DISTANT DRUMS
DIRECTED BY RAOUL WALSH
PRODUCED BY MILTON SPERLING
MUSIC BY MAX STEINER
A UNITED STATES PICTURES PRODUCTION
WARNER BROS.
INFORMATION FROM IMDb
Plot Summary
Navy Lieutenant Tufts accompanies scout Quincy Wyatt into the Everglades
to rout the Seminole Indians who are threatening the early settlers in Florida.
When the command is forced to run, Wyatt and Seminole Chief Oscala square off in an exciting climax.
Written by Buxx Banner
Cast
Gary Cooper ... Capt. Quincy Wyatt
Mari Aldon ... Judy Beckett
Richard Webb ... Lt. Richard Tufts
Ray Teal ... Pvt. Mohair
Arthur Hunnicutt ... Monk
Robert Barrat ... Gen. Zachary Taylor
and many more...
Sheb Wooley ... Pvt. Jessup (uncredited)
Directed
Raoul Walsh
Writing Credits
Niven Busch ... (screenplay) (story)
Martin Rackin ... (screenplay)
Produced
Milton Sperling ... producer
Music
Max Steiner
Cinematography
Sidney Hickox ... director of photography (as Sid Hickox)
Trivia
WILHELM SCREAM: This film contains the first known instance of "The Wilhelm Scream"
(a sound effect of a man screaming, since used in over 149 other movies).
During a scene in which the soldiers are wading through a swamp in the everglades,
one of them is bitten and dragged underwater by an alligator.
The scream for that character was recorded later.
Six short pained screams were recorded in a single take,
which was slated "man getting bit by an alligator, and he screams.
" The fifth scream was used for the soldier - but the 4th, 5th, and 6th screams recorded
in the session were also used earlier in the film when three Indians are shot,
one after another, during a raid on a fort.
Although the "signature" or "classic" screams, takes 4 through 6 on the original recording,
are the most recognizable, all of the screams are referred to as "Wilhelm"
by those in the sound community.
Ben Burtt, sound effects designer on Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977),
named it "Wilhelm" after the character that let out the scream
in The Charge at Feather River (1953). He discovered a file at Warner Bros. for this movie,
which contained paperwork that was left over from the picture editor
when the film was completed. One of the papers was a short list of names of actors
who were scheduled to come in to perform various lines of dialogue
for miscellaneous roles in the movie.
After reviewing the names and even listening to their voices,
one person seemed to be the most likely suspect:
Sheb Wooley. Sheb played the uncredited role of Private Jessup in "Distant Drums",
and was one of the few actors assembled for the recording of additional vocal elements for the film.
It is very likely he was asked on the spot to perform other things for the film,
including the screams for a man being bitten by an alligator.
15 of 16 found this intere
Goofs
Audio/visual unsynchronised
When the famous "Wilhelm scream" is used for the part that a man is attacked by an alligator
and drawn under water the scream can still be heard while already being under water.
Continuity
The uniforms, besides being anachronistic, don't stay the same throughout the movie.
At the beginning, Captain Wyatt wears trousers with Infantry white stripes
on them. The "sergeant" (actually Sergeant Major chevrons)
and corporal's chevrons are Cavalry yellow.
The Captain appears wearing trousers with Cavalry yellow stripes and,
shortly afterwards, Artillery red ones.
The sergeant and the corporal also appear briefly wearing Artillery red chevrons.
Crew or equipment visible
Before the soldier shouts the Wilhelm scream the line towing the alligator
underwater can be seen clearly.
In the scene when the soldier shouts the Wilhelm scream a decking
at the entrance to and under the water can be seen.
Errors in geography
The historic Castillo de San Marcos is located in the east coast of Florida,
not the west coast as shown in the movie.
Memorable Quotes
Filming Locations
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument - One S. Castillo Drive, St. Augustine, Florida, USA
St. Augustine, Florida, USA
Everglades National Park, Florida, USA
Moffett Cemetery - Moffett Cemetery Road, Milton, Kentucky, USA
Naples, Florida, USA
Silver Springs - 5656 E. Silver Springs Boulevard, Ocala, Florida, USA
[extendedmedia]
[/extendedmedia]