Warlords before bedtime

In my childhood years, in the late 1960's and early 1970's, there were two stock noises that you had to be able to do to fit  in with your peer group.

The first was that of a machine gun.

Those were the days, let's face it only a couple of decades after the end of the Second World War when British and American cinema thrived on big budget, big loud noise movies centred on warfare, not just from 1939 to 1945 but Korea, Vietnam and many other theatres of conflict around the globe.

As the post war period progressed the identity of the enemy did change although did become a bit more vague, I suppose so as to not upset national sensibilities. It was an exchange of warring states for the likes of Fu Manchu, SPECTRE, terrorist affiliates and just plain old fashioned gangsters and warlords.

The physical method of creating a staccato machine gun sound is difficult to describe, you really just have to try it, suffice to say it involves clenched teeth, tongue in the bottom of the mouth and a rapid rate of exhalation to achieve the required rapid rate of fire. A spoken "da,da,da,da,da," does not count.

The best impression was always a bit messy with anyone within a few feet being sprayed with not just imaginary rounds of ammunition but also a lot of spittle. It was important to master breathing and running together so as not to keel over in a fainting fit.

Those able to combine all of these attributes could look forward to being chosen first from the line-up of team selection to be a Marine, Paratrooper, Special Forces Operative or Lone Wolf. It was an advantage if you could bring your own gun, or failing that, quickly whittle and fashion a piece of stick into an assault rifle, or at least in your own imagination.

There were plenty of role models to inspire you at that time with army action comic stories on sale in the newsagents or the emerging Warlord comic (although not until 1974)

The second quality to follow the first was the ability to die convincingly.

Keen viewing of war films and indeed cowboy movies did give a good idea of the correct noises and how to fall over dependant upon whether struck down by small arms fire, a sniper or a merciless volley of high velocity bullets.

The best sounds involved the phonetic equivalent of "AArrggghh" and "ugh" or fancy phrases of "donner und blitzen", "Gott im Himmel" and others whose sounds were suitably guttural and fatalistic but would not make any sense whatsoever to others.

A few amongst our regular war gaming gang could emit an ear piercing scream, perhaps those approaching the trauma of puberty and voices breaking. It may have been a bit girly sounding but was much admired in the peer group.

That type of sound in mainstream movies has actually achieved cult status and has become known as "The Wilhelm Scream" or in basic language, an accompanying stock sound effect for someone who is shot or falls down violently.

It is remarkably similar throughout its use because it was recorded in a sound booth and dubbed on in post production.

Although now known to have been used in films from the 1950's it was not until a Film Studies Class in the 1970's noticed its use in some 150 plus movies. It continues to feature to the present day.

The name is derived from a marginal character from a 1963 Western entitled "The Charge at Feather River", a Private Wilhelm who is sent from the ranks to fight hostile Native Americans but is cut down by either gunfire or an arrow with a unique, piercing scream.

The first use of the sound effect was traced back to its use in "Distant Drums"(1951), this time where an American Soldier is ravaged by an alligator whilst rescuing captives from a Seminole Tribe Stronghold.

A graduate of the Film School that identified its use, Ben Burtt went on in an illustrious movie career to pay homage to the "Wilhelm Scream"  in his sound designer work in blockbuster movies including Star Wars and Indiana Jones where it was useful in the demise of  Stormtroopers and Nazi's.

Its use remains as a bit of an in-joke and you may be able to spot one or more examples on the big screen releases of today.

There have been attempts to try to identify the actual person whose scream was laid down in the additional dialogue back in 1963.

The most likely candidate is thought to be Sheb Wooley who appeared in many movies of that era and well as having a US Billboard Number One smash hit with "Purple People Eater".

Whatever the origins of the "Wilhelm Scream" it has equivalent significance in movie history as the Amen Break enjoys in popular music.