The famous sound-effect is called the Wilhelm scream -- named after one of the first characters to use it on screen -- and it’s become a favorite in-joke of sound directors and film fans.
Originally created for 1951 western “Distant Drums,” the distinctive scream was uttered by a soldier after being bitten by a crocodile. Its next appearance -- hollered by a character named “Private Wilhelm” in 1953 cowboys-and-Indians flick “The Charge at Feather River” -- gave it its name. From there, it found its way into a stock sound effects library used by Warner Bros. and was soon featured in many more movies during the 50s.
But it wasn’t until the late 1970s that the Wilhelm would rise to prominence, thanks largely to the efforts of Ben Burtt, the celebrated sound designer behind many of Star Wars’ iconic audio effects. Burtt liked the sound so much, he used it in many movies during the late 70s and 80s, including the original Star Wars and Indiana Jones films. Other soundmen followed suit, and you’ll be able to spot it in a seriously diverse set of movies, like Toy Story, Gremlins II, Reservoir Dogs, and even The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.
In Red Dead Redemption, it turns up all over the place -- usually as you shoot an opponent off his horse. Here's a compilation video of the scream in various movies!
