‘Jurassic Park' Dinosaur Sounds: Unearthing the Dirty Backstory

‘Jurassic Park’ has earned its place in cinematic history as a groundbreaking achievement. Steven Spielberg's 1993 adventure thriller not only revolutionized visual effects but also set new box office records, spawning a beloved franchise that continues to captivate audiences. While the human characters in ‘Jurassic Park’ played crucial roles, it was the dinosaurs that truly stole the show. Like John Hammond, Spielberg spared no expense in bringing these prehistoric creatures to life, relying heavily on innovative sound design to enhance their believability.

Gary Rydstrom, a frequent collaborator with Spielberg and a master of sound, played a pivotal role in crafting the dinosaurs' vocalizations. Despite the challenge of not knowing what dinosaurs sounded like, Rydstrom and his team ingeniously gathered sounds from various animals. These sounds, when combined and manipulated, became the iconic roars and cries of ‘Jurassic Park’ dinosaurs. For instance, the terrifying T-Rex roar was a blend of a Jack Russel Terrier's growl and the slowed-down vocalizations of a baby elephant, giving it a powerful and intimidating presence on screen.

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The Brachiosaurus's majestic calls were created by slowing down recordings of a donkey, adding a hooting quality reminiscent of the giant herbivore's gentle nature. Even mundane actions like sneezing were given a prehistoric twist; the Brachiosaurus sneeze, which douses Lex in the film, was a mix of a whale's blowhole and a fire hydrant. For the Triceratops, Rydstrom utilized recordings of cows for vocalizations but added his own breathing into a tube to create the sickly dinosaur's laboured breaths.

Notably, some of the most unexpected sounds came from rather unconventional origins. The Velociraptors' communication barks were actually recordings of tortoises mating, while their screams incorporated a boy dolphin's vocalizations during mating season. Even the sprinting Gallimimus flock's panicked squeals were inspired by a female horse's unexpected squeal caused by a nearby male horse in heat.

Gary Rydstrom's imaginative approach to sound design earned him two Academy Awards for ‘Jurassic Park’, highlighting his ability to create compelling auditory experiences from unexpected sources. His work remains a testament to the creativity and technical prowess required in cinematic soundscapes, ensuring that ‘Jurassic Park’ dinosaurs will continue to roar across generations of moviegoers.

–Farheen Ali