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, 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,"Thompson, Howard (May 10, 1969). "Screen: Tough Western: 'Death of a Gunfighter' Stars Widmark" The New York Times 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 (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. 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:
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 (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. 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 (2000), 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" (screenwriters for the 2011 film Hidden 3D).
Uses Historical uses of the "Alan Smithee" credit (or equivalent), in chronological order:
Film direction
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. Death of a Gunfighter 1969 Robert Totten and Don Siegel (separately)Credited to "Allen Smithee". The Barking Dog 1978 Unknown Gypsy Angels 1980 Unknown City in Fear 1980 Jud Taylor Fun and Games 1980 Paul Bogart Student Bodies 1981 Mickey RoseProduced by Michael Ritchie under the pseudonym Twilight Zone: The Movie 1983 Anderson 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. Dune 1984 David 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" (a reference to Judas Iscariot and John Wilkes Booth). Appointment with Fear 1985 Ramsey Thomas Stitches 1985 Rod Holcomb Let's Get Harry 1986 Stuart Rosenberg Morgan Stewart's Coming Home 1987 Paul Aaron and Terry Windsor Ghost Fever 1987 Lee Madden I Love N.Y. 1987 Gianni Bozzacchi Gunhed 1989 Masato HaradaUsed for the re-edited TV release in the United States Catchfire 1990 Dennis 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 Barbie 1990 Michael Gottlieb Solar Crisis 1990 Richard C. Sarafian The Guardian 1990 William FriedkinCredited to "Alan Von Smithee" only for the version as edited for cable television Bloodsucking Pharaohs in Pittsburgh 1991 Dean Tschetter 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.) 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 Rudy 1993 David AnspaughUsed for the re-edited TV release The Birds II: Land's End 1994 Rick Rosenthal The Journey Inside 1994 Barnaby Jackson National Lampoon's Senior Trip 1995 Kelly MakinAlan 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 Heat 1995 Michael MannUsed for the re-edited TV release Hellraiser: Bloodline 1996 Kevin Yagher Exit 1996 Ric Roman Waugh Dilemma 1997 Eric Larsen and Eric Louzil Le Zombi de Cap-Rouge 1997 Simon Robideaux Sub Down 1997 Gregg Champion An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn 1997 Arthur Hiller Picture of Priority 1998 Unknown 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 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 The Disciples 2000 Kirk Wong In the Wrong Hands 2002 Chris Johnston and James A. Seale Fugitives Run 2003 Philip Spink 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 Anatar 2023 Lorenzo Dante Zanoni
Television direction
The Challenge (1970) initiated by Joseph Sargent, finished by George McCowen (credited on screen as Allen Smithee) Kate Loves a Mystery, "Love, on Instant Replay", directed by E. Arthur Kean. The Twilight Zone (1985), "Paladin of the Lost Hour" (1985), directed by Gilbert Cates. Tiny Toon Adventures had episode segments that were credited to "Alan Smithee"; 1990 segments "Pit Bullied" and "Duck in the Muck" were actually directed by Art Leonardi.Tiny Toon Adventures, . A Nero Wolfe Mystery, "Motherhunt" (May 12 and 19, 2002), the fifth episode of the second season, with Charles B. Wessler believed to be debuting as director.A Nero Wolfe Mystery: and . Call of the Wild, 1993 CBS TV movie directed by Michael Toshiyuki Uno, starring Rick Schroder.. Dalton: Code of Vengeance II, the second television movie (May 11, 1986) in the Code of Vengeance series, actually a mashup of two episodes of a failed series The Cosby Show, "You Can't Stop the Music", episode 22 of season 8 (1992), director unknown It's Academic (June 19, 2006); this episode had numerous credits attributed to Smithee. Karen's Song, first episode. Red Shoe Diaries, "Accidents Happen", episode 9 of season 1 (1993), directed by Mary Lambert. La Femme Nikita, "Catch a Falling Star", episode 16 of season 4 of Canadian television series, believed to be directed by Joseph L. Scanlan. Riviera, 1987 ABC TV movie intended as pilot, directed by John Frankenheimer.. MacGyver, "Pilot", directed by Jerrold Freedman, and "The Heist", director unknown (1985). Moonlight, TV movie and pilot for an unsold series (1982) (not to be confused with the later CBS vampire series), directed by Jackie Cooper and Rod Holcomb. The O. J. Simpson Story, 1995 television movie directed by Jerrold Freedman. The Owl, 1991 television film credited to director Tom Holland when originally broadcast. Holland approved of the 46-minute television cut but disliked the extended 84-minute home video cut and credited it to "Alan Smithee". Last Exile, episode 21, animation director unknown. Eiken, second episode, director unknown Gunslinger Stratos: The Animation, first episode, assistant animation director unknown. Joker Game, second episode, director unknown. KonoSuba, episodes 4 and 9 (season 1), storyboard artist unknown. McClain's Law, "Requiem for a Narc", director unknown. Frankie Drake Mysteries, episode 8 "The Pilot", director Leslie Hope as Alanis Smithee. Tamayomi, episodes 6 and 11, director unknown.
Music video direction
"I Will Always Love You"Whitney Houston (1992) from the soundtrack for The Bodyguard, directed by Nick Brandt "Heaven 'n Hell"Salt-N-Pepa (1994), directed by Marcus Raboy "Digging the Grave"Faith No More (1995), directed by Marcus Raboy "Let's Get Down"Tony! Toni! Toné! featuring DJ Quik (1996), directed by Joseph Kahn (often credited as "J. Whiskey") "Building a Mystery"Sarah McLachlan (1997), directed by Matt Mahurin