The haunting, wavering call of the common loon is a sound that evokes the wilderness lakes of North America. This iconic bird call has been featured in many films over the decades, often used to establish a sense of the northern wilderness. In this article, we will explore some of the most famous uses of the loon’s call in cinema and look at how this unique bird vocalization has been used by filmmakers.
The Loon Call as Nature’s Soundtrack
The common loon (Gavia immer) is a waterbird found across Canada and the northern United States. It is famous for its wide repertoire of vocalizations, the most recognizable being its wavering, yodel-like territorial call. This call can carry for miles across lakes and ponds where loons breed in summer. When used in movies, the loon’s call immediately cues the audience that the setting is the unspoiled north woods. The call conveys solitude, wilderness, and a sense of calm. Let’s look at some specific examples.
On Golden Pond
One of the most famous uses of the loon call is in the 1981 film On Golden Pond starring Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda. The movie is set on a lake in rural Maine where a mature couple, Norman and Ethel Thayer, spend their summers. Loon calls are heard repeatedly throughout the film, starting right at the opening credits. The calls signify the lake cottage setting and tranquility of their twilight years in a beautiful, natural place. The loon vocalizations continue throughout the film as Norman’s final summer unfolds. As critic Roger Ebert wrote in his review, “We hear loons calling across the lake, the lonely, restless sound of the wilderness.”
Into the Wild
This biographical drama from 2007 follows the true story of Christopher McCandless, played by Emile Hirsch. After graduating from college, McCandless gives up his possessions and savings and hitchhikes to Alaska to explore the wilderness and live off the land. The loon’s call is used throughout the movie as he travels through mountain settings and finally sets up camp in an abandoned bus in Denali National Park. The calls evoke the solitude and remoteness of the Alaskan wilderness. They also seem to mirror McCandless’ own quest for freedom and independence from society.
Hatchet
In this 2006 horror film, a group of tourists crash land in the Louisiana swamps and come up against a vengeful ghost and a monstrous alligator. The opening scenes use the calls of common loons to help establish the remote, lake-dotted landscape. As protagonists Brian and Jenna travel across the waters by boat, loon calls create atmosphere and a sense of the strange, haunted wilderness surrounding them. The loon calls here represent the unknown threats hidden in the marshes.
The Great Outdoors
This 1988 comedy starring John Candy and Dan Aykroyd makes frequent use of loon vocalizations. The film is set on a lake in rural Wisconsin where families are spending the summer at a lakefront cabin resort. The calls of the loon establish the setting and also serve as an amusing accompaniment to many of the outdoor scenes. Their calls seem to underscore moments of tension between the main characters, almost laughing at the humorously awkward family dynamics playing out on the lake.
A River Runs Through It
Robert Redford’s 1992 drama brought loon vocalizations to the mountains and rivers of Montana. The story follows two brothers growing up in rural Montana who have a shared love of fly fishing. In scenes of the boys fishing on rivers and lakes, the calls of the common loon can be heard sounding out across the water, transporting viewers to the unspoiled wilderness of the American West. The loon calls emphasize the connection the characters feel to nature through their favorite pastime.
My Side of the Mountain
This 1969 adventure film based on the classic wilderness survival novel uses loon calls to help convey the setting in the Catskill Mountains of New York. As protagonist Sam Gribley, played by Ted Eccles, learns to live off the land and adapts to life in the wilderness, the calls of loons on a nearby lake underscore his transformation from city boy to skilled outdoorsman. The loon vocals also highlight the tranquility, beauty, and isolation of his mountain home.
Meatballs
In this beloved 1979 comedy about summer camp, loon calls can be heard during scenes set on the lake where Camp North Star is located. When Tripper, played by Bill Murray, heads out onto the lake for swimming races and boating with the campers, the calls of the common loon emphasize the setting in rural Ontario. The loon vocalizations here help reflect the playful, childlike freedom of summertime fun at camp.
The River Wild
In this 1994 action-thriller, Meryl Streep stars as Gail, an expert rafter guiding her family down a whitewater river when they encounter dangerous criminals. Early scenic shots of them rafting through mountain lakes feature loon calls in the background, transporting viewers to the unspoiled wilderness of Montana and Idaho. The calls continue when they run the ominous looking Gauntlet section of river, where suddenly the loon vocals take on an eerie vibe, hinting at the peril they face.
The Edge
This 1997 survival thriller starring Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin makes strong use of loon vocalizations. Hopkins plays a billionaire stranded in the Alaskan wilderness with a photographer, played by Baldwin, after a plane crash. Loon calls are heard throughout, emphasizing the harsh, isolated setting as the two try to survive. The calls represent their perilous fight against nature and the elements, but also seem to taunt the characters as their human egos and differences clash despite their basic struggle to stay alive.
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Here is a summary table of some key movies featuring common loon calls and how the calls are used:
Movie | Setting | How Loon Calls Used |
---|---|---|
On Golden Pond | Maine | Establish wilderness setting |
Into the Wild | Alaska | Represent wilderness solitude |
Hatchet | Louisiana | Create eerie, haunted atmosphere |
The Great Outdoors | Wisconsin | Humorous accompaniment |
A River Runs Through It | Montana | Connect characters to nature |
My Side of the Mountain | New York | Underscore wilderness transformation |
Meatballs | Ontario | Convey playful freedom of summer camp |
The River Wild | Idaho | Represent peril and isolation |
The Edge | Alaska | Emphasize harsh wilderness |
Conclusion
The unique vocalizations of the common loon have been used to great effect in many films over the past 50 years. The haunting, wavering calls never fail to immediately transport audiences to the wilderness lakes and rivers of the north. Filmmakers have relied on the loon’s cries to convey everything from tranquility and solitude to lurking danger and isolation. Next time you hear the unforgettable calls of the loon on the big screen, listen for how they subtly amplify the mood and meaning of the scenes. The common loon’s ancient cries will likely continue to fascinate and move movie audiences for decades to come.