Every kind of frog and toad makes its own unique calling sound during its breeding season. The sound made by the Pacific Treefrog, which can only be heard in western North America, has been used as the background frog calling sound for night scenes or scenes near water since sound was first added to movies, in movies set all around the world.
We also frequently hear the sound of the Pacific Treefrog when we see another kind of frog on screen that should be making a completely different sound.
Most sounds in movies are recorded then added to the movie soundtrack. Pacific Treefrogs are the frogs most often heard at night in southern California where most movies used to be made, so when Hollywood sound recordists went outside the studios at night to record nocturnal sounds to add to movies, they often recorded the calls of Pacific Treefrogs. Those sounds were added later to the soundtracks of many films. Pacific Treefrog sounds also ended up in pre-recorded sound effects tapes, LPs, and CDs used by film sound designers when they needed nighttime background frog sounds.
Pacific Treefrog sounds became what filmmakers and audiences expected to hear outdoors at night when they watched a movie. Since most film sound design is concerned with what the audience expects to hear, not with what they would actually hear at a location in a movie, and since the precedent was already set, the mistake was repeated throughout the 20th century and into the 21st century. If the audience heard the sounds of the frogs that really called in a location outside of the West, they would be confused. Nevertheless, hearing Pacific Treefrog sounds in a movie that is set anywhere outside of the western part of North America is a mistake.
Uncommon Valor 1983
We hear lots of Pacific Treefrogs calling in Texas and in Thailand, where they are not found. (When they get to Laos, we hear other species of frogs calling.)
Cocaine Bear 2023
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in Georgia where they are not found.
Four Faces West 1948
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in Alamagordo New Mexico, where they are not found.
The Aristocats 1970
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in the countryside outside of Paris, France, where they are not found.
Song of the South 1946
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in rural Georgia where they are not found.
Jumanji 1995
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in New Hampshire where they are not found.
Pearl 2022
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in Texas where they are not found. The movie was made in New Zealand and they are not found there either.
I Saw the Light 2015
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling several times in Alabama or Tennessee where they are not found.
Rush 1991
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in Texas where they are not found.
Critters 1986
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in Kansas where they are not found.
Run for the Sun 1956
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling near the east coast of Mexico, where they are not found.
The Client 1994
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling outside Memphis where they are not found.
Shang-Chi: Legend of the Ten Rings 2021
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at the ancient mystical village of Ta Lo which is hidden behind a bamboo forest somewhere in China. Pacific Treefrogs are only found in western North America.
The Green Knight 2021
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in forests in England where they are not found.
Sullivan's Travels 1941
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in the South, where they are not found.
Sleeping with the Enemy 1991
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling somewhere east of Iowa where they are not found.
Doc Savage 1975
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night at a river in South America where they are not found
Barbarosa 1981
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in Texas where they are not found.
The Baytown Outlaws 2012
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at a lake in Alabama more than a thousand miles from where they can be found.
Slither 2006
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in Wheelsy South Carolina during an alien invasion. Pacific Treefrogs are not found east of the Rocky Mountains.
Clay Pigeons 1998
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night at a lake in Montana where they do not live.
Piranha 1978
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling around a river and lake in Texas, far from where they occur.
What Lies Beneath 2000
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling near a lake in Vermont, far from where they are found.
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves 1991
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in Sherwood Forest, thousands of miles from where they are found.
The Blues Brothers 1980
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night by a lake somewhere outside of Chicago, a long way from where they are found.
Pretty Poison 1968
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night at a lake in Massachusetts, thousands of miles from where they are found.
Homefront 2013
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in Louisiana where they are not found.
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon 1942
We hear Pacific Treefrog calls used as night sounds in Switzerland and in London but they only occur in North America.
Camelot 1967
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in England where they are not found.
Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold 1986
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in Africa where they are not found.
Kiss the Girls 1997
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in North Carolina where they are not found.
Apache 1954
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night near the Apache reservation in New Mexico where they are not found.
