It might have languished in Warner Bros. sound effects library had it not been adopted by sound designer Ben Burtt and rechristened ‘Wilhelm’ after the soldier who coughs it up after getting shot in the leg by an arrow in “The Charge at Feather River” (1953). Burtt would use it in all of the “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” movies and it took on a life of its own, appearing in over 200 films.

The cult status of the Wilhelm scream has become so great that actor and director Jon Favreau, in the midst of mixing Iron Man 2, announced on twitter “Spoiler for sound geeks: The Wilhelm Scream is in.”

Every act has the potential to be our legacy, let’s make it a good one.

• Steve Lee, History of the Wilhelm Scream, Hollywood Lost and Found (May 17, 2005)
• List of Movies Using the Wilhelm Scream
• Wikipedia, Wilhelm Scream
• Alex Pham, Listen up, sound geeks! Wilhelm Scream in ‘Iron Man 2,’ says Favreau, Los Angeles Times, March 22, 2010.

Like so many good ideas, once seen, it is instantly inevitable and I can only curse myself for not thinking of it first. Available across the pond from Nation Design.

UPDATE: The like stamp inspired me to add a “like” button to this blog. Why? Because we can. Knock yourselves out.