Alan Smithee (also Allen Smithee) is an official

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...

used by

film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, p ...

s who wish to disown a project. Coined in 1968 and used until it was formally discontinued in 2000, it was the sole pseudonym used by members of the

Directors Guild of America The Directors Guild of America (DGA) is an entertainment guild that represents the interests of film and television directors in the United States motion picture industry and abroad. Founded as the Screen Directors Guild in 1936, the group merge ...

(DGA) 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 Artistic control or creative control is a term commonly used in media production, such as movies, television, and music production. A person with artistic control has the authority to decide how the final product will appear. In movies, this c ...

over a film. The director was also required by guild rules not to discuss the circumstances leading to the movie or even to acknowledge being the project's director.

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", but 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 ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' 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 Roger Joseph Ebert (; June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013) was an American film critic, film historian, journalist, screenwriter, and author. He was a film critic for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, Ebert beca ...

commenting, "Director Allen Smithee, a name I'm not familiar with, allows his story to unfold naturally." Following its coinage, the pseudonym "Alan Smithee" was applied retroactively to '' Fade In'' (also known as ''Iron Cowboy''), a film starring

Burt Reynolds Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. (February 11, 1936 – September 6, 2018) was an American actor, considered a sex symbol and icon of 1970s American popular culture. Reynolds first rose to prominence when he starred in television series such as ' ...

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 ''City in Fear'' is a 1980 American made-for-television drama film directed by Jud Taylor, under the pseudonym Alan Smithee, and written by Peter Masterson based on a story by Albert Ruben. The film, starring David Janssen (in one of his final r ...

'' (1980) with

David Janssen David Janssen (born David Harold Meyer) (March 27, 1931February 13, 1980) was an American film and television actor who is best known for his starring role as Richard Kimble in the television series '' The Fugitive'' (1963–1967). Janssen also ...

. Taylor commented on its use when he received the DGA's Robert B. Aldrich Achievement Award in 2003: The spelling "Alan Smithee" became standard, and the

Internet Movie Database IMDb (an abbreviation of Internet Movie Database) is an online database of information related to films, television series, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and personal biographies, ...

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 An anagram is a word or phrase formed by rearranging the letters of a different word or phrase, typically using all the original letters exactly once. For example, the word ''anagram'' itself can be rearranged into ''nag a ram'', also the word ...

of the phrase "the

alias Alias may refer to: * Pseudonym * Pen name * Nickname Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Alias'' (2013 film), a 2013 Canadian documentary film * ''Alias'' (TV series), an American action thriller series 2001–2006 * ''Alias the ...

men", but 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 which a man named Alan Smithee (

Eric Idle Eric Idle (born 29 March 1943) is an English actor, comedian, musician and writer. Idle was a member of the British surreal comedy group Monty Python and the parody rock band The Rutles, and is the writer of the music and lyrics for the Broadwa ...

) 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 Arthur Hiller, (November 22, 1923 – August 17, 2016) was a Canadian-American television and film director with over 33 films to his credit during a 50-year career. He began his career directing television in Canada and later in the U.S. By t ...

, who reported to the DGA that producer

Joe Eszterhas József A. Eszterhás ( born November 23, 1944) is a Hungarian-American writer. He attended Ohio University. He wrote the screenplays for the films ''Flashdance'', '' Jagged Edge'', ''Basic Instinct'' and ''Showgirls''. His books include ''Americ ...

had interfered with his creative control, and 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, and Rotten Tomatoes reports an aggregate critical rating of only 8% positive. The film also was nominated for eight Golden Raspberry Awards at the following year's ceremony, and won five, 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 A supernova is a powerful and luminous explosion of a star. It has the plural form supernovae or supernovas, and is abbreviated SN or SNe. This transient astronomical event occurs during the last evolutionary stages of a massive star or when ...

'' (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, and 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 and Alana Smithy" (screenwriters for the 2011 film ''

Hidden 3D ''Hidden 3D'' is an Italian-Canadian horror film directed by Antoine Thomas and produced by Caramel Films. It was filmed in Italy and Canada over the Summer and Fall of 2010. Hidden 3D was filmed in both 2D and 3D Technologies. Plot When his m ...

'').

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. In a few cases, the alias is used for a creative contributor other than the director, shown in boldface. * '' Fade In'' a.k.a. ''Iron Cowboy'' (1968), directed by Jud Taylor. Shown in previews with Taylor credited, then shelved; issued in 1975 with Smithee credited as director. * '' Death of a Gunfighter'' (1969), directed separately by Robert Totten and Don Siegel * ''The Barking Dog'' (1978), director unknown * ''Gypsy Angels'' (1980), director unknown * ''

'' (1980), directed by Jud Taylor * ''Fun and Games'' (1980), directed by

Paul Bogart Paul Bogart (né Bogoff; November 13, 1919 – April 15, 2012) was an American television director and producer. Bogart directed episodes of the television series Way Out'' in 1961, ''Coronet Blue'' in 1967, ''Get Smart'', '' The Dumplings'' ...