Frailty 2001
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in a small town in Texas where they are not found.
Secondhand Lions 2003
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night at a pond in Texas where the frogs are not found.
The Caper of the Golden Bulls 1967
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in Spain where they are not found.
The Big Sky 1952
We hear a constant chorus of Pacific Treefrogs every night on the Missouri River in Kansas, but they don't occur there.
Elephant Walk 1954
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) where they are not found.
Old Yeller 1957
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in Texas where the frogs are not found.
Bad Boys 2 2003
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night on the Florida coast where they are not found.
Lake Placid 1999
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at a lake in Maine where they are not found.
Next 2007
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at a motel next to the Grand Canyon, but the frogs are not found there.
The Red Pony 1949
We see a bullfrog but hear the sound of a Pacific Treefrog.
The Wicker Man 1973
We see a small toad on an island in Scotland but we hear a Pacific Treefrog calling.
Black Rain 1989
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in a vineyard outside Osaka, Japan, far from where they are found.
In the Mouth of Madness - 1994
Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in New Hampshire.
The Outsiders 1983
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in Oklahoma where they are not found.
Tarzan the Ape Man 1981
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in Africa where they are not found.
Salvador 1986
We hear a Pacific Treefrog call when we see a Cane Toad.
Sicario: Day of the Soldado 2018
It's 2018 but sound designers are still using Pacific Treefrog calls in the wrong location - in this case, it's the Rio Grande River in south Texas.
She Demons 1958
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling on an uncharted tropical island where they shouldn't be found.
Father Goose 1964
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling on a small island off the coast of New Guinea where they are not found.
The Rose Tattoo 1955
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling near New Orleans where there aren't found.
Cat Chaser 1988
Pacific Treefrogs call in Florida thousands of miles from where they live.
Gold of the Amazon Women 1979
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in the Amazon Jungle where they are not found.
Railroaded! 1947
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in Pittsburgh where they are not found. (no location mentioned, but police report for the killer says his residence is Pittsburgh)
The Long Riders 1980
We hear a few solo Pacific Treefrog calls when a gang of bank robbers is next to a large river in Missouri. There are no Pacific Treefrogs in Missouri.
Terms of Endearment 1983
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling near a backyard pool in Houston where they are not found.
Friday the 13th 1980
The very first thing heard in the movie is Pacific Treefrogs calling at night at a lake in New Jersey but there are no Pacific Treefrogs in New Jersey.
No Mercy 1986
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at a swamp near New Orleans but that's more than a thousand miles from where they live.
Blue Sky 1994
Pacific Treefrogs call night and day at an Army base in Alabama but there are no such frogs there.
Big Bad Mama 1974
Filmed in California but supposed to be East Texas, we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night, even though they are not found in Texas.
The Sea Hawk 1940
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at a swamp in Panama where they are not found.
The Horse Whisperer 1998
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in the part of Montana where they aren't found.
Treasure Island 1990
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling day and night on Treasure Island, which is not near the west coast of North America, so the frogs would not be found there.
Love in the Time of Cholera 2007
We hear distant Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in Columbia where they are not found.
Memoirs of a Geisha 2005
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night several times in Japan where they are not found.
Dark Waters 1944
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in Louisiana where they are not found.
Rachel, Rachel 1968
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in Connecticut where they are not found.
The Hallelujah Trail 1965
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night at a swamp in Colorado where they are not found.
Ladyhawke 1985
We hear a Pacific Treefrog calling in the woods in Medieval Europe where there are no Pacific Treefrogs.
Dishonored Lady 1947
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in the country somewhere near New York City but they are not found there.
Whistle Stop 1946
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in the woods outside a town that is near Detroit where there are no Pacific Treefrogs.
The Godfather 1972
Pacific Treefrogs are found only in western North America, but we hear them calling on Michael Corleone's wedding night in Sicily.
ET - The Extraterrestrial 1982
We hear leopard frogs that are going to be dissected in a grade school classroom making the sound of a Pacific Treefrog. Leopard frogs make an entirely different sound.
