The Scream Heard 'Round The World

[toef]

I never really knew about the "Wilhelm Scream" until I randomly stumbled across an article about it the other day.

From Wikipedia:

The Wilhelm scream is a repeatedly used film and television stock sound effect first used in 1951 for the film Distant Drums. The effect gained new popularity (its use often becoming an in-joke) after it was used in Star Wars and several other blockbuster films as well as television programs and video games.

The Wilhelm scream has become a well-known cinematic sound cliché, and is claimed to have been used in over 140 films.

Of course, leave it up to someone on YouTube to try and round up a bunch of them in a single video.

Pretty funny to watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdbYsoEasio

[Ator the Invincible]

I've obviously been well aware of this scream for years, have heard it in many movies, and always get a kick out of it. But I never knew what it was called. Nice to finally learn the source of the scream. Thanks!

[J6P]

Once you're aware of it you will start hearing it everywhere.

[JamesKurtovich]

I love the Wilhelm scream. My only complaint is that it sometimes pulls you out of the film experience because it's so familiar to you. I wish PJ would've left it out of LOTR.

[obiwopkenobi62]

Lucas and Spielberg have used the Wilhelm scream a lot. Heard it in many of the Star wars movies.

[vegeta88]

Originally Posted by J6P

Once you're aware of it you will start hearing it everywhere.

You sir, are correct. I discovered that Wikipedia article last summer and while I was aware of the scream, I did not know it was the same one every time. I did really enjoy it in Crash Bandicoot when you'd knock a scientist off a cliff

[Mouse]

Originally Posted by JamesKurtovich

I love the Wilhelm scream. My only complaint is that it sometimes pulls you out of the film experience because it's so familiar to you. I wish PJ would've left it out of LOTR.

If you're talking about the scream used for the Black Riders then it's not the Wilhelm Scream. Peter Jackson had someone make that scream specifically for the Black Riders. I watched it on one of the extra DVDs in the Extended Edition set. Now, the Wilhelm Scream may of been used elsewhere in the movies but it wasn't for the Black Riders. They even had film footage of the lady screaming into the mic to make the sound effect.

[Y3k Bug]

I had no idea this scream had a name, but I knew it was used in just about EVERYTHING. I hear it all the time. You learn something new every day.

[nerdboyrockstar]

There's another scream that's used even more often. It's a woman's scream though.

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by J6P

Once you're aware of it you will start hearing it everywhere.

+1 I found about about this about 7 years ago, and now I hear it ALL THE TIME!

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by toefer

I never really knew about the "Wilhelm Scream" until I randomly stumbled across an article about it the other day.

From Wikipedia:



Of course, leave it up to someone on YouTube to try and round up a bunch of them in a single video.

Pretty funny to watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdbYsoEasio

When you hear it that much that often, it actually gets obnoxious, lol. But hey if there is one thing I learned from this video is George Lucas and Spielberg really need new scream effects!

[PH3AR]

Never relized this scream until now, it is in a lot of movies and video games

[J6P]

Another cool thing to look for is one Mr. Alan Smithee as a director.

Any time a director wants to take his or her name off a project, mabye because they hate the way the studio meddled or for a variety of other reasons, the DGA still insists that the movie run with a director credit, so they give it to poor Alan Smithee.

Alan Smithee's IMDB page.

[Steve]

This is hilarious. I've noticed that scream a few times, but had no idea it had been used so much, or that it had a name.

[dcowboy7]

They even used it in "Blue Harvest" the Family Guy Star Wars spoof show.

[Gamma_Winstead]

I HATE the damn scream.

It lessens the quality of the movie when I hear it. Ruins the experience for me.

[paperthrower2000]

Followed by this of coarse is the "High Def wife scream" caused by new hardware brought into the house without notice.

[aramis109]

Yeah, I've known about it for a long time. I was watching something last night and muttered, "Wilhelm," when I heard the yell and then had to explain to my wife what I was talking about.

Personally, while it's a movie staple, I hate it. It takes me out of the film.