Heard This Before? Yes, You Have!

It will come as no surprise that movie makers often turn to stock sound effects when making movies.  But the "Wilhelm Scream" (as it is affectionately known) was first used in 1951, and has been used in various films over 200 times since.  The video compilation is a hoot.  Once the "scream" is pointed out to you, you'll never be able to overlook it in a movie again.  Here's an account of its history:  The Wilhelm Scream

Apparently, the use of the scream in so many Speilberg movies is an inside joke.  Enjoy the video, although you'll get the point pretty quickly.

Comments

[Zrim]

I'd like to see Daniel Stern's girly-squeal in "Home Alone" become the new stock man-scream.

[pb]

Wilhelm being...? The first character to utter the sound or the sound tech who made it up?
Reminds me of the way they made the Nazgul cry in Lord of the Rings - they found the best screamer on the set and then edited her voice to produce the effect.

[Charles S]

I love the movie "Them". As a kid I hid my eyes when James Whitmore Wilhelmed screamed as he was being munched on by the giant ant.

[P and L]

That was funny....thanks for sharing! :-)

[Mike]

Great fun. Did you see the one about films that should have had the Wilhelm Scream. My favourite was Gladiator.

[James S]

That's great!
Now I have something new to look (listen) for as I watch my collection of over 200 episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000. I would be very surprised if it isnt in at least a couple of the movies riffed on by MST3K.

[Bob McDowell]

Should we Heidelcast listeners all chip in and buy the scream for Scott Clark to use whenever QIRE or QIRK come up, just as he rings the bell when he mentions the Wescal bookstore?