Apocalypse Now 1979
Pacific Treefrogs are only found in North America, but we hear them calling a couple of times from a river in Viet Nam. (After the Charlie Don't surf segment when they leave the boat to hunt for mangos and encounter the tiger. Then later at the bridge.)
Down By Law 1986
There are no Pacific Treefrogs in Louisiana, but we hear them calling in a swamp there.
The Longest Day 1962
There are no Pacific Treefrogs in France, but we hear them calling at night at the start during the Normandy Invasion.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle 2017
There are no Pacific Treefrogs in the jungles of Cambodia, but we hear them calling there at the headquarters of an international drug cartel.
Call Me By Your Name 2017
There are no Pacific Treefrogs in Italy, and they wouldn't be calling in the middle of Summer, but they are in this movie.
Swiss Family Robinson 1960
Night at tree house on Island on the way to New Guinea
Mississippi Masala 1991
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at a bayou in Mississippi where they don't belong.
Flawless 2007
We hear a few Pacific Treefrogs calling at night from a rich man's balcony in London where they don't exist.
Amelia 2009
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night at an airport in New Jersey where they don't belong.
As You Like It 2006
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling day and night around ponds in Japan where they are not found.
A Midsummer Night's Dream 1999
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in the woods in Italy, where they are not found. (Village of Monte Athena, according to opening announcement.)
The Last House on the Left 1972
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling day and night from a rural area north of New York City thousands of miles from where the frogs are found.
White Zombie 1932
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in Haiti thousands of miles from where they are found.
The Gingerbread Man 1998
Georgia has more than 30 species of frogs with an amazing variety of calls, but when they wanted us to hear frogs calling at night around a pond in Georgia, the sound designers of this movie decided to use the sounds of Pacific Treefrogs, which aren't found anywhere near Georgia.
The Thin Red Line 1998
This film was nominated for an Academy Award for best sound, which it certainly deserved because the mix of sound effects and music was outstanding. Nevertheless, we hear some Pacific Treefrog calling sounds in several places on the island of Guadalcanal where the frogs are not found.
Rumble Fish 1983
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night next to a river that runs into the ocean in a city somewhere outside of California that has to be east of the Rocky Mountains, where Pacific Treefrogs are not found.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 1937
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling outside the 7 dwarfs' cottage at night. The film takes place in an animated universe where anything is possible, but the original fairy tale is German, so I'm considering Germany or Europe to be the location of this story. Pacific Treefrogs are not found in Germany or anywhere in Europe.
Kelly's Heroes 1970
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in France during WWII. Pacific Treefrogs are not found in France.
Ghost in the Shell 2017
We briefly hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in a walled garden in the middle of a large Asian city. Pacific Treefrogs do not occur in Asia.
One False Move 1992
In Star City Arkansas we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling but they are not found in Arkansas.
The Beguiled 1971
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling several times at a seminary for young ladies in a Southern state during the Civil War. Pacific Treefrogs are only found on the western part of the continent.
Prince of Tides 1991
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling during the opening aerial shot of an island in South Carolina where there are no Pacific Treefrogs.
Brainstorm 1983
We hear Pacific Treefrog calling at night at a house in North Carolina where there are no Pacific Treefrogs.
Samson and Delilah 1949
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night at an oasis in Israel where there are no Pacific Treefrogs.
Orlando 1992
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling outdoors at night in England at Orlando's home after she has returned there from living in the Middle East. Pacific Treefrogs are not found in England.
Contact 1997
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling outdoors at night at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico where the frogs do not occur. (also Coqui frogs are heard)
The Conjuring 2013
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night outside a haunted farm house by a lake in Rhode Island where there are no Pacific Treefrogs. (In the beginning we hear Pacific Treefrogs - later we hear gray tree frogs and other more location appropriate sounds.)
A New Leaf 1971
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night near New York City where there are no Pacific Treefrogs.
