Well, I was just watching the 13th episode of Masters of Horror season 2 and when I finished watching it I watched a MOH special and it was about the Wilhelm Scream, I have heard the scream multiple times in other movies being an aspiring producer, anyway it was on the history of the wilhelm scream and how popular it is, I decided to share this information with all of you.
Also note you dont have to read everything below, just the first two paragraphs, the rest is a big list of everything we know thats used the Wilhelm Scream, scan through it quick and see what you note, I find it funny that movies like Mad Max, The Poltergeist II and Aeon Flux used it! Especially since I just watched Aeon Flux tonight and totally didnt notice the scream.
Tell me what you think about this!
The Wilhelm scream is a stock sound effect first used in 1951 for the movie Distant Drums. The scream was most likely vocalized by actor-singer Sheb Wooley, who later had a number one pop hit with the novelty song "Purple People Eater." It has been featured in dozens of movies since. Alongside a certain recording of the cry of the Red-tailed Hawk, the "Universal telephone ring", the Goofy holler and "castle thunder," it is probably one of the most well-known cinematic sound clichés.
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"). The recording was actually from a film from 1951 titled Distant Drums. 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 movie The Charge at Feather River. Its use in the Star Wars films was the beginning of something of an in-joke amongst some sound designers of the film industry, especially at Skywalker Sound, and Weddington Productions (now a division of Technicolor Sound Services). They continue to try to incorporate it into movies wherever feasible; action movies are naturals, but film sound cognoscenti are particularly impressed when it is used naturally in films such as A Star Is Born (with Judy Garland), The Wild Bunch and A Goofy Movie. In a tribute to its origins, the clip was used in the film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom when the villain Mola Ram was eaten by alligators. It was also used in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when an ambusher was killed during the attack on the German convoy. In Spaceballs, when Barf holds up the curved tubes, deflecting the shots of four of the bad guys back at them, the fourth one screams a Wilhelm as he is shot in the rear.
Also note you dont have to read everything below, just the first two paragraphs, the rest is a big list of everything we know thats used the Wilhelm Scream, scan through it quick and see what you note, I find it funny that movies like Mad Max, The Poltergeist II and Aeon Flux used it! Especially since I just watched Aeon Flux tonight and totally didnt notice the scream.
Tell me what you think about this!
The Wilhelm scream is a stock sound effect first used in 1951 for the movie Distant Drums. The scream was most likely vocalized by actor-singer Sheb Wooley, who later had a number one pop hit with the novelty song "Purple People Eater." It has been featured in dozens of movies since. Alongside a certain recording of the cry of the Red-tailed Hawk, the "Universal telephone ring", the Goofy holler and "castle thunder," it is probably one of the most well-known cinematic sound clichés.
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"). The recording was actually from a film from 1951 titled Distant Drums. 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 movie The Charge at Feather River. Its use in the Star Wars films was the beginning of something of an in-joke amongst some sound designers of the film industry, especially at Skywalker Sound, and Weddington Productions (now a division of Technicolor Sound Services). They continue to try to incorporate it into movies wherever feasible; action movies are naturals, but film sound cognoscenti are particularly impressed when it is used naturally in films such as A Star Is Born (with Judy Garland), The Wild Bunch and A Goofy Movie. In a tribute to its origins, the clip was used in the film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom when the villain Mola Ram was eaten by alligators. It was also used in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when an ambusher was killed during the attack on the German convoy. In Spaceballs, when Barf holds up the curved tubes, deflecting the shots of four of the bad guys back at them, the fourth one screams a Wilhelm as he is shot in the rear.
-------------------------------------------------
Movies, Television, Anime, Games, and other things that the Wilhelm Scream has been used in.
The Charge at Feather River (1953, the scream is uttered by the character Wilhelm, who gave his name to the scream, as well as by several other characters.)
The Command (an Indian is shot)
Distant Drums (1951, the original use of the sound. Used when a character is eaten by an alligator and when three Indians are shot.)
