Podcast Summary: Más de uno – La veta cultureta: ¡¡¡AH!!! (o el grito más famoso de la historia del cine)

Host: Carlos Alsina (OndaCero)
Date: December 18, 2025

Overview

In this episode of "Más de uno," Carlos Alsina dives into the fascinating and quirky story behind the most famous scream in the history of cinema: the Wilhelm Scream. The segment, filled with humor and detailed trivia, explores the origins, legendary status, and cultural journey of this iconic audio effect, beloved and repeatedly hidden by filmmakers worldwide.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Cinematic Sound – The Wilhelm Scream

• Carlos Alsina contextualizes how sound effects are an essential yet often overlooked part of movie magic.
  • "El sonido en el cine no es solo el sonido directo del rodaje. Luego se añaden efectos y cosas grabadas para completar y resaltar..." [00:32]
• He introduces the Wilhelm Scream as the “berrido de catálogo” (catalogue scream) widely used for dramatic impact in action scenes.
  • The effect became a cost-saving tool for sound technicians, especially in scenes involving violence or distress, like gunfights and falls.

2. The Scream's Early Appearances & Cult Fame

• The scream's cinematic debut:
  • First notable use in The Charge at Feather River (1953), a Western where a character named Wilhelm gets shot by an arrow.
    • “…un hombre llamado Willam a caballo, va a recibir un flechazo de un indio en la pierna. Ahí está el grito de dolor más famoso del mundo del cine, el llamado grito de Willam.” [00:10]
• The scream's humorous and over-the-top nature made it a favorite among sound editors for decades.
• Early films using the scream included A Star is Born and The Wild Bunch.

3. A Galactic Leap – From Westerns to Blockbusters

• The real fame arrived when sound editor Ben Burtt inserted the scream in Star Wars and continued to include it in the Indiana Jones trilogy.
  • “No se haría famoso hasta llegar a una galaxia muy, muy lejana, cuando el editor de sonido Ben Burt metió el grito en La guerra de la galaxia y en sus secuel y en la trilogía de Indiana Jones.” [01:14]
• Its inclusion became an inside joke among filmmakers—a kind of "Easter egg" for attentive movie buffs—appearing even in animated classics like Toy Story and epic sagas such as The Lord of the Rings.

4. The Mystery Voice: Who Screams?

• Alsina addresses the much-speculated identity behind the iconic scream:
  • The search led aficionados to uncover that the scream originated in an even earlier Western, Distant Drums (1951), during a crocodile attack scene.
  • The actual shouter wasn’t the on-screen actor, but another cast member: Sheb Wooley, who also contributed musically to the film.
    • “Prestó su voz no el actor mordido en pantalla, sino otro actor de la película. Shep Bully, a la sazón, también canta a continuación esa joya de 30 segundos...” [02:20]
• The true “grito” was finally discovered and confirmed in 2023, thanks to diligent archival research.

5. A Director’s Perspective – Acting Out the Scream

• Touching on actor direction, Alsina injects humor as he imitates and critiques how the scream should sound:
  • “No, no es con la o. Es un grito de verdad. ¿De dolor para que luego se metan conmigo por hacer más de una?” [02:58]
• He playfully paints the voice acting process, relating it to his own experiences directing actors.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “El sonido en el cine no es solo el sonido directo del rodaje... Y si alguien se despeña desde un séptimo, también tiene que oírse, y un poco exagerado si puede ser, con un berrido de catálogo.”
  — Carlos Alsina [00:32]

• “Pronto aquel grito peculiar pero convincente hizo fortuna en el gremio de los sonidistas...”
  — Carlos Alsina [00:58]

• “Vale, pero ¿Quién grita?... Un asunto muy friki, investigado por supuesto a fondo hasta llegar a una película también de vaqueros, pero dos años anterior a la del flechazo, Tambores lejanos, en la que una caravana de gente cruza un río y un hombre siente de repente un mordisco. Un mordisco de cocodrilo.”
  — Carlos Alsina [01:58]

• “El primero que has hecho. No, no es con la o. Es un grito de verdad. ¿De dolor para que luego se metan conmigo por hacer más de una?”
  — Carlos Alsina [02:58]

Special Segment: Sheb Wooley’s Musical Touch

• A short, lighthearted musical interlude closes the segment, highlighting the multi-talented Sheb Wooley, the man behind the scream, who also contributed songs to the film.
  • This brief moment spotlights the playful, culture-hunting spirit of the show.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:01 – Introduction to the Wilhelm Scream and its first major film appearances
• 00:32 – The function and magic of recorded sound in cinema
• 01:14 – The Wilhelm Scream’s breakout via Star Wars and pop culture
• 01:58 – The search for the scream’s origin and Sheb Wooley’s unmasking
• 02:58 – Carlos imitates the scream, discusses actor direction with humor

Tone & Style

Carlos Alsina brings signature wit, playful irreverence, and a dose of nerdy delight, making this cultural anecdote as educational as it is entertaining for cinephiles and casual listeners alike. The storytelling is lighthearted, fast-paced, and peppered with tongue-in-cheek asides and loving lampooning of cinematic tropes.

Summary:
This episode of "Más de uno" is a fun, insightful dive into film lore, celebrating the humble yet iconic Wilhelm Scream—from its obscure Western roots to its status as a hidden gem for movie buffs. A treat for anyone who delights in cinematic Easter eggs and the unsung heroes of film sound.