Wilhelm scream

From Free net encyclopedia

(Difference between revisions)

Revision as of 22:16, 21 April 2006
Angmering (Talk | contribs)
capitalisation
Next diff →

Current revision

This article is about a sound effect; for information about the punk rock band, see A Wilhelm Scream.

The Wilhelm scream is a stock sound effect first used in 1951 for the movie Distant Drums. It has been featured in dozens of movies since. Alongside a certain recording of the cry of the Red-tailed Hawk, the "Universal telephone ring" [1] and "castle thunder," it is probably the most well-known cinematic sound cliché.

The Wilhelm's revival came from Star Wars-series sound designer Ben Burtt, who tracked down the original recording (which he found as a studio reel labeled "Man being eaten by alligator"). He named it after Wilhelm, a minor character who emitted the scream in the 1953 movie The Charge at Feather River. Its use in the Star Wars films was the beginning of something of an in-joke amongst some sound designers of the film industry, especially at Skywalker Sound. They continue to try to incorporate it into movies wherever feasible; action movies are naturals, but film sound cognoscenti are particularly impressed when it is used naturally in films such as A Star Is Born (with Judy Garland) and A Goofy Movie. In a tribute to its origins, the clip was used in the film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom when the villain Mola Ram was eaten by alligators. It was also used in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when an ambusher was killed during the attack on the German convoy.

Sheb Wooley is considered by many to be the most likely voice actor for the scream, having appeared on a memo as a voice extra for Distant Drums.

1 Uses
2 External links

[edit]

Uses

[edit]

Films

The scream appears in nearly every Peter Jackson film. In The Two Towers (2002) an elf soldier shot by a crossbow emits the scream before falling off the wall of Helm's Deep. In The Return of the King a Gondorian emits the scream after he is dropped out of the sky by a Nazgul and a Haradirm emits it after he is thrown off a Mumakil by Legolas.

16 Blocks (2006), during the bus hijacking scene.

King Kong (2005), During the brontosaur stampede, as a sailor is knocked off a cliff.

Æon Flux (2005), in a firefight as a Breen soldier falls off a roof.

Aladdin (1992), the villagers let out a Wilhelm screm when Genie lifts up the palace.

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), in the fight sequence between the news groups, when Champ throws another man into a car window.

Batman Returns (1992), when Batman punches and grabs an enemy and hurls him towards a railing.

Beauty and the Beast (1991), in the raid between the house supplies against the villains and Gaston.

Dante's Peak (1997), as Dr. Paul Dreyfus dies.

Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995), as Zeus and John are driving through the park Zeus asks McClane if he is aiming for the people, to which McClane replies, "No... [an abbreviated scream] maybe that mime."

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003), in the battle at the House of Blue Leaves, twice.

Kingdom of Heaven a Muslim soldier emits the scream after a trebuchet hits a Muslim siege tower

Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003), when Damian Drake tosses a grenade behind him; the scream is heard when it explodes.

Madagascar (2005), when the people are fleeing from Alex the lion in Grand Central Station.

Reservoir Dogs (1992), when Mr. Pink pushes past pedestrians on the street after the botched robbery.

Robocop (1987), when Ronny Cox's character as he is falling out of a building.

Sin City, when Marv throws a police officer out of a stolen cop car.

The scream can be heard in every Star Wars movie and in the animated series Clone Wars.

Storm (2005), the first Swedish feature to use the scream.

Team America: World Police (2004), when Kim Jong Il is knocked off the balcony by Gary Johnston.

Toy Story (1995), when Buzz is knocked out of the window by the table lamp.

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005), as the Were-Rabbit snatches Lady Tottington and begins its Kong-like rampage.
Hellboy (2004), when a grenade hurls a Nazi engineer against the portal, just as he is disentigrating.

The Doors (1991), during the toppling of speakers while the crowd charges the stage in the chaos after Morrison "reveals" himself.

[edit]

Television shows

Drawn Together, in the episode "Dirty Pranking No. 2" when someone gets blasted with a robo-fly's raygun, in "The Lemon-AIDS Walk" when Captain Hero takes steroids, and in "A Very Special Drawn Together Afterschool Special" during a barroom brawl.

The Life and Times of Juniper Lee, in almost any, if not every, episode.

Robot Chicken, in the episode "Nutcracker Sweet" when Walt Disney's severed head with it's giant robotic-spider body invades Cuba and shoots down a Cuban fighterjet.

American Dad, where an agent at the CIA pulls the pin on a grenade and casually tosses it over his shoulder while in the training room.

Doctor Who, during a made-for-Internet "prequel trailer" for the 2006 episode Tooth and Claw, as a man is attacked by a werewolf.

The League of Gentlemen, on the main menu of the second series DVD, accompanied by the show's theme tune.

[edit]

Video games

Bounty Hunter, when an enemy falls off a ledge.

Lego Star Wars: The Video Game (2005), either Obi-Wan Kenobi or Anakin Skywalker screams it when the player dies during the Space Battle Over Coruscant level.

Mortal Kombat, if a player uses Johnny Cage to defeat Goro, the villain emits a Wilhelm scream.

Spider-Man 2 (2004) for the Nintendo DS, when the player throws an enemy off a building.

SWAT 4, sometimes when the VIP is killed in the "VIP Escort" multiplayer mode.

[edit]

Other

The Decline of Video Gaming 2 Flash animation features the Wilhelm Scream, along with the caption "pain".

[edit]

Unconfirmed

Neon Genesis Evangelion, first episode, while Shinji Ikari is screaming at the sight of the battle between the Angels and the U.N.
Red Dawn, when a Soviet soldier gets shot (3rd Wilhelm scream)

[edit]