Helen of Troy (1956)
Land of the Pharaohs (1955) (the scream is emitted from inside a crocodile that has just eaten a man)
The Sea Chase (1955)
Springfield Rifle (1952)
A Star Is Born (1954 version with Judy Garland)
Them! (1954) (A sailor uses the scream when attacked on his ship and later a soldier pinned by falling beam in storm sewers)
The Green Berets (196 cool
Harper (1966)
The Scarlet Blade (1963)
PT 109 (1963)
Sergeant Rutledge (1960)
Swiss Family Robinson (1960) (a pirate falls into a ravine during the climatic battle)
The Wild Bunch (1969) (a member of the Bunch is shot in the face during the opening scene of the movie)
The Castle of Cagliostro (1979) (when Lupin loosens a gear in the clocktower, sending Count Cagliostro's men running for cover)
Chisum (1970)
Hollywood Boulevard (1976)
Mad Max (1979) (the Night Rider's car explodes)
More American Graffiti (1979)
Impasse
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) (a stormtrooper is shot by Luke and falls down a shaft in the Death Star - this scene was cut from the German version of the film)
The Star Wars Holiday Special (197 cool (stormtrooper falls off deck/balcony)
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979, Special Edition).
* Always (1989)
* The Big Brawl (1980)
* The Big Red One (1980) (When the soldiers are being ambushed at Christ-on-the-Cross, just after an explosion.)
* Explorers (1985)
* Howard the Duck (1986) (A duck hunter falls out of a boat shortly before Howard yells, "Banzai!")
* Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) (twice in the truck chase scene, first when a Nazi soldier falls out of the back of the truck and then again when two fall off the side)
* Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) (Three Wilhelms and a near Wilhelm. Once when Indy is pushed on a cart into the band-stand in Club Obi-Wan, when Indiana Jones shoots one of the Goons pursuing him through Shanghai, when Mola Ram is eaten at the end of the movie. A near Wilhelm occurs when a Thuggee goon is tossed off of a walkway in the mines.)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) (when one soldier is killed with a grenade during the desert chase.)
Poltergeist (1982) (After the family eats breakfast, Carol Anne Freeling is watching tv. A soldier dies)
Spaceballs (1987) (Barf uses a section of tubing to reflect four laser bolts back at guards. The fourth one hit screams.)
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) (during the Hoth battle, a rebel soldier's defensive turret dish is destroyed. Another one occurs when Chewbacca throws a stormtrooper off of a platform before Han is frozen.)
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) (when Luke kills one of Jabba the Hutt's guards (a Weequay) above the Sarlacc Pit. Later, Han throws a bag of charges at an Imperial officer in the Endor bunker, knocking him backwards over a railing. That Imperial officer is sound designer Ben Burtt in a cameo appearance, who did his own impression of the "Wilhelm". In the Special Edition, a stormtrooper does a Wilhelm while being savaged by a crowd. In the DVD release, a second Wilhelm occurs after another Weequay is knocked off of a barge by Luke Skywalker, and when Boba Fett was knocked onto the Sarlaac.)
Swamp Thing (1982)
Three Fugitives (1989)
Willow (198 cool (when soldiers crash their carriage after chasing the heroes and when The Brownies manage to trigger a huge spear shooter that hits several enemy soldiers)
Aladdin (1992)(Villagers flee in terror as the Genie [under Jafar's control] lifts the palace into the air.)
Batman Returns (1992) (when Batman punches and grabs an enemy and hurls him towards a railing.)
Beauty and the Beast (1991)(Just after Chip says, "You guys got to try this thing", a villager screams from the exterior of the castle during a fight between the villagers & the household objects.)
Beethoven's 2nd (1993) (when the bully kid falls from the house's balcony into the lake)
Broken Arrow (1996) (when Master Sergeant Kelly falls down the ravine)
Dante's Peak (1997) (Dr. Paul Dreyfus dies)
Evening Class
Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995) (while driving through central park)
The Doors (1991) (during the toppling of speakers while the crowd charges the stage in the chaos after Morrison "reveals" himself)
Face/Off (1997) (rappelling SWAT team member shot, again when a man is shot as his boat is stolen by Castor Troy)
The Fifth Element (1997) (When Leeloo kicks the two Mangalores into the hallway during the fight in Plavalaguna's chamber.)
