Wilhelm Scream

Anyone ever heard of this? I know it was mentioned here but I don't think anybody picked up on it. Only came across it today when going through bestofyoutube.com and it was featured.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YDpuA90KEY

Here's a wikipedia article on it

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"[1], the Goofy holler, the Tarzan yell and "Castle thunder", it is probably one of the best-known cinematic sound clichés.

It's amazing how many movies have used this scream.

BopNiblets

Yeah, I love hearing the Wilhelm scream, but at the same time it reminds me that it's not real, like every time I hear a Stormtrooper plummet down a Death Star shaft, I'm jerked back into stupid reality.

Fun to listen for it though, I think I heard one in Cloverfield recently...?

Galvasean

Its okay, but not as good as this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf6_hok4-lo&feature=related

JangoFett

Ha this is weird, I was just explaining the significance of this scream soundbyte to a few people there on Sunday!!

Its an iconic soundbyte, I love it!!

I heard there's a band called The Wilhelm Scream

BopNiblets

Galvasean wrote: »

Its okay, but not as good as this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf6_hok4-lo&feature=related

That one's cool too, always remember it as the marine scream from Starcraft, lol.

unreggd

its on LOADS more films than the videos cover

faceman

The recent trailer for the new Hulk movie used it. its very common

c - 13

Thats really interesting actually, I'd heard the name before but had no idea what it actually was. Ill be listening out for it in future now

MooseJam

thats just lazy

johnny_ultimate

MooseJam wrote: »

thats just lazy

No, its more of a running joke amongst film directors (mostly George Lucas, but many others too).

humanji

Galvasean wrote: »

Its okay, but not as good as this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf6_hok4-lo&feature=related

I love that one, for some reason. It's used in loads of games as well, the first I remember was from Dark Forces years ago.

TerrorFirmer

There's another scream like it, which I always though WAS the famous Wilhelm scream....but it's not. It's not the Yarghhh! one either.

I can't think of any one instance of it now, apart from the opening scene to 'Return to Castle Wolfenstein', where the guy being electrocuted on the table is screaming - I've heard that scream countless times in other games and even movies but I can't find anything about it online.

Galvasean

Galvasean wrote: »

Its okay, but not as good as this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf6_hok4-lo&feature=related

The last clip in that movie didn't make any sense whatsoever. Oh how I lol'd

Cunny-Funt

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

There's another scream like it, which I always though WAS the famous Wilhelm scream....but it's not. It's not the Yarghhh! one either.

I can't think of any one instance of it now, apart from the opening scene to 'Return to Castle Wolfenstein', where the guy being electrocuted on the table is screaming - I've heard that scream countless times in other games and even movies but I can't find anything about it online.

I know EXACTLY what scream your talking about. It was used a hell of a lot in C&C red alert and since that game I've heard it everywhere (games movies) Its a little bit like the yaraghh cept it goes up and down in pitch.

Damn I wanna find that scream, but it makes me feel better someone else knows it too!

**edit**

YEP here it is 8 seconds in! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUxNS0s8xig

Galvasean

Deleted User wrote: »

The last clip in that movie didn't make any sense whatsoever. Oh how I lol'd

That was from Serial Mom I believe. Although why he was holding a kebab I'm not so sure...

This scream is so powerful it can be heard underwater, without muffle!
If anyone can find the bit from Showdown In Little Tokyo i'm referring to please post it!

niallon

Always hated that Wilheilm in Two Towers shown in the video, way to isolated and distracting!

Love the overall idea as a running joke though!

kowloon

The camel grunt noise used by the imps in doom is used a lot.
Theres a squealy door noise that turns up a lot too.

I love familiar sounds.

JangoFett

Watched Speed Racer last night and yes, the Wilhelm Scream made it into it, I laughed really loud and nobody else got it

By the way, Speed Racer is like taking acid and your eyes turning into snakes, then bursting into flames and raping each other on your face.

JangoFett

Oh hey, anyone know where I can get the wilhelm scream in mp3 format, I want it as my message tone on my phone