How did it happen in the movies?
First of all, we see Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas standing on shore, watching corsair ships sailing nearer. Aragorn forbids them to go further and after a warning shot of Legolas that hits its target all too well, due to Gimli’s interference, orders the army of the Dead to attack the ships.
The next scene of the corsairs shows the arrival of the ships near the battlefield. Orcs are expecting help to come from these ships, but Aragorn and his two friends appear and behind them the Dead disembark.
After the battle, Aragorn declares the oath fulfilled and releases the souls of the Dead, after which they disappear like mist that is blown away by a breeze.


Per Sjögren – The Oath Fulfilled

How did it happen in the books?
The battle of the Dead with the corsairs is nowhere described in the books.
When the black corsair ships arrive at Pelennor, panic rises in the city and on the battlefield, since people believe that the corsairs have arrived and that Belfalas and Lebennin were overtaken.
As Eomer sees the ships his rage disappears and his head becomes clear again. Then he sings:
“Out of doubt, out of dark to the day’s rising
I came singing in the sun, sword unsheathing.
To hope’s end I rode and to heart’s breaking:
Now for wrath, now for ruin and a red nightfall!”
[5.VI.]

And at that moment of uttermost despair, Aragorn unfolds the banner of the White Tree. On a black background there was he White Tree of Gondor, but above it are the Seven Stars and the High Crown, the signs of Elendil, signs that hadn’t been worn for countless years. The banner was created by Arwen of mithril, jewels and gold.

Here too the battle chances change with the arrival of the ships and the fight is won.

Bookie details
– Not a real bookie detail, but the corsair that gets shot by accident in the first scene is Peter Jackson.

Mistakes
– The sons of Elrond are also supposed to be with Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas, as well as Halbarad and a company of Dúnedain of the North.
– The dead were never at the Pelennor fields. Aragorn needed their help to capture Umbar, but after that they were released and the ships were manned with an army of men from Lamedon and Lebennin and with the Dúnedain.

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Related Information
Related Books vs. Movies Articles:
- 5.02.*c. The Paths of the Dead by atalante_star


Interesting Links:
Our Gallery has has screencaps of the theatrical version, as well as the extended edition.

A transcript of 'The Lord Of the Rings: The Return of the King' can be found in our Film Fun & Facts section.

A summary of 'The Lord Of the Rings: The Return of the King' can be found in Elrond's Library.

Some articles that are related to this sequence:

Forum threads related to this sequence:
- You can discuss this sequence in detail in ROTK EE Sequence by Sequence #5: The Paths of the Dead in the Movies Forum.
- The Book Club discusses this chapter here.

Take a look at how some artists saw this part in the book:
- Aragorn Leading the Dead to the Stone of Erech by Inger Edelfelt
- The Oath-breakers by Ted Nasmith
- The Port of Umbar by Ivar Allen
- The Fleet of Umbar Setting Off For Battle by Roger Garland
- The Corsairs of Umbar by Joan Wyatt
- The Oath Fulfilled by Per Sjögren
- The Fleet of the Harad Arriving in Gondor by Darrell Sweet
- Halbarad and the Standard of Elessar by Kim Kincaid

Looking for something more creative - you may find it here: