Over the thirty-five years since it flew into cinemas so much has been made about how Star Wars changed the industry. And we're not going to deny that it had a massive influence, finishing off what Jaws started and setting up the blockbuster as the genre-defying future of cinema. But there was also a smaller, no less potent effect it. Sci-fi in the seventies had been one-sided predictions; it was either clean distant futures or rough dystopias. What Star Wars did was, ironic for a series set far away and in the past, down to Earth. The world of George Lucas space fantasy was lived in, full of advanced science that had been used and showed its age. It was a design shift that without thered never have been the equally important genre-shaping of Alien or Blade Runner. A lot of praise tends to go to the visuals, but to do that ignores such an important part of what gave Star Wars its distinct character; the sound effects. Produced by legendary sound designer Ben Burtt and melding the sounds of modern tech, nature and machinery, the audio of the galaxy are some of the most iconic in cinema history. Burtts work on the films is so extensive there have been literal books written on it (The Sounds Of Star Wars is an eye-opening look at how much is required to craft an entirely new sci-fi world), so today we scratch the surface and take a look at the story ten of his most memorable effects.
Honourable Mention - The Wilhelm Scream
If were discussing Star Wars sound effects it seems silly to not mention the Wilhelm scream. An archive effect dating back to the early fifties, the scream was resurrected in homage by Burtt for the dying gasp of a falling Stormtrooper in the original Star Wars. Since then its appeared in upwards of two hundred films and has gone from being nice little callback to wearing cliche. Dont worry, the rest of these sounds are a lot more original.