The Bridges of Madison County 1995
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night at a bridge in Madison County Iowa, where there are no Pacific Treefrogs.
The Mummy Returns 2001
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night outside a country mansion in England, where there are no Pacific Treefrogs.
Public Enemies 2009
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in the woods at night in Wisconsin, where there are no Pacific Treefrogs.
Houseboat 1958
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at a houseboat on a river outside of Washington DC.
A Soldier’s Story 1984
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at a swamp in Louisiana.
Weird Science 1985
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night somewhere in Illinois.
The Devil-Doll 1936
The movie begins with Pacific Treefrogs calling at night somewhere near Devil's Island prison in South America where there are no Pacific Treefrogs.
Queen of the Amazons 1947
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in an African jungle where there are no Pacific Treefrogs.
White Huntress 1954
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling night and day in the forest in Kenya. Pacific Treefrogs are not found in Africa.
Mad Love 1935
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in Paris, where there are no Pacific Treefrogs.
It's a Wonderful World 1946
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night at a boat dock and at a lake, both somewhere in New York State, where the frogs are not found.
Lilith 1964
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling during the daytime at lake in Maryland where there are no Pacific Treefrogs.
Come Live With Me 1941
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night from somewhere in the country about a two hour drive from New York City, where there are no Pacific Treefrogs.
White Cargo 1942
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night next to a river in Africa where there are no Pacific Treefrogs.
The Mystery of the Wax Museum 1933
We see a bullfrog in a basement that makes the sound of a pacific tree frog
Hotel New Hampshire 1984
We hear Pacific tree frogs calling at night on Halloween in New Hampshire.
Lust For Gold 1949
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night somewhere east of Phoenix, where the frogs are not found.
Lady From Shanghai 1948
When the crew is going for a picnic in rowboats through a jungle we hear them.
Dementia 13 – 1963
Calling at night in Ireland
Black Sabbath 1963
Calling at night outside apartment in segment 2 the telephone, but the location is not established. Calling at night outside a house in the country somewhere in Europe in segment three the Wurdalak.
The Lusty Men 1952
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night at a rodeo site in Tucson.
Tarzan and the Leopard Woman 1946
Calling in "Zambezi" Africa during daylight.
Medicine Man 1992
Call in the Amazon forest
Jungle Book 1942
Pacific Treefrogs calling in India
Bomba and the Jungle Girl 1952
Pacific Treefrogs calling in African Jungle
Braveheart 1995
Pacific Treefrogs are calling on the wedding night
Labyrinth 1986
Calling as they walk around swamp in fantasy land of the goblins. In one scene green tree frogs are also calling.
The Kings of Summer 2013
Pacific Treefrogs heard twice. takes place in Tottenville. filmed in several locations in Ohio and one in North Carolina
The Phenix City Story 1955
Calling at night from a river in Alabama
Madame Bovary 1949.
Pacific Treefrogs call at night in village of Yonville, France
Lure of the Wilderness 1952
Pacific Treefrogs call at night in the Okeefenokee swamp
Swamp Water 1941
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling almost continuously night and day in the Okeefenokee swamp where there are no Pacific Treefrogs.
Tourist Trap 1979
This was filmed in California but the mention of water moccasins and the sounds of Spring Peepers makes the setting somewhere in the east. But the frog sounds are all mixed up - first we hear only peepers, then a mix of peepers and Pacific Treefrogs which are not found anywhere near the peepers, then we hear only Pacific Treefrogs.
Murder by Death 1976
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night outside the country estate, but we don't know where it is. It could be within their range.
Rio Lobo 1970
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night by a river somewhere in the east where the Civil War was being fought, but the frogs are not found anywhere near there.
Libeled Lady 1936
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night on a lake somewhere near New York City, far out of range for these frogs.
The Judge 2014
Pacific Treefrogs are heard calling at night in Indiana where they are not found.
Bride of the Gorilla 1951
Pacific Treefrogs are calling constantly night and day in the Amazon.
