History Main / RecognizableBySound

* In ''Film/TheHuntForRedOctober'', throughout the movie, Mancuso's sonarman Seaman Jones can recognize a ''lot'' of things by sound. When he first hears ''Red October'' approaching, he guesses that she's a ''Typhoon''-class sub, and the computer confirms this. Later on, after ''Red October'' disappears with her new silent propulsion system, he hears what the computer identifies as a "magma displacement" and figures that the sound is actually artificial. This allows him to put two and two together and figure out about the new silent propulsion system and how to track ''Red October''. When Captain Mancuso and some of his men boardd the titular Russian sub to accept Captain Ramius' defection, a torpedo wooshes overhead; Jones can tell from the pitch that it's Russian.
* In the first ''Film/{{Pirates of the Caribbean|TheCurseOfTheBlackPearl}}'' movie, Jack is in prison when the Black Pearl opens fire on the town. He immediately sits up: "I know those guns."
* Detective Eddie Valiant and Roger Rabbit are attempting to escape from the weasels by stealing the weasels' police van in ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit''. A voice from the containment area of the van pleas for freedom: "Hey, you weasels, let me outta here!" Roger Rabbit recognizes the voice and replies, "Bennie, is that you?" The sarcastic response is, "No, it's Eleanor Roosevelt! C'mon, Roger, let me outta here!"
* In ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'', Leia has just freed Han from carbon-freeze, but before they can get anywhere, they hear a slow, low-pitched EvilLaugh. Han mutters, "I know that laugh." Cue Jabba the Hutt.
* In ''Film/GoldenEye'', once Film/JamesBond does a ClickHello on Valentin, he freezes into place while showing to recognize where the DramaticGunCock came from ("Walther PPK. 7.65mm. Only three men I know use such a gun; I believe I've killed two of them.").
* In ''Film/{{Dune|1984}}'', Paul has his back turned to the door when Thufir, Gurney and Dr. Yeuh come in his room. He identifies the three based on the sounds of their footprints.
-->'''Thufir:''' Those sounds could be imitated.
-->'''Paul:''' I'd know the difference.

* Each person sounds different, even when they making the same movements, like walking or breathing. This is how blind people are capable of recognizing an individual even without hearing them talk.

* Damian has a good ear for voices. After only meeting Tim briefly before (and setting off an explosion during that brief meeting), he's able to recognize Tim's voice from a single short sentence when Damian breaks into the Batcave in the ''ComicBook/RobinSeries''. Damian can also mimic voices incredibly well.