One of the most recognizable sound effects in Hollywood, the iconic “Wilhelm Scream” had been used in dozens if not hundreds of movies since it was first recorded. It is a high pitched male scream that is used during an action sequence when a male character has just received his death blow.
The Scream was recorded for the film “Distant Drums” in 1951 for a scene in which a male character is dragged underwater by an alligator and eaten. It’s moniker would come two years later when the effect was re-used for the film “The Charge at Feather River” when a character named Private Wilhelm is shot with an Indian arrow and belts out the famous call.
The scream became a favorite sound effect of George Lucas who worked it into every “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” film, and from there the scream made its way throughout Hollywood, becoming almost a moviemaking in-joke: “Where can we put a Wilhelm scream?” And now, whenever I go to an action movie, even though I don’t want to, I start listening for for the effect.
I’m both a fan and non-fan of the Wilhelm scream. It’s a film icon, true, but it’s become a campy element of action sequences, and it’s constant use and reconcilability makes it impossible to be used in any serious form, and it’s original uses have been somewhat detracted from by it’s overuse. Besides that, it’s a weird sounding male scream.
I’m not against it’s use in films like “Star Wars” or “Kill Bill” or “Spiderman” where the tone of the action might call for the scream. But I was not real happy when watching “Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” and the Wilhelm scream was used for a dying elf. This is not the kind of movie to be using such a campy sound effect.
So, the sound effect has its practical uses, but it has become the “Where’s Waldo” of action sequences. But, it is a Hollywood icon, and deserves recognition for it’s longevity of use.
No comments:
Post a Comment