Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, 1980 (Part 2)

Two more Wilhelms used in The Empire Strikes Back, version 1 (again) and version 4. Interestingly, this is the second occurrence of version 1; the first can be seen here.

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, 1980 (Part 1)

Here we have an example of the first version of the Wilhelm Scream. The Empire Strikes Back also contains two other Wilhelms, both of which are covered in this clip.

Star Wars Holiday Special, 1978

Something of a rarity in the Star Wars franchise, the Star Wars Holiday Special is quite hard to come by. Google it, there is quite a detailed history about it. Please forgive the poor quality of the clip; it is the only version I could get.

As usual, it is the famous 4th version of the scream.

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, 1977

Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to present: the Wilhelm Scream that started it all. Well, it's not the first use of the Wilhelm Scream (that's the Gary Cooper movie 'Distant Drums' from 1951, which I will cover at some point soon) but the Wilhelm used in Star Wars in 1977 is the first time Ben Burtt used the scream, essentially starting the trend amongst sound engineers to use the scream in their productions.

This clip is also interesting as it uses not only the famous 4th version of the scream, but also the 3rd version. I had missed this in previous viewings of the film as this use of the 3rd version is very subtle, so I must credit Steve Lee and his comprehensive Wilhelm list for identifying it.

The 3rd version is more of an 'ohww' as opposed to the 4th version being a 'AAOOOHHWW', and occurs about a second before the storm trooper falls off the ledge, just as Luke Skywalker's blast hits him.

Chevrolet Captiva, 2008

After hearing the Wilhelm used in an advert for the UK TV show 'The Sunday Night Project', it came as a surprise to hear the Wilhelm used in another TV advert only a few months later.

This is one of the adverts for the Chevrolet Captiva. The Wilhelm used is the classic 4th variation.

Sunday Night Project, 2008

This is an advert for the UK TV show 'Sunday Night Project' which was broadcast earlier this year.

The Wilhelm used is the classic 4th variation and, if you ask me, sticks out like a sore thumb (although I am sure that it is meant to, in order to tie-in with the over-the-top fake Hollywood movie vibe).

Transformers, 2007

This is perhaps my favourite use of the Wilhelm Scream - the 2007 movie 'Transformers'.

Rather than simply use the scream in its original form, the sound editors of the movie pitched the scream higher, so it would work with the high-pitched cackling of the robot who has his head kicked into the distance.

As with the vast majority of Wilhelms, this one is also the 4th version of the scream.

Hellboy, 2004

This is a clip from the 2004 movie 'Hellboy' which uses the 4th version of The Wilhelm Scream. I decided to use this clip first as it is a very clear use of the Wilhelm and would be good for anyone who is not yet familiar with the famous scream.

I will place text at the top of the videos I post which will identify when the scream occurs.