The System Was Wack, so I had to Scream

April 8, 2023 5:16 PM

"To get you started, here’s an incredibly rare recording of the entire Wilhelm Scream recording session". "Not an 'ow'.... a real scream....". The Wilhelm Scream previously and previously.
posted by cashman (13 comments total)

I've annoyed my friends numerous times by joyously shouting "Wilhelm!!" during movies. But I consider it a public service, so I shall not be deterred; nay, not even by cliffs nor bullets nor lightsabers nor arro-- *screams in a familiar way*
posted by Greg_Ace at 6:18 PM on April 8, 2023 [8 favorites]

SFX in movies. No film at 11
posted by Ideefixe at 6:52 PM on April 8, 2023

SFX in movies. No film at 11

Restored tape at 11.
posted by tclark at 7:00 PM on April 8, 2023

Oh I'm so glad I clicked through and read the article. More than just the scream, a rescue of a whole bunch of old sounds!
posted by freethefeet at 8:41 PM on April 8, 2023 [2 favorites]

Spent way too long just now listening to random sound effects on that site.
posted by GoblinHoney at 9:23 PM on April 8, 2023

Please, the actor’s name was Wilhelm Schreien
posted by fallingbadgers at 12:45 AM on April 9, 2023 [4 favorites]

No, that's a common mistake. It's Wilhelm's Monster.
posted by signal at 4:11 AM on April 9, 2023 [15 favorites]

I'm always torn about the scream. It's fun to hear-spot it in a film; it also always snaps me right out of the narrative. A tradition but sometimes a distracting one.
posted by tiny frying pan at 5:52 AM on April 9, 2023 [2 favorites]

It only counts when it's recorded in the Wilhelm region of Germany, otherwise it's just a Sparkling Scream.
posted by Four Ds at 8:17 AM on April 9, 2023 [14 favorites]

I think there are also Wilhelm scream equivalents for the sounds of several children laughing and also the sound of a baby crying. Frequently when movie children have their faces turned away from the viewer and/or are running around while playing I hear the same laugh track. And it's really annoying too because doesn't sound at all realistic to me: too burble-y, too monotonous in pitch and volume. I know there are adult voice actors who specialize in mimicking children's vocalizations, but I think this is the cheaper way out.
posted by carmicha at 8:25 AM on April 9, 2023

Anyone else ever watch a movie for the first time and when people start falling off things think, ok, where’s The Scream?
posted by gottabefunky at 10:43 AM on April 9, 2023 [2 favorites]

I don't think I've ever seen a Rakim reference on Metafilter in any context: not in comments, not in post titles.

You ain't no joke, cashman. Well done!
posted by lord_wolf at 3:43 PM on April 9, 2023

It only counts when it's recorded in the Wilhelm region of Germany, otherwise it's just a Sparkling Scream.
I love you.
posted by Don Pepino at 6:05 AM on April 10, 2023