Everything about The Wilhelm Scream totally explained
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's 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.
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