History of a Famous Star Wars Scream

An anonymous reader writes "There is a very famous scream in Star Wars (Episode IV) that occurs when one of the stormtroopers falls into the Death Star chasm. No doubt all geeks are familiar with this scream, but may not know that it has been used in dozens of other movies and even has a name - "The Wilhelm". There is a fascinating interview (transcript and audio) from NPRs "On The Media" that discusses the now cult-like following and history of this scream."

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WYNC Radio Article Text

[Anonymous Coward]

Seemed to be slowing down..
--

Wilhelm

February 10, 2001

BROOKE GLADSTONE: Real people as we heard can be changed by their cinematic portrayals, but there is one performer whose work has appeared in film after film yet remains utterly anonymous!
BOB GARFIELD:Most actors would die for a resume like Wilhelm's. Although Wilhelm has appeared in some of the most popular movies ever, he isn't an actor though he was probably created by one. Wilhelm is a sound effect. More specifically Wilhelm is a scream. On the Media's David Serchuck reports.
MAN: The Wilhelm has punctuated the death and dismemberment of dozens of characters in some 20 to 25 movies, particularly in those associated with George Lucas. With appearances in some of history's biggest hits, from Star Wars to Raiders of the Lost Ark to Toy Story, clearly this sound gets around. In addition to the aforementioned blockbusters, the scream appeared in lesser Lucas films like Howard the Duck and Willow as well as the Star Wars parody Space Balls. Prior to being adopted by the Lucas team in 1977, the Wilhelm got its shot in Sam Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch in 1967 and co-starred with Judy Garland in 1954's A Star is Born. It even appeared in John Wayne's gritty drama The Green Berets in 1968.
MAN: That's what it's all about, Mr. Beckworth!
MAN: After the Green Berets, the Wilhelm went on sabbatical until it was revived in Star Wars. [STAR WARS MUSIC] It appears in the scene where Luke and Leia bravely blast the storm troopers from across a bottomless pit in the death star. Right before our heroes swing across, young Skywalker shoots a stormtrooper who falls both into the depths and Hollywood history. [THE WILHELM SCREAM] The Wilhelm is also in Steven Spielberg's Raiders of the Lost Ark. [RAIDERS MUSIC] In this film the Wilhelm again marks the falling death of a bad guy. The Wilhelm comes into play this time while Indiana Jones fights off Nazis while simultaneously driving a truck. All the commotion causes one poorly-balanced Nazi to fall out. [THE WILHELM SCREAM] But the Wilhelm has graced smaller films as well. Prior to its use in these hits, it gave years of service to such B movie classics as 1954's Them where it punctuated James Whitmore's death in the mandibles of a giant ant. [THE WILHELM SCREAM] But the Wilhelm's work in Them was not finished, for it also became the death knell of an army private later in the film! [THE WILHELM SCREAM]
MAN: Medics! Medic! The Wilhelm was popularized in name by Ben Burt, the Oscar-winning sound editor for Star Wars says Richard Anderson, sound editor and president of Weddington Productions in North Hollywood. Anderson worked with Burt on both Star Wars and Raiders, placing the Wilhelm in the latter film. He said Burt, an old time Hollywood film buff, was inspired to track the sound to its roots, after noting how frequently it occurred in his favorite B films.
MAN: The earliest film that he had noticed that it was in was a film called Charge at Feather River which was made in 1953 I believe. There's a character in the movie named Wilhelm, and at one point in the movie he's riding along and an arrow flies in and hits him in, in the leg at which point he does this now-famous scream.
MAN: [SHOUTING] Wilhelm!
MAN: [SHOUTING] Yeah! I'll just fill my pipe! [ARROW'S FLIGHT] [SCREAMS]
MAN: Anderson adds that Burt was eventually able to track the first use of the Wilhelm to an even earlier film.
MAN: While at Warner Bros. he ultimately l-- found the original source recording of it under the title Man Being Eaten by Alligator. It turns out that this film was a 1951 film called Distant Drums directed Raoul Walsh and starred Gary Cooper.
MAN: The Wilhelm also surfaced in the 1955 film In the Land of the Pharaohs where it is again used by a character battling a large reptile; in this case, a crocodile; except this time it comes from inside the crocodile after the character is eaten. [THE WILHELM SCREAM] Rick Henson, president of the Motion Picture Sound Editors, showed a short compilation o

All OVER the place

[Keighvin]

Wilhelm recorded a whole series of screams in the studio for use, but the one has stood out more than any other.

Most recently, I heard this twice during the battle against the White City in RotK. It also featured during the battle of Helms' Deep in TTT.

Here's a good listing of the many films it's appeared in (several entries with annotations citing exactly when, as well): http://www.hollywoodlostandfound.net/wilhelm.html.

Re:'geeks' ???

[ericspinder]

1. Yes, it does look like a slow "geek" news day, most people are on holiday vacation, so no new products, reviews or SCO press releases for us to comment on.
2. No, not every "nerd" is a "Star Wars" geek.

I have heard of the "Wilhelm" before, but it was still interesting seeing the complete story (and the complete-?- list, well almost, it is still unknown who the voice talent was, but I think it adds to the mystery.

That Old Gag

[oldmankid]

1. Scream 2. ?????? 3. Profit.