, knowing her savage instinct, he gets a circus performer to bear bait in front of Pocahontas and the king's court to make Pocahontas act savage and be punished by the king to get her out of the way. He plans to lead England's Armada to attack the Powhatans).

After Pocahontas and John Rolfe discover and put forth that Smith's alive in front of the king's court, it proves to the king Ratcliffe has lied from the start. Ratcliffe's army was just getting ready to set sail when Ratcliffe orders a rush anchor release after realizing he is being targeted. After the ships have crashed, (thanks to Pocahontas, Rolfe, and Smith) Ratcliffe attempts to end Pocahontas's life. When Smith gets in the way, he attempts to do away with him in execution style after their sword fight turned stalemate. Rolfe comes in from behind and "hangs" Ratcliffe on a boat post, Smith then cuts the rope holding Ratcliffe and the latter falls into the sea. Ratcliffe swam to shore and attempts to lie once more to the king, but the king has had enough and arrested him (it is unknown if he is hanged or not).

[edit] Associated characters

[edit] Percy

Percy was originally Ratcliffe's pet pug. He appears spoiled and seems to have an irritable personality, especially in the first film. Percy and Meeko spend most of the first film fighting, usually over food with Meeko always coming out on top, only to apparently become friends by the film's end. Percy leaves Ratcliffe at this point and remains with Pocahontas and her people. Ratcliffe never reacts to the fact Percy isn't with him anymore in Pocahontas II. Percy, on the other hand, seems to have had a change of heart and does not want to go back to Ratcliffe, at one point cowering underneath a carriage in Ratcliffe's presence.

[edit] Wiggins

Wiggins, also voiced by Stiers, is Ratcliffe's manservant. In sharp contrast to his villainous master, Wiggins is light-hearted, timid and very playful (in one scene, he is seen cutting topiary from Virginian shrubs). Although he could in no way be considered an "evil" character, he nonetheless appears to be very loyal to his master and Ratcliffe, though constantly annoyed by his shenanigans, seems to trust him implicitly. He does not appear in Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World.

[edit] Songs

Ratcliffe has been part of a couple of Pocahontas songs during the two films.

[edit] Fantasmic!

Ratcliffe appears very briefly towards the beginning of the Disney's Hollywood Studios presentation of Fantasmic! after a fascinating water stint show of clips from Disney classics. He and his men start the "Mine , Mine, Mine" song when the Governor and crew are attacked by Native Americans. He is last seen running away with an unknown sailor (possibly Wiggins) from the gunfire.

[edit] Appearances outside the films

  • In the first scene of the first movie, Ratcliffe is seen stepping aboard the ship. In the foreground, a rat is seen boarding almost simultaneously in the same manner, accenting the "rat" in "Ratcliffe".
  • In both movies, Ratcliffe wears his army gear in the final scenes.
  • Ratcliffe's action figure ironically doesn't come with his hat or cape.
  • Ratcliffe is the only Disney villain to not share a scene with the main character (Pocahontas and Radcliffe don't officially meet until the second movie).
  • Ratcliffe is the third John of the Pocahontas series. But due to that fact, his first name is never mentioned.
  • Ratcliffe makes cameo appearances in a few episodes of the Disney's House of Mouse television series and in the direct-to-video release Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed In at the House of Mouse. Strangely, he wasn't one of the villains featured in Mickey's House of Villains.
  • Ratcliffe also appears at the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts as a meetable character.

[edit] Sources

[edit] See also

Disney's Pocahontas
Characters

Pocahontas | John Smith | Governor Ratcliffe | Nakoma | Grandmother Willow | Meeko | Kocoum
Films

Pocahontas | Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World
Songs

"Colors of the Wind" | "If I Never Knew You"
Other

Pocahontas: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack |
Disney's Pocahontas: The Voice of the Wind |
Disney's Pocahontas (video game)