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Alan Smithee

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Template:Short description Template:For Alan Smithee (also Allen Smithee) is an official pseudonym used by film directors who wish to disown a project. Coined by the Directors Guild of America in 1968 and used until it was largely discontinued in 2000,<ref name="LATimes" /> it was the sole pseudonym used by DGA members when directors, dissatisfied with the final product, proved to the satisfaction of a guild panel that they had not been able to exercise creative control over a film. The director was also required by guild rules not to discuss the circumstances leading to the move or even to acknowledge being the project's director.<ref name="directedby">Template:Cite book</ref> The Alan Smithee credit has also been adopted for direction credit disputes in television, music videos and other media.

History

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Before 1968, DGA rules did not permit directors to be credited under a pseudonym. This was intended to prevent producers from forcing them upon directors, which would inhibit the development of their résumés.<ref name="LATimes" /> The guild also required that the director be credited, in support of the auteur theory, which posits that the director is the primary creative force behind a film.<ref name="directedby" />

The Smithee pseudonym was created for use on the film Death of a Gunfighter, released in 1969. During its filming, lead actor Richard Widmark was unhappy with director Robert Totten and arranged to have him replaced by Don Siegel. Siegel later estimated that he had spent 9 to 10 days filming, while Totten had spent 25 days. Each had roughly an equal amount of footage in Siegel's final edit, but Siegel made clear that Widmark had effectively been in charge the entire time.<ref name="directedby" /> When the film was finished, Siegel did not want to take the credit for it and Totten refused to take credit in his place. The DGA panel hearing the dispute agreed that the film did not represent either director's creative vision.<ref name="LATimes" />

The original proposal was to credit the fictional "Al Smith". However, the name was deemed too common and was already in use within the film industry. The last name was first changed to "Smithe", then "Smithee",<ref name="LATimes" /> which was thought to be distinctive enough to avoid confusion with similar names but without drawing attention to itself.<ref name="directedby" /> Critics praised the film and its "new" director, with The New York Times commenting that the film was "sharply directed by Allen Smithee who has an adroit facility for scanning faces and extracting sharp background detail,"<ref>Thompson, Howard (May 10, 1969). "Screen: Tough Western: 'Death of a Gunfighter' Stars Widmark" The New York Times [1]</ref> and Roger Ebert commenting, "Director Allen Smithee, a name I'm not familiar with, allows his story to unfold naturally."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Following its coinage, the pseudonym "Alan Smithee" was applied retroactively to Fade In (also known as Iron Cowboy), a film starring Burt Reynolds and directed by Jud Taylor, which was first released before the release of Death of a Gunfighter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Taylor also requested the pseudonym for City in Fear (1980) with David Janssen. Taylor commented on its use when he received the DGA's Robert B. Aldrich Achievement Award in 2003:

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The spelling "Alan Smithee" became standard; the Internet Movie Database lists about two dozen feature films and many more television features and series episodes credited to this name.<ref name="Alan Smithee">Template:IMDb name.</ref> A persistent urban legend suggests that this particular spelling was chosen because it is an anagram of the phrase "the alias men"; however, this is apocryphal.

Over the years the name and its purpose became more widely known. Some directors violated the embargo on discussing their use of the pseudonym. In 1997, the film An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn was released. In the film, a man named Alan Smithee (played by Eric Idle) wishes to disavow a film he directed, but is unable to do so because the only pseudonym he is permitted to use is his own name. The film was directed by Arthur Hiller, who reported to the DGA that producer Joe Eszterhas had interfered with his creative control. He successfully removed his own name from the film, so Alan Smithee was credited instead. The film was a commercial and critical failure, released in only 19 theaters, grossing only $45,779 in the United States with a budget of about $10 million.<ref name="burnmojo">Template:Cite web</ref> Rotten Tomatoes reports an aggregate critical rating of only 8% positive.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The film was nominated for eight Golden Raspberry Awards at the following year's ceremony. It won five awards, including Worst Picture. The harsh negative publicity that surrounded the film drew unwanted mainstream attention to the pseudonym. Following this, the DGA retired the name; for the film Supernova (2000), dissatisfied director Walter Hill was instead credited as "Thomas Lee",<ref name="LATimes">Template:Cite news</ref> and Accidental Love director, David O. Russell, left the product credited to Stephen Greene.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Meanwhile, the name had been used outside of the film industry. It continues to be used in other media and on film projects not under the purview of the DGA. Although the pseudonym was intended for use by directors, the Internet Movie Database lists several uses as writer credits as well.<ref name="Alan Smithee" /> Variations of the name have also occasionally been used, such as "Alan Smithee and Alana Smithy" (screenwriters for the 2011 film Hidden 3D).