A Goofy Movie (1995) (During the song "On The Open Road", Goofy's car plows through a construction site & a worker screams.)
Gremlins 2 (1990) (when the gremlins take over a man is thrown off a balcony)
Hercules (1997) (when the Cyclops is smashing houses looking for Hercules)
Legion of Iron
Lethal Weapon 4 (199 cool (when the flamethrower man in the opening scene flies into the gas truck)
Matinee (1993)
Mom And Dad Save The World
Reservoir Dogs (1992) (when Mr. Pink pushes past pedestrians on the street after the botched robbery)
Sailor Moon S: Hearts in Ice (1994) (While Amara, Michelle, and Trista are at a restaurant, a snow dancer freezes a man passing by. Only in the Optimum dub.)
The Second Civil War (1997)
Small Soldiers (199 cool (many action figures scream Wilhelms when they die)
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) (two Naboo security officers get shot in the Naboo hangar)
Toy Story (1996) (Buzz screams the Wilhelm scream when the desk lamp knocks him out the window)
Accepted (2006) (Heard from a kid as he flies from his skateboard.)
Æon Flux (2005) (Aeon shoots a guard off the ledge in the courtyard)
Agent Cody Banks (2003) (when a guard falls off a balcony and through a fiberglass ceiling. time: 1:25:41)
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) (During the first part of the gang fight, in a lower-than-usual pitch.)
Animatrix (2003) (During Matriculated a sentinel grabs and throws a human)
Cars (film) (2006) (When a car is disintegrated during Lightning McQueen's dream sequence at the beginning of the movie.)
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)
Diabolical Tales: Part I (short) (2005) (When FBI Agent Thompson is killed by an electro-incinerator)
Fantastic Four (2005) (by a frightened bystander in the final battle after Ben (The Thing) throws a car at Victor (Doctor Doom) and a bus is slid in Victor's direction)
The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000) (when Fred Flinstone does a cannonball in the pool at the hotel, he displaces a swimmer)
Flushed Away (2006)
Flyboys (2006) (when the Nazis raid the refugee caravan, one plane makes a strafing run blowing up a cart, one the men is flung forwards)
Get Rich or Die Trying (2005) (when the Colombians shoot a number of people during a recording session)
Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle (2004) (when Harold and Kumar are riding the cheetah and Harold is hit by a tree branch)
Hellboy (2003) (A Nazi scientist is sucked into the portal)
Just Visiting (2001)
The Kid (2000)
Kill Bill: Vol.1 (2003) (once shortly after splitting the henchman vertically during the Crazy 88 scene, and once more two minutes later when running up the stairway.)
King Kong (2005) (A sailor is pushed over a cliff by a dinosaur during the stampede)
Kingdom of Heaven (2005) (A Muslim soldier is knocked off from his siege tower when a trebuchet missile hits it)
Land of the Dead (2005)
Life or Something Like It (2002)
The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (2000--Direct to video) (A crew member jumps from his ship and screams just before part of an iceberg falls on the ship) (time: 57:4 cool
Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003) (when Damian Drake tosses a grenade behind him; the scream is heard when it explodes) (time: 13:27)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) (A Gondorian is dropped from the sky by a Nazgul and a Haradrim is knocked off a Mumakil by Legolas)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) (Shortly after the Uruk-Hai succesfully scale the walls of Helm's deep, (just after the shot of Haldir killing two Uruks))
Madagascar (film) (2005) (When people are fleeing from Alex the Lion in the Grand Central Station [barely audible])
The Majestic (2001) (when they first test the Majestic's lit sign and it shorts out)
A Man Apart (2003)
The Medallion (2003) (twice, once when Julian Sands defeats Jackie Chan in a fight, and later when the medallion itself "screams")
Monster House (film) (2006) (during a scary movie Zee & Bones are watching, Very Faint)
Once Upon A Time In Mexico (2003) (During the motorcycle chase one of the gansters is hit by an old man in a car)
Osmosis Jones (2001) (Thrax throws someone out of their car)
Over The Hedge (2006)
Peter Pan (2003) (--Unconfirmed--) (Alf Mason [the 'ugly' pirate] falls from rigging after being accidentally shot by Smee)
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) (The cursed pirates engage the HMS Dauntless crew and a British officer is thrown over the railing near the start of the battle, right before Governor Swann is shown coming out of the captin's quarters. very faint)
Planet of the Apes (2001) (when General Thade throws two humans in the air)
Ring Two, The (2005) (Very faint, just when Rachel hits the water after having thrown herself off the cliff)
The Salton Sea (2002)
Scorched (2003)
She's the Man (2006) (Shortly after Viola enters her brother's dorm, the scream can be heard faintly on the TV set) (time: 15:26)
Sin City (2005) (Marv throws a cop out of his squad car while stealing it.)
