That Damned Falcon at DVinfo.net

Scott Thibodeau · October 28th, 2009, 12:08 AM

About 6 months ago I started to notice just how often that damned red tailed hawk screech would play in movies and the more I heard it the more I realized that it's used in almost every single film out there. One series that really flogged it to death was The National Parks: America's Best Idea by Ken Burns. Now it's gotten to the point where it is so pervasive in any film featuring nature and such a cliche that I end up rolling my eyes every time I hear it.

The Wilhelm scream scream is funny because it's an inside joke. This damn hawk is just annoying. I was just watching Last of the Mohicans and as they pan across a British fort that has just had the you know what beat out of them you hear the hawk screech twice. How many birds would actually hang around an area with canons, guns and explosions going off for days on end?

Just had to get that one off my chest. I need to get out more. :) Any other sounds that are used so often that they are cliche as opposed to being effective?

Here's a funny compilation of the Wilhelm Scream.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdbYsoEasio

Andrew Smith · October 28th, 2009, 04:34 AM

Why not do a bit of a joke on it by having the bird screech twice, then a couple of shots fired. The viewer's mind can fill in the rest.

Andrew

Rich Greb · October 28th, 2009, 05:01 AM

Notable that you correctly identified the ubiquitous call being from a red tailed hawk. The typical shot of an eagle swooping down to scoop up a fish invariably uses the red tailed hawk call because the eagle call is just not very inspiring. Kind of an inside joke to those who know raptors but actually it's pretty misleading to show video of one bird with the call of another.

Rich

Richard Alvarez · October 28th, 2009, 07:56 AM

Does "The Colbert Report" use it as part of their open, or is that a 'new' eagle screech?

Chris Hurd · October 29th, 2009, 09:36 AM

Donald looks like a falcon, but does he sound like one?

Hulu - Saturday Night Live: The Falconer: Vegas

October 28th, 2009, 12:08 AM	#1
Scott Thibodeau Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Posts: 96	That Damned Falcon About 6 months ago I started to notice just how often that damned red tailed hawk screech would play in movies and the more I heard it the more I realized that it's used in almost every single film out there. One series that really flogged it to death was The National Parks: America's Best Idea by Ken Burns. Now it's gotten to the point where it is so pervasive in any film featuring nature and such a cliche that I end up rolling my eyes every time I hear it. The Wilhelm scream scream is funny because it's an inside joke. This damn hawk is just annoying. I was just watching Last of the Mohicans and as they pan across a British fort that has just had the you know what beat out of them you hear the hawk screech twice. How many birds would actually hang around an area with canons, guns and explosions going off for days on end? Just had to get that one off my chest. I need to get out more. :) Any other sounds that are used so often that they are cliche as opposed to being effective? Here's a funny compilation of the Wilhelm Scream. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdbYsoEasio

October 29th, 2009, 09:36 AM	#5
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Donald looks like a falcon, but does he sound like one? Hulu - Saturday Night Live: The Falconer: Vegas __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

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October 28th, 2009, 04:34 AM	#2
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,015	Why not do a bit of a joke on it by having the bird screech twice, then a couple of shots fired. The viewer's mind can fill in the rest. Andrew

October 28th, 2009, 05:01 AM	#3
Rich Greb Sponsor: Camera Motion Research Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 57	Notable that you correctly identified the ubiquitous call being from a red tailed hawk. The typical shot of an eagle swooping down to scoop up a fish invariably uses the red tailed hawk call because the eagle call is just not very inspiring. Kind of an inside joke to those who know raptors but actually it's pretty misleading to show video of one bird with the call of another. Rich

October 28th, 2009, 07:56 AM	#4
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Does "The Colbert Report" use it as part of their open, or is that a 'new' eagle screech?