The Serpent and the Rainbow 1987
Pacific Treefrogs call at night in Haiti, thousands of miles from their natural range.
Hot Saturday 1932
Pacific Treefrogs call at night from a lake in Ohio where the frogs are not found. The location of the lake in the story is never specifically mentioned (Lake Arrowhead in California is the actual location) but the marriage license we see on screen shows that the female protagonist lives in Cottonwood Grove, Ohio. (The opening of the film calls the town Marysville.)
Road to Zanzibar 1941
Pacific Treefrogs call at night somewhere in Africa far from where they are found.
The Frisco Kid 1979
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in the daytime when Gene Wilder crosses a creek somewhere between Pennsylvania and Ohio, far from the native range of these frogs.
Red Dust 1932
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at Clark Gable's rubber plantation in southern Vietnam which is way across the great garbage patch from where they live.
The Rains of Ranchipur 1955
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in India, halfway around the world from where they occur.
Born to the West (Hell Town) 1937
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night somewhere in Wyoming. They are not found east of the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming.
The Southerner 1945
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in the evening somewhere in the cotton growing region of the South, far from where they occur.
The Mask of Fu Manchu 1932
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night somewhere in China.
Chandu the Magician 1932
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling from the Nile in Egypt.
Wind Across the Everglades 1958
We hear Pacific Treefrogs call at night in the Everglades, thousands of miles from where they are found.
Shalako 1968
Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in Apache country in New Mexico
The Reptile 1966
Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in England.
Ride Lonesome 1959
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling by a river at night somewhere in Arizona where they don't occur. (They are so faint in the background that it's possible they were actually calling in the background when the dialogue was recorded since the film was made in the Owens Valley.)
The Tall Texan 1953
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in several scenes by a creek in New Mexico where there are no Pacific Treefrogs.
Ulzana's Raid 1972
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in several scenes which take place in Chiricahua Apache country in Arizona where there are no Pacific Treefrogs.
The Perils of Pauline 1933
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in the African Jungle, thousands of miles from where they are found.
Duel In The Sun 1946
Frogs call in the evening at a swimming hole in Texas where the frogs are not found.
Swamp Women 1956
Frogs are calling for most of the movie - in a Louisiana swamp.
Hang 'em High 1968
Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in two scenes - takes place in Oklahoma.
The Horse Soldiers 1959
As Union soldiers descend into a swamp in Mississippi, we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling along with many other exaggerated sound effects. Pacific Treefrogs are not found in Mississippi.
The Great Santini 1979
When a boy jumps into the water to escape some angry bees at night in South Carolina, we hear a chorus of Pacific Treefrogs calling. Pacific Treefrogs are not found in South Carolina.
The Defiant Ones 1958
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling several times when two convicts are travelling at night through a swampy area somewhere in the South. Pacific Treefrogs are not found anywhere in the South.
Fort Apache 1948
Pacific Treefrogs are heard at night at fort in Arizona Territory where they are not found.
Maverick 1994
Next to a stream at night somewhere in the west less than 4 days ride from St. Louis, we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling. This location has to be outside the range of the Pacific Treefrog.
Women in Cages 1971
We hear a chorus of Pacific Treefrogs at night outside a prison in the Philippines. Pacific Treefrogs are not found in the Philippines.
The Yearling 1946
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling during daytime at a swamp when they're chasing a bear, near the family cabin next to their flooded ruined crops in daytime, and at night as they ride home from town.
Body and Soul 1947
The film opens with Pacific Treefrogs calling at night at a boxer's outdoor training ring a short drive outside of New York City. Pacific Treefrogs are not found within at least a thousand miles of New York City.
Song of Songs 1933
When Dietrich and her boyfriend stop at a lake which is supposed to be near Berlin, we hear some single warm-up chirps of Pacific Treefrogs that were probably natural background sounds at the California location that were recorded with the dialogue because they are few and inconsistent. Nevertheless, Pacific Treefrogs are not found in Germany.
