Spangler is the main antagonist of the 1976 live-action Disney movie Treasure of Matecumbe. He is nicknamed as "The Devil Himself". He is a greedy captain who was formerly captain of the Union Navy gunboat, USS Cumberland.
He is played by the late Vic Morrow.
What makes him a Hate Sink?
- From his earliest appearances, Spangler’s friendliness is clearly conditional on the Matecumbe treasure legend.
- Entirely motivated by money and buried treasure, with zero regard for who gets hurt along the way.
- Uses charm and friendliness as a cover, ingratiating himself with others to lower their guard.
- Lies casually and frequently, shifting stories to suit whatever benefits him in the moment.
- Treats kids as obstacles or tools rather than people, crossing a moral line even many Disney villains avoid.
- Shows zero concern for Dabney and Jennie being dragged into increasingly dangerous situations involving armed men, secret tunnels, and pursuit.
- He ingratiates himself with Thaddeus J. Eppes and the children not out of goodwill, but because they are closer to the information he wants than he is.
- Exploits Thaddeus’s curiosity, trust, and good nature by presenting himself as a helpful adult rather than a rival.
- Subtly pressures and steers conversations toward the treasure, fishing for details without openly revealing his intentions.
- His Smug Opportunism. He Appears during critical moments expecting to claim credit and reward after others have taken all the risks.
- He is Mundane and Petty. Not a mastermind, pirate king, or romantic outlaw — just a self-interested scavenger circling people smarter and braver than himself.
- He is presumably enslaved by the Cougar Native Tribe for the rest of his life.
 Hate Sinks
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