Sixteen Blocks (2006) (during the bus hijacking scene.)
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (A construction worker on a scaffolding is thrown from it by bat-like flying robots)
Soul Plane (2004) (When Captain Mack dives the plane)
Spider-Man (2002) (Very faint, when Bone Saw first flips his opponent in the ring)
Star Wars: Clone Wars (Vol.1) (2005) (Chapter 12, when the seismic tank fires for the first time. During the shock wave after.)
Star Wars: Clone Wars (Vol.2) (2005) (Chapter 24, Once when General Grievous is slicing up clones in the chambers of Chancellor Palpatine. Also, a couple minutes later when two Magna Guards throw the last two clones over an edge.)
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) (in the beginning of the film, a ship explodes on Coruscant)
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) (an artillery crew Clone Trooper is gets hit by an explosion in the opening starship battle)
Storm (film) (2005) (In the first comic book scene)
Superman Returns (2006) (When the train set in Luthor's basement is destroyed)
Taxi (2004)
Team America: World Police (When Gary first walks into the palace and says he has his pass right here, shooting 3 guards.)
Tears of the Sun (2003) (After the spy is discovered, two traps are laid and set off. The second trap kills some soldiers.)
Thirteen Days (2002)
Tomcats (2001)
Under the Tuscan Sun (2003) (After moving into her villa, Frances experiences a terrible thunderstorm. Listen very carefully when her washing machine is struck by lightning...)
Van Wilder (2002) (When Sick Boy opens the door and he has a giant blister on his neck, you hear it.
War of the Worlds (2005) (At the end of the film when the soldiers take down a tripod, it lands on a soldier.)
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) (By a villager, as the were-rabbit begins his rampage after picking up Lady Tottington near the end of the film; time 1:06:36)
Wet Hot American Summer (2001)
X-Men: The Last Stand (Heard in the deleted scenes, one mutant is under a platform during the big battle and gets shot, "curing" him and he falls off)
Television
American Dad, where an agent at the CIA pulls the pin on a grenade and casually tosses it over his shoulder while in the training room. It was also heard in a later episode as two Handicapped Mafia hitmen beat up a rival.
CSI: New York, during the episode Grand Master (Season 1, Episode 4) where Mack and Aiden are on a fire escape discussing the murder of DJ Banner. A possible flashback of his murder uses the sound as DJ Banner dies.
Doctor Who, during the "TARDISODE" (made-for-Internet prequel trailer) for the 2006 episode "Tooth and Claw", as a man is attacked by a werewolf.
Drawn Together, in the episode "Dirty Pranking No. 2" when someone gets blasted with a robo-fly's raygun, in "The Lemon-AIDS Walk" when Captain Hero takes steroids, in "A Very Special Drawn Together Afterschool Special" during a barroom brawl, and in "The Drawn Together Clip Show" when the the Producer opens fire on the audience.
Family Guy, in the episode "North by North Quahog" when Lois and Peter try to get away with Mel Gibson's new movie from two catholic priests they drive through a mall and they manage to drive past a piano but the priests drive right at it and the man at the piano jumps out of the way.