Telefon 1977
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night outside a bar in a fictional town named Halderville which is supposed to be somewhere in the Texas countryside. Pacific Treefrogs are not found in Texas.
The Deadly Companions 1961
When the main characters in the movie are camped at night next to a body of water somewhere in Apache country, most likely Arizona where it was filmed, we hear one or two Pacific Treefrogs calling. Pacific Treefrogs are not found anywhere in Apache country.
Nevada Smith 1966
At a campfire at night we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling. The film was made in The Eastern Sierra Nevada and Owens Valley, but the location was supposed to be a mining area in Texas or maybe Oklahoma, somewhere near where the Native American Kiowa people lived. Pacific Treefrogs are not found in that area.
The Big Doll House 1971
At the prison gate at night in the Philippines we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling. Pacific Treefrogs are not found in the Philippines.
Night at the Museum 2006
When we see Lewis and Clark and Sacajawea we hear Pacific Treefrogs. But we don't know where they're supposed to be. It could be in WA, ID, or MT where the frogs occur.
Snake People 1971
At the beginning and throughout the movie at night we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling. On Korbai, Island of the Snakes, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
There Was a Crooked Man 1970
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in Arizona where they are not found.
Nightmare Alley 1947
The film takes place in Chicago and at carnivals in the area. In one scene we see several vagrants drinking alcohol below a wooden railroad bridge and hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in the background. Pacific Treefrogs are not found in the Midwest.
Holes 2003
At the top of a mountain called God's Thumb in Texas there is a pond where we hear pacific tree frogs calling.
Lonesome Dove 1989
We hear Pacific Treefrog sounds at night outside a saloon in Lonesome Dove in south Texas, and also at night somewhere in east Texas. Pacific Treefrogs are not found anywhere in Texas.
Band of the Hand 1986
Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in the Everglades.
You Only Live Once 1937
Henry Fonda and his new wife are honeymooning outside their hotel room at night somewhere in a rural area outside a big city. We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling, but when we see several frogs, which are supposed to be the ones calling, we see American Bullfrogs, not Pacific Treefrogs. We don't know exactly where they are, but they must be somewhere on the east coast where Pacific Treefrogs do not occur, because they had the option to get on a boat to Havana and they were trying to cross the Canadian border. It could have been Washington State, but it's very unlikely they could catch a boat to Cuba from there in 1936.
Live and Let Die 1973
We hear them calling on the Caribbean island of San Monique After James Bond hang glides onto the grounds of a protected cliff top mansion and a few times after that. We also hear them calling in Louisiana.
Ghost in the Shell 2.0 (revision of 1995 film)
Set somewhere in Japan (although that is not specified.) During a night scene at the end we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling.
Salaam Bombay 1988
Set in Bombay, India. At night, we hear a single calling frog, seems to be a Pacific Treefrog.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 2001
Set somewhere in England, we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling.
The New World 2005
Set in Virginia. Although most of the natural sounds used appear to be very accurate in the film, including some beautiful sound design using native bird and frog calls (even though the frogs are calling in daylight in the summer) but we also hear some Pacific Treefrog under the end of the credits.
Wanda 1970
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night from somewhere in Pennsylvania. We don't know where, but it is near a coal mining area, so most likely on the east coast. Scranton Police car/filmed much in Scranton
The Searchers 1956
John Wayne and some men are sneaking up on an Indian camp at night next to a small pond of water somewhere in Texas (which to Ford means Monument Valley) and we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling.
Charlie Varrick 1973
Somewhere in New Mexico at night. We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling.
Hud 1963
Set in rural West Texas. When they went out at night Pacific Treefrogs were calling.
The Lady Eve 1941
Set in Connecticut. During night scenes outside mansion we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling.
The Last Picture Show 1971
Set in West Texas. At night, driving by a lake, we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling.
Treasure of the Sierra Madre 1948
Set in the mountains of Mexico. During night scenes we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling.
Palm Beach Story 1942
Set in Florida. During a night scene in Palm Beach we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling.
