Alan Smithee


Alan Smithee is an official pseudonym used by film directors who wish to disown a project. Coined by the Directors Guild of America in 1968, it was used until 2000 when it was largely discontinued. It was the sole pseudonym used by DGA members who were, on paper, directors of a film but were dissatisfied with the final product and able to prove to a guild panel that they had not been able to exercise creative control over its filming process. 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. The Alan Smithee credit has also been adopted for direction credit disputes in television, music videos and other media.

History

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. 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.
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. 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.
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", which was thought to be distinctive enough to avoid confusion with similar names but without drawing attention to itself. 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," and Roger Ebert commenting, "Director Allen Smithee, a name I'm not familiar with, allows his story to unfold naturally."
Following its coinage, the pseudonym "Allen Smithee" was applied retroactively to Fade In, a film starring Burt Reynolds and directed by Jud Taylor, which was first released before the release of Death of a Gunfighter. Taylor also requested the pseudonym for City in Fear with David Janssen. Taylor commented on its use when he received the DGA's Robert B. Aldrich Achievement Award in 2003:
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. 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 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. Rotten Tomatoes reports an aggregate critical rating of only 8% positive.
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, dissatisfied director Walter Hill was instead credited as "Thomas Lee", and Accidental Love director David O. Russell left the product credited to Stephen Greene.
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. Variations of the name have also occasionally been used, such as "Alan Smithee and Alana Smithy".

Uses

Historical uses of the "Alan Smithee" credit, in chronological order:

Film direction

The following films credit "Smithee"; the actual director is listed when known.
FilmYearDirectorNotesReference
Fade In1968Jud TaylorAlso called Iron Cowboy; shown in previews with Taylor credited, then shelved; issued in 1973 with "Allen Smithee" credited as director.
Death of a Gunfighter1969Robert Totten and Don Siegel Credited to "Allen Smithee".
The Barking Dog1978Unknown
Gypsy Angels1980Unknown
City in Fear1980Jud Taylor
Fun and Games1980Paul Bogart
Student Bodies1981Mickey RoseProduced by Michael Ritchie under the pseudonym
Twilight Zone: The Movie1983Anderson HouseSecond 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.
Dune1984David LynchUsed 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".
Appointment with Fear1985Ramsey Thomas
Stitches1985Rod Holcomb
Let's Get Harry1986Stuart Rosenberg
Morgan Stewart's Coming Home1987Paul Aaron and Terry Windsor
Ghost Fever1987Lee Madden
I Love N.Y.1987Gianni Bozzacchi
Gunhed1989Masato HaradaUsed for the re-edited TV release in the United States
Catchfire1990Dennis HopperOriginally 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.
The Shrimp on the Barbie1990Michael Gottlieb
Solar Crisis1990Richard C. Sarafian
The Guardian1990William FriedkinCredited to "Alan Von Smithee" only for the version as edited for cable television
Bloodsucking Pharaohs in Pittsburgh1991Dean Tschetter
The Nutt House1992Adam RifkinUsed by writers Scott Spiegel, Bruce Campbell, Ivan Raimi, and Sam Raimi
Scent of a Woman1992Martin BrestUsed for the version edited for in-flight viewing
Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence1993William Lustig
Rudy1993David AnspaughUsed for the re-edited TV release
The Birds II: Land's End1994Rick Rosenthal
The Journey Inside1994Barnaby Jackson
National Lampoon's Senior Trip1995Kelly MakinAlan Smithee is credited onscreen as the director of a pornographic video featured briefly in the film, "Forrest Humps"
Raging Angels1995Unknown
Smoke n Lightnin1995Unknown
Heat1995Michael MannUsed for the re-edited TV release
Hellraiser: Bloodline1996Kevin Yagher
Exit1996Ric Roman Waugh
Dilemma1997Eric Larsen and Eric Louzil
Le Zombi de Cap-Rouge1997Simon Robideaux
Sub Down1997Gregg Champion
An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn1997Arthur Hiller
Picture of Priority1998Unknown
Meet Joe Black1998Martin BrestUsed for the version edited for in-flight viewing and cable television
Wadd: The Life & Times of John C. Holmes1998Cass Paley
The Coroner1999Brian Katkin and Juan A. Mas
The Insider1999Michael MannUsed for the version edited for television
River Made to Drown In1999James Merendino
Woman Wanted1999Kiefer Sutherland
The Disciples2000Kirk Wong
In the Wrong Hands2002Chris Johnston and James A. Seale
Fugitives Run2003Philip Spink
Eep! 2010Rita HorstCredited 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 Dead2011Unknown
Old 372015Christian Winters
Anatar2023Lorenzo Dante Zanoni

Television direction

The Challenge initiated by Joseph Sargent, finished by George McCowen Kate Loves a Mystery, "Love, on Instant Replay", directed by E. Arthur Kean.

Music video direction

Other media

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.
  • Alan Smithee was credited as the director and included in the title of three adult movies in the early 2000s.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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". 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.
  • Annie-B Parson and Paul Lazar co-created the dance-theater work Alan Smithee Directed This Play for Parson's company Big Dance Theater.

Other pseudonyms

  • In several BBC television drama programmes in the 1970s, writers used the pseudonym "David Agnew". The pseudonym was used for reasons similar to usage of Alan Smithee.
  • 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".City Heat as originally released in theaters, fired director Blake Edwards had his screenwriting credit changed to "Sam O. Brown".Solar Crisis credited Tedi Sarafian, the son of the director and one of the writers, as "Crispan Bolt".Showgirls as edited for television, directed by Paul Verhoeven. 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, 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, dissatisfied director Walter Hill was credited as "Thomas Lee".Accidental Love 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 : 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".