Invasion , when a man is thrown over the edge of a pier during the series finale (May 2006).
Island of Assassins, when Ellen is fighting in the opening scene (you can faintly hear the scream in the background). Only in the FUNimation dub.
The League of Gentlemen, on the main menu of the second series DVD, accompanied by the show's theme tune.
The Life and Times of Juniper Lee, in almost any, if not every, episode.
Macross, in the episode "Blind Game" when Hikaru Ichijyo takes down a group of Zentradi police officers. Only in the ADV Films dub.
The Venture Bros., in the episode "Hate Floats" when The Monarch, Dr. Venture and the henchmen come out of the door just before the closing credits, and at the beginning of "I Know Why the Caged Bird Kills" when the Monarch and his henchmen mistakingly raid an office.
Games
Call of Duty 2: Big Red One
Daleks v. Cybermen (2006), a Flash video game from the BBC website based on the Doctor Who episode "Doomsday." The humans "deleted" by the player-controlled Cybermen emit Wilhelm screams. [1]
God of War, when you kill the man holding the bridge on the Rooftops of Athens.
Lego Star Wars: The Video Game (2005), either Obi-Wan Kenobi or Anakin Skywalker screams it when the player dies during the Space Battle Over Coruscant level.
Mortal Kombat, if a player uses Johnny Cage to defeat Goro, the villain emits a Wilhelm scream.
Ratchet and Clank During all of the Ratchet games apart from Deadlocked, you emit a Wilhelm if you die by falling into one of the game's many abysses 1 and fissions.
Spider-Man 2 (2004) for the Nintendo DS, when the player throws an enemy off a building.
Star Wars: Battlefront II Various times.
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, when an enemy falls off a ledge and in the second ILM made cutscene.
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron When killing most ground troops (storm troopers, snow troopers, sand people etc.)
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (1996) For the Nintendo 64 version, an imitation of this scream can be heard as the player shoots a stormtrooper, Imperial commando or other living hostile and the AI falls off a high ledge.
SWAT 4, sometimes when the VIP is killed in the "VIP Escort" multiplayer mode.
Team Fortress 2, in the second released trailer, when a character runs over some dynamite as it explodes. Also is heard at the beginning when a group of soldiers are killed by an engineer's turret.
World Championship Poker 2: Featuring Howard Lederer: Players leaving an online game emit a Wilhelm Scream.
Scarface:The World is Yours:Tony Montana emits what sounds like a Wilhelm Scream when he gets eaten by a shark.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II Various times.
Neverwinter Knights II I couple times.
Other
Davy Crockett's Tall Tales (Amusement Park Ride) In the Davy and Death Hug wrestling scene Davy emits a Wilhelm.
4chan's Flash introduction shown at Otakon 2006 contains an Apple IIe user who emits a Wilhelm scream upon being strangled by an elongated feline.
In the Halo machinima film "Gameplay May Change During Online Play[2]" the second blue player to be killed emits the Wilhelm scream.
Pitching Lucas (Fan film) By one of the executives who falls through the carbon freeze shaft.
Runaway Brain: At the start of the cartoon after Minnie says, "From now on, you can date your stupid video game," Mickey's video game character lets out a Wilhelm when he dies.
Trevor Rides Again: In the scene where Trevor falls off of the movie car while 'ghostriding the whip.'
Elvenking: On the album Heathenreel, the scream is heard at the beginning of the song "Conjuring the 14th".
In Medal of Honor Pacific Assault a Wilhelm can be heard during the opening Tarawa battle and during the strafing of the Pearl Harbor docks near the CINCPAC headquarters.
Unconfirmed
Neon Genesis Evangelion, first episode, while Shinji Ikari is screaming at the sight of the battle between the Angels and the U.N.
Red Dawn, when a Soviet soldier gets shot (3rd Wilhelm scream)
Gunparade March, in the preview segment for episode 12, a Wilhem Scream in a female register closes the segment.
Training Day, when Officer Hoyt beats up the crackheads, one responds with a truncated Wilhelm.