Witness 1985
Set in Amish country in the Northeast. At night we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling along with other frog sounds.
It Happened One Night 1934
When a bus stops in the country somewhere between Florida and NY at night we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling.
The Last Legion 2007
The setting is unclear but probably England. At night we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling.
The Tree of Life 2001
Takes place in Waco Texas but several times we hear Pacific Treefrog choruses. They were accurate in the depiction of other herps from the area - a gulf coast toad and a Texas alligator lizard.
Badlands 1973
We hear Pacific Treefrog choruses in daytime near a river in South Dakota.
Gilda 1946
In Buenos Aires, Argentina, at night we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling.
To Kill A Mockingbird 1962
Set in Alabama. At night we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling.
Body Heat 1981
During a heat wave in Florida we hear lots of Pacific Treefrogs along with Pig frogs and other natives which are also used in some places.
Leaves of Grass 2009
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at a lake in Oklahoma where Edward Norton is watching Keri Russel noodling.
Out of Site 1998
During a night scene at Glades prison in Florida during a prison break, we hear a small chorus of Pacific Treefrogs.
Suspicion 1941
Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine stop outside her house at night somewhere in England and we hear a chorus of Pacific Treefrogs.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind 1977
At the beginning of the film, at night, when small flying saucers are being seen we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? 2000
Everett and Delmar wake up on the banks of a stream and find only Pete's clothing spread out on the ground as if he evaporated. A leopard frog crawls out of Pete's clothing and Delmar thinks it's Pete who has been turned into a "toad" as they continue to call it throughout the movie. As it hops into the water it croaks like a Pacific Treefrog. Delmar catches it and keeps it in a box until Big Dan the bible salesman Cyclops squashes the frog in his hand and throws it at a tree.
Miracle Of Morgan's Creek 1944
Frog chorus heard at night from the front porch and street in the town of Morgan's Creek and outside of town, in an unknown state in the Midwest. At one point, the daughter tells her father she hears a siren and he tells her it's a "tree toad."
A Shot in the Dark -1964
Peter Sellers as inspector Clouseau. We hear Pacific Treefrogs several times during night scenes at a millionaire's mansion in Paris.
Jacob's Ladder 1990
Opening scene at night - helicopters flying over the Mekong Delta in Viet Nam - chorus of Pacific Treefrogs.
Shane 1953
Night scenes in Wyoming at a homestead next to river – Pacific Treefrogs calling at night in distance. They don't occur in Wyoming.
Stalker 1979
The Writer and the Scientist have just snuck into the Zone with the help of the Stalker. It is morning near water when we hear a few Pacific Treefrogs calling, with encounter calls. We hear them once again in daylight when they are farther into the Zone.
Red River1948
John Wayne and Walter Brennan camp next to the Red River on the Texas/Oklahoma border. At night we hear a chorus of Pacific Treefrogs. We hear them later at night when the cattle drive gets back to the Red River and when they are camped in Oklahoma.
The Stranger 1946
Pacific Treefrogs are heard calling at night in the woods near a small town in Connecticut where they are not found.
The Big Red One 1980
At night in Czechoslovakia in a forest we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling.
Monsieur Verdoux 1947
At a house somewhere in France at night, the maid opens a window and we hear the sound of a few Pacific Treefrogs for a few seconds.
Return of the Secaucus Seven 1980
Pacific Treefrogs are heard at night in many scenes. Filmed and probably set in New Hampshire (we are never told.)
Inherit the Wind 1960
At night in the town of "Hillsboro" when the preacher is giving a speech we hear Pacific Treefrogs in the background. The film is based on the Scopes Monkey trial which took place in Dayton, Tennessee, so I assume Hillsboro is supposed to be in Tennessee.
12 years a slave 2013
At night on a plantation in Georgia, when Solomon goes outside to write a letter we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling.
