Wilhelm scream

The Wilhelm scream is a stock sound effect first recorded in 1951 for the movie Distant Drums. 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" and "Castle Thunder," it is probably the most well-known cinematic sound cliché. It is believed to have been provided by actor/singer Sheb Wooley.

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"). He named it after Wilhelm, a minor character who emitted the scream in the 1953 movie The Charge at Feather River. Its use in Star Wars was the beginning of something of an in-joke amongst some sound designers of the film industry, especially at Skywalker Sound.

Some people, once aware of it, recognize it immediately. Some of them feel that it distracts from the film and interrupts the flow of the film. Other sound effects, such as the Tarzan yell, heard in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, are also considered distracting from the narrative. (The Tarzan yell is also heard in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, during the establishing shot on Kashyyyk. The pitch of it seems to have been altered slightly.)

Uses in George Lucas movies

 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (Naboo soldier shot in the Theed hangar)
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (Naboo pilot after the explosion of the Naboo Royal Cruiser on Coruscant)
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (falling clone trooper on a Republic attack cruiser)
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (falling stormtrooper on the Death Star)
 * The Star Wars Holiday Special (Stormtrooper is knocked off of a deck by Han Solo)
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (falling stormtrooper on Bespin, AT- AT shoots a Rebel turret.)
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (Weequay falling into Sarlacc pit; stormtrooper lifted by crowds on Coruscant; Imperial officer played by Ben Burtt in shield generator)
 * Raiders of the Lost Ark (soldier falling from back of truck)
 * Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (Indy crashing into display in Club Obi-Wan; man shot in car chase; ironically, man being eaten by alligators)
 * Howard the Duck (man buzzed by Howard's aeroplane)
 * Willow (man thrown from carriage)
 * Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (man hit by grenade)