Uses

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Historical uses of the "Alan Smithee" credit (or equivalent), in chronological order:

Film direction

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Template:More citations needed section The following films credit "Smithee"; the actual director is listed when known.

Film Year Director Notes Reference
Fade In 1968 Jud Taylor Also called Iron Cowboy; shown in previews with Taylor credited, then shelved; issued in 1973 with "Allen Smithee" credited as director. <ref name="auto">Template:Cite book</ref>
Death of a Gunfighter 1969 Robert Totten and Don Siegel (separately) Credited to "Allen Smithee". <ref name="auto" />
The Barking Dog 1978 Unknown <ref name="auto" />
Gypsy Angels 1980 Unknown <ref name="auto" />
City in Fear 1980 Jud Taylor
Fun and Games 1980 Paul Bogart <ref>Template:IMDb title</ref>
Student Bodies 1981 Mickey Rose Produced by Michael Ritchie under the pseudonym
Twilight Zone: The Movie 1983 Anderson House Second Assistant Director Anderson House used the pseudonym for the first segment, in which actor Vic Morrow and two children were killed in a helicopter accident during production. This represents a rare instance where the "Alan Smithee" credit was taken by an assistant director. <ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Dune 1984 David Lynch Used only for the version as extended and edited for broadcast television. In addition to the "Smithee" directing credit, for the broadcast TV version Lynch's screenwriting credit goes to "Judas Booth" (a reference to Judas Iscariot and John Wilkes Booth). <ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Appointment with Fear 1985 Ramsey Thomas <ref name="auto" />
Stitches 1985 Rod Holcomb <ref name="auto" />
Let's Get Harry 1986 Stuart Rosenberg <ref name="auto" />
Morgan Stewart's Coming Home 1987 Paul Aaron and Terry Windsor <ref name="auto" />
Ghost Fever 1987 Lee Madden <ref name="auto" />
I Love N.Y. 1987 Gianni Bozzacchi <ref name="auto" />
Gunhed 1989 Masato Harada Used for the re-edited TV release in the United States
Catchfire 1990 Dennis Hopper Originally released in theaters as Smithee. A subsequent video release under the title Backtrack was Hopper's intended "director's cut", for which he received credit. <ref name="auto" />
The Shrimp on the Barbie 1990 Michael Gottlieb <ref name="auto" />
Solar Crisis 1990 Richard C. Sarafian <ref name="auto" />
The Guardian 1990 William Friedkin Credited to "Alan Von Smithee" only for the version as edited for cable television
Bloodsucking Pharaohs in Pittsburgh 1991 Dean Tschetter <ref name="auto" />
The Nutt House 1992 Adam Rifkin Used by writers Scott Spiegel (as Peter Perkinson), Bruce Campbell (as R.O.C. Sandstorm), Ivan Raimi (as Alan Smithee Sr.), and Sam Raimi (as Alan Smithee Jr.) <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Scent of a Woman 1992 Martin Brest Used for the version edited for in-flight viewing
Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence 1993 William Lustig <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Rudy 1993 David Anspaugh Used for the re-edited TV release
The Birds II: Land's End 1994 Rick Rosenthal
The Journey Inside 1994 Barnaby Jackson <ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
National Lampoon's Senior Trip 1995 Kelly Makin Alan Smithee is credited onscreen as the director of a pornographic video featured briefly in the film, "Forrest Humps"
Raging Angels 1995 Unknown
Smoke n Lightnin 1995 Unknown <ref name="auto" />
Heat 1995 Michael Mann Used for the re-edited TV release
Hellraiser: Bloodline 1996 Kevin Yagher <ref name="auto" />
Exit 1996 Ric Roman Waugh <ref name="auto" />
Dilemma 1997 Eric Larsen and Eric Louzil <ref name="auto" />
Le Zombi de Cap-Rouge 1997 Simon Robideaux <ref name="auto" />
Sub Down 1997 Gregg Champion <ref name="auto" />
An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn 1997 Arthur Hiller <ref name="auto" />
Picture of Priority 1998 Unknown <ref name="auto" />
Meet Joe Black 1998 Martin Brest Used for the version edited for in-flight viewing and cable television
Wadd: The Life & Times of John C. Holmes 1998 Cass Paley
The Coroner 1999 Brian Katkin and Juan A. Mas <ref name="auto" />
The Insider 1999 Michael Mann Used for the version edited for television
River Made to Drown In 1999 James Merendino
Woman Wanted 1999 Kiefer Sutherland <ref name="auto" />
The Disciples 2000 Kirk Wong <ref name="auto" />
In the Wrong Hands 2002 Chris Johnston and James A. Seale <ref name="auto" />
Fugitives Run 2003 Philip Spink <ref name="auto" />
Eep! (Dutch: Iep!) 2010 Rita Horst Credited as Ellen Smith, the only time a Dutch director asked for this credit. Ellen is a Dutch name that is pronounced similarly to Alan.
Another Night of the Living Dead 2011 Unknown
Old 37 2015 Christian Winters <ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:IMDb title</ref>
Anatar 2023 Lorenzo Dante Zanoni <ref>Template:IMDb title</ref>

Television direction

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Music video direction

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Other media

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  • Daredevil #338–342, a comics series published by Marvel Comics: Writer D. G. Chichester learned during a brief break from the series that he was to be replaced. For the five issues he was obligated to write, Chichester demanded an Alan Smithee credit.
  • Team X 2000, a one-shot comic published by Marvel Comics, is credited to two writers. One being Sean Ruffner, the other being credited as "A. Smithee," is also believed to be D.G. Chichester.
  • Strontium Dog, a 2000AD comic strip: In 1996, writer Peter Hogan was dropped from the series and his episodes rewritten, and demanded that his name be removed from the credits.
  • Marine Sharpshooter 4, a first-person shooter game, had Alan Smithee listed as the Art Director.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Alan Smithee was credited as the director and included in the title of three adult movies in the early 2000s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • A comical teaser for the video game Metal Gear Solid 4 shown at E3 2005 has a director's chair labeled "Alan Smithee" as the director of the name before falls off, being replaced by co-writer Shuyo Murata's name as Murata sits on the chair. The chair was ultimately changed again to display Hideo Kojima's name as Solid Snake sits on it however. This is a reference to Kojima's negative attitude towards directing the series and how he felt he had to keep directing it in spite of this. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • In the loose-leaf 1990s run of Who's Who in the DC Universe, the art for Elasti-Girl is partially credited to Alan Smithee.
  • Equinox, a video game released by Sony Imagesoft for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1993, credits Alan Smithee as director.
  • The series premiere of Anatole, "Anatole's Parisian Adventure", credits Alan Smithee as the writer.
  • NHL Hitz 2003, a 2002 video game released by Midway for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube, credits Alan Smithee as the color commentator.
  • 2007 Issue of Inside Tennis magazine in place of the usual Art Director spot of the masthead.
  • In the making-of documentary about the production and release of 12 Monkeys, director Terry Gilliam draws a doodle illustrating his frustration at unexpectedly poor test screening surveys, then decides the drawing is not up to his usual standards and so signs it 'Alan Smithee', explaining the history of the name as he does so.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • In the game Fire Emblem Heroes, the artist for the Mythic Hero Elimine is credited as "Alan Smithee".
  • The Elusive David Agnew, a mockumentary included as a bonus feature on the DVD release of the Doctor Who serial The Invasion of Time, is credited as having been directed by "Allen Smithee".<ref>Template:IMDb title.</ref> This use of the pseudonym is in reference to "David Agnew" itself being a pseudonym under which Doctor Who producer Graham Williams and script editor Anthony Read were credited for their writing work on The Invasion of Time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Other pseudonyms

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  • In several BBC television drama programmes in the 1970s, writers used the pseudonym "David Agnew". The pseudonym was reasons similar to the Smithee name.
  • The 1976 Doctor Who serial The Brain of Morbius was credited to writer "Robin Bland". After Terrance Dicks' original script was heavily rewritten by script editor Robert Holmes, Dicks demanded that his name be removed and credit be given to a "bland pseudonym".
  • The 1977 TV series Logan's Run was so heavily rewritten, screenwriter David Gerrold was credited as "Noah Ward", sounding like "no award".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • City Heat (1984) as originally released in theaters, fired director Blake Edwards had his screenwriting credit changed to "Sam O. Brown" (a nod to another of his films, S.O.B.).
  • Solar Crisis (1990) credited Tedi Sarafian, the son of the director (himself credited as "Alan Smithee") and one of the writers, as "Crispan Bolt".<ref name=tvg>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Showgirls (1995) as edited for television, directed by Paul Verhoeven (who used the pseudonym "Jan Jensen", instead of "Smithee"). However, the edited, R-rated version of Showgirls that was prepared for release at Blockbuster was supervised and authorized by Verhoeven, and this version carries the director's name.
  • Highball (1997), after a falling-out with the film's producer left it released in an unfinished state, Noah Baumbach had his directing credit changed to "Ernie Fusco" and his writing credit changed to "Jesse Carter".
  • Supernova (2000), dissatisfied director Walter Hill was credited as "Thomas Lee".
  • Accidental Love (2015) originally filmed in 2008, director David O. Russell left the film in 2010, later disowning it while the directing credit was changed to "Stephen Greene".
  • Exposed (2016): during the editing process Lionsgate changed the story's focus. Gee Malik Linton is the director of the film; however, he is listed under the pseudonym of "Declan Dale".

See also

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References

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