Frogs 1972
We hear lots of Pacific Treefrogs calling near a lake in Florida. We see Giant toads calling like tree frogs, with the calls synced to the movement of the toads' throats as they are breathing to make it look like they're calling.
Django Unchained 2012
Uses location-accurate frog calls in some places - green tree frogs, cricket frogs, maybe some spring peepers, but there are some Pacific Treefrogs at one point.
Days of Heaven 1978
In the Texas panhandle we see a leopard frog from behind and we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling. Shame on you Terrence Mallick! Then we hear more calling as we see elk feeding in a wetland. Later we hear spring peepers or streakers out of range, and leopard frogs. We see some type of grouse or quail and hear a California quail.
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring 2003
South Korean film from director Ki-duk Kim. Pacific Treefrogs are heard at night near an isolated lake somewhere in Korea.
Stray Dog 1949
We hear a chorus of Pacific Treefrogs calling loudly at night at a detective's home in the country near Tokyo, Japan. Pacific Treefrogs are not found in Japan.
The Hunger Games 2012
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in the background in the countryside during the games. The location is not mentioned, but it is not apparently the west coast.
The Holy Mountain 1973
We see a large rancid frog hopping and making the "ribbit" sound of the Pacific Treefrogs. A man holds up a Cane Toad dressed as a Spanish monk and we hear a Pacific Treefrog call.
Venomous 2001
We see a female bullfrog and hear a Pacific Treefrog calling. Then, spoiler alert, one of the mutant killer rattlesnakes gets it.
Friendly Persuasion 1956
Gary Cooper and his family are Quakers who live on a farm in southern Indiana. At night we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling.
The Asphalt Jungle 1950
This is an excellent caper movie that takes place in a "middle western" city. The opening is shot in Cincinnati, Ohio, and at the end a character is driving to Cleveland, and another to Kentucky, so Cincinnati is the likely location. When a character is seen dumping a body in a large river at night, we hear Pacific Treefrogs calling. Pacific Treefrogs do not occur in Ohio.
Kansas City Confidential 1952
A thug on a getaway truck that drove from Kansas City jumps off at night and we hear Pacific Treefrogs.
Jezebel 1938
Bette Davis won an Oscar for this role. We see Bette Davis walking through a swamp at night somewhere near New Orleans, and we hear a single Pacific Treefrog Calling in a loop. After a series of calls, there is an unnatural sound as if the frog was cut off in mid call, making it obvious that it's repeated over and over. Pacific Treefrogs are not found in Louisiana.
The Life of Emile Zola 1937
At night in Paris Emile Zola chases after a woman who jumped into the Seine. We hear Pacific Treefrogs in the background when he talks to a homeless man. Pacific Treefrogs are not found in France.
Monkey Business 1931
Harpo has a frog under his top hat. We hear the call of a Pacific Treefrog. It jumps out once and is much too large for a Pacific Treefrog.
The Prisoner of Zenda 1937
Zenda is a country somewhere in Europe. We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night at a castle on a lake in the country.
Alligator People 1958
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling at night several times from a swamp in Louisiana.
Sounder 1972
Takes place in the South. We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in a swamp somewhere in the South where the frogs are not found.
The Tender Warrior 1971
We see a bullfrog in Georgia but we hear the sounds of a Pacific Treefrog, which is not found there.
Forrest Gump 1994
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in Alabama where they are not found.
CODA 2021
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in Massachusetts where they are not found.
The Shawshank Redemption 1994
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in Maine where they are not found.
The House on Skull Mountain 1974
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in Georgia where they are not found.
Drunken Master 1978
We Hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in China where they are not found.
The Killer 2023
We hear lots of Pacific Treefrogs calling in Florida, thousands of miles from where they are found.
Leave the World Behind 2023
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling on Long Island, New York, where they are not found.
The Devonsville Terror 1983
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in New England where they are not found.
Along Came a Spider 2001
We hear Pacific Treefrogs calling in Virginia where they are not found.
NIghtmare 1956
We hear Pacific Treefrogs in the country outside New Orleans, where they are not found.