Wilhelm scream

For the punk rock band, see A Wilhelm Scream.

The Wilhelm scream is a stock sound effect first used in 1951 for the film Distant Drums. Actor-singer Sheb Wooley is considered to be the most likely voice actor for the scream, having appeared on a memo as a voice extra for the film.

The Wilhelm scream has been featured in many films and television programs since. Alongside a certain recording of the cry of the Red-tailed Hawk, the "Universal telephone ring", the Goofy holler, the Tarzan yell and "Castle thunder", it is probably one of the best-known cinematic sound clichés.

History

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"). Although Distant Drums was the first known use of the sound, Burtt named it after "Pvt. Wilhelm", a minor character who emitted the same scream in the 1953 film The Charge at Feather River.

Although the identity of the individual who recorded the scream (which was actually one of a series of six) remains unknown, researcher and Star Wars sound effects editor Ben Burtt uncovered documentation suggesting the scream might have been recorded by singer Sheb Wooley, who was one of the actors in Distant Drums.[1]

List of Movies

• Distant Drums (1951)
• The Charge at Feather River (1953)
• The Command (1954)
• Them! (1954)
• A Star is Born (1954)
• Land of the Pharaohs (1955)
• The Sea Chase (1955)
• Helen of Troy (1956)
• Sergeant Rutledge (1960)
• PT-109 (1963)
• Harper (1966)
• The Green Berets (1968)
• The Wild Bunch (1969)
• Chisum (1970)
• Impasse (1970)
• The Scarlet Blade (1974)
• Hollywood Boulevard (1976)
• Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
• The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)
• More American Graffiti (1979)
• The Big Brawl (1980)
• Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
• Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
• History of the World, Part 1 (1981)
• Swamp Thing (1982)
• Poltergeist (1982)
• Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
• Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
• The Black Cauldron (1985)
• Explorers (1985)
• Howard the Duck (1986) Heard one time, once when Howard knocks the duck hunter out of his boat and shouts "Banzai!".
• Spaceballs (1987)
• Willow (1988)
• Always (1989)
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
• Three Fugitives (1989)
• Gremlins 2 (1990)
• Beauty and the Beast (1991) During the fight between the villagers and the household objects.
• Mom and Dad Save the World (1992)
• Batman Returns (1992)
• Aladdin (1992)
• Reservoir Dogs (1992)
• Matinee (1993)
• Evening Class (1993)
• Sailor Moon S: The Movie (1994) Heard when Kaguyas Snow Dancers is freezing the people of Tokyo for a 2nd time.
• A Goofy Movie (1995)
• Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995) As they are driving through the park Zeus asks McClane if he is aiming for the people, to which McClane replies, "No... maybe that mime." An abbreviated Wilhelm Scream can be heard immediately following the "No."
• Runaway Brain (1995)
• Toy Story (1995) When Buzz is hit by the lamp and falls down out of the window into the bush.
• Dante's Peak (1997)
• Hercules (1997)
• The Fifth Element (1997)
• The Second Civil War (1997)
• Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)
• Small Soldiers (1998)
• Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
• Pokemon: the First Movie (1999)
• Thirteen Days (2000)
• The Kid (2000)
• The Little Mermaid 2: Return to the Sea (2000) A crew member jumps from his ship just before a big chunk of ice falls on it. (Take 5)
• Just Visiting (2001)
• Osmosis Jones (2001) Thrax throws someone out of their car.
• Planet of the Apes (2001)
• The Majestic (2001)
• Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) A new version of the Wilhelm scream is heard when Rourke is crystalized.
• Tomcats (2001)
• Wet Hot American Summer (2001)
• Life or Something Like It (2002)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) During the battle of Helm's Deep, as an Uruk throws an Elven soldier of the wall.
• The Salton Sea (2002)
• Spider-man (2002)
• Scorched (2002)
• Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
• Cradle 2 the Grave (2003)
• The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003)
• A Man Apart (2003)
• Agent Cody Banks (2003)
• Peter Pan (2003)
• Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
• Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003) After Damian Drake tosses a hand grenade. (Take 5)
• Once Upon A Time In Mexico (2003)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) Heard during the battle on the Dauntless between the Royal Navy and Barbossa's crew.
• Tears of the Sun (2003)
• Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
• Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
• I Am David (2004)
• Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) Heard when Harold and Kumar are riding on a cheetah and a branch hits Harold.
• Hellboy (2004)
• Paparazzi (2004)
• Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)
• Taxi (2004)
• Team America: World Police (2004)
• Troy (2004)
• Freddy vs Ghostbusters
• Aeon Flux (2005)
• Fantasic Four (2005)
• Get Rich or Die Tryin' (film) (2005)
• King Kong (2005)
• Kingdom of Heaven (2005) Heard during the climactic battle, when the Muslims cross the first white rocks and Christians fire for the first time.
• Madagascar (2005)
• Monster-In-Law (2005)
• Sin City (2005)
• Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
• The Pacifier (2005)
• The Ring Two (2005)
• Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) when the Were-Rabbit steps on someone
• 16 Blocks (2006)
• Accepted (2006) Heard when the skater falls off from his board.
• Cars (2006) Heard in Lighting McQueen's Dream Sequence when a Car is blasted by a laser.
• Flushed Away (2006)
• Lifted (2006)
• Monster House (2006)
• Over the Hedge (2006)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) Heard when the Kraken attacks the Royal Navy ship after Will escapes the crew.
• She's the Man (2006)
• X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) Heard when one of the mutants fall from under the post on Alcatraz. (Deleted Scene).
• Death Proof (2007) Heard at 51:26 as Stuntman Mike's car flips during the end of the first car crash scene.
• 30 Days of Night (2007)
• Blue Harvest (Family Guy) (2007) During the climatic Death Star battle.
• D-War (2007)
• Juno (2007)
• Bratz: The Movie (2007)
• Blades of Glory (2007)
• Norbit (2007) Heard when Young Norbit and Young Kate wathing horror movies
• DOA: Dead or Alive (2007)
• Return of the Ghostbusters (2007)
• The Invisible (2007)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007) Heard in the Singapore battle when the fireworks shack explodes and during an explosion in the battle in the maelstrom.
• Shrek the Third (2007) Heard during the brawl inside the Poison Apple (take 4) and later when the villians attack the castle shortly before the net falls on the dragon (Take 3).
• Transformers (2007) Heard when Sam kicks the head of Frenzy. (digitalized scream)
• The Mist (2007) When Cornell dies in the parking lot.
• The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (2007) When the Water Horse knocks over the patrol boat, one of the secondary soldiers cries out as he flies into the water.
• Hitman (2007) Heard among the various screams when the first assassination attempt is made on Agent 47.
• Snakes on a Plane (2007)
• Speed Racer (2008)
• Street Kings (2008)
• Tropic Thunder (2008)
• Rabbit's Day (2008)
• Meet The Spartans (2008) When spartans are pushing persians down the cliff
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) Heard when Indiana and Mutt are riding a Motorcycle through the university library. A man with glasses screams the Wilhelm.

List of Video Games

• Ant City
• Dirk Valetine and the Fortress of Steam Sometimes when you kill a guard.
• Lego Star Wars: The Video Game When you crash your ship in the "Battle Over Coruscant" level.
• God of War
• God of War 2
• The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
• Hellgate: London
• Star Wars: Battlefront II
• Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith
• Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
• TimeSplitters 2

See also

• A Wilhelm Scream - New Bedford, MA rock/punk band
• Tarzan yell
• Goofy holler
• Castle thunder

References

• Wilhelm Scream origin and history on HollywoodLostAndFound.net (cached version)
• Times article in which Sheb Wooley's widow states her belief that her husband was the man behind the scream
• Radio report about the Wilhelm scream, with transcript and audio examples of uses of the scream
• Film Sound Clichés at FilmSound.org