* '' Student Bodies'' (1981), directed by

Mickey Rose Michael "Mickey" Rose (May 20, 1935 – April 7, 2013) was an American comedy writer and screenwriter. Life and career Rose was born in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, and spent his childhood there and in Crown Heights in the same borough of New ...

, produced by Michael Ritchie under the pseudonym * '' Twilight Zone: The Movie'' (1983), 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. * '' Appointment with Fear'' (1985), directed by Ramzi Thomas * '' Stitches'' (1985), directed by Rod Holcomb * '' Let's Get Harry'' (1986), directed by

Stuart Rosenberg Stuart Rosenberg (August 11, 1927 – March 15, 2007) was an American film and television director whose motion pictures include '' Cool Hand Luke'' (1967), ''Voyage of the Damned'' (1976), ''The Amityville Horror'' (1979), and ''The Pope of Gree ...

* ''

Morgan Stewart's Coming Home ''Morgan Stewart's Coming Home'' is a 1987 American comedy film starring Jon Cryer, Viveka Davis, Paul Gleason, Nicholas Pryor and Lynn Redgrave. The screenplay was written by Ken Hixon and David N. Titcher. The film was also released as ''Home ...

'' (1987), directed by Paul Aaron and Terry Windsor * ''

Ghost Fever ''Ghost Fever'' is a 1987 horror-comedy film directed by Lee Madden and written by Oscar Brodney. The film stars Sherman Hemsley, Luis Ávalos, Jennifer Rhodes, Deborah Benson, Diana Brookes and Myron Healey. The film was released on March 27, 1 ...

'' (1987), directed by Lee Madden * '' I Love N.Y.'' (1987) written and directed by Gianni Bozzacchi * ''

Catchfire ''Catchfire'' is a 1990 American romantic action thriller film directed by Dennis Hopper and starring Jodie Foster, Hopper, Fred Ward and Vincent Price, with cameo appearances by several notable actors, including Charlie Sheen, Joe Pesci, Catheri ...

'' (1990) as originally released in theaters, directed by

Dennis Hopper Dennis Lee Hopper (May 17, 1936 – May 29, 2010) was an American actor, filmmaker and photographer. He attended the Actors Studio, made his first television appearance in 1954, and soon after appeared in ''Giant'' (1956). In the next ten years ...

. 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 ''The Shrimp on the Barbie'', released in Australia as ''The Boyfriend from Hell'', is a 1990 comedy film directed by Michael Gottlieb (under the pseudonym Alan Smithee) and starring Cheech Marin. The title is derived from a line in a 1980s s ...

'' (1990), directed by Michael Gottlieb * '' Solar Crisis'' (1990), directed by

Richard C. Sarafian Richard Caspar Sarafian (April 28, 1930 – September 18, 2013) was an Armenian-American film director and actor. He compiled a versatile career that spanned over five decades as a director, actor, and writer. Sarafian is best known as the direct ...

* ''Bloodsucking Pharaohs in Pittsburgh'' (1991), directed by Dean Tschetter * '' Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence'' (1993), directed by William Lustig * '' The Birds II: Land's End'' (1994), directed by Rick Rosenthal * ''The Journey Inside'' (1994), directed by Barnaby Jackson * '' National Lampoon's Senior Trip'' (1995), directed by Kelly Makin with a segment credited to Smithee * ''Raging Angels'' (1995), director unknown * ''Smoke n Lightnin'' (1995), director unknown * '' Hellraiser: Bloodline'' (1996), directed by

Kevin Yagher Kevin Yagher (born June 23, 1962) is an American special effects technician, known for Freddy Krueger's makeup and The Crypt Keeper creature. Career His company, Kevin Yagher Productions, has created effects for '' A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: ...

* ''Exit'' (1996), directed by Ric Roman Waugh * '' Mighty Ducks, The Animated Series: The First Face-Off'' (1997), co-directed by Steve Langley * ''Dilemma'' (1997), directed by Eric Larsen and

Eric Louzil Eric Louzil (born September 1, 1952) is an American low-budget film director and producer. Career Louzil began his career as a UCLA film student, when he served as associate producer of the short film ''Sonic Boom'' starring Ricky Nelson, Geor ...

* ''Le Zombi de Cap-Rouge'' (1997), directed by Simon Robideaux * ''Sub Down'' (1997), directed by

Gregg Champion Gregg Champion (born November 20, 1956, in Los Angeles, California) is an American film director, known for his work on wide release and TV Hollywood movies. His parents are Marge Champion and Gower Champion. Work in Film & Television After att ...

* '' An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn'' (1997), directed by

* ''Picture of Priority'' (1998), director unknown * '' Wadd: The Life & Times of John C. Holmes'' (1998), directed by Cass Paley * ''The Coroner'' (1999), directed by Brian Katkin and Juan A. Mas * ''

River Made to Drown In ''River Made to Drown In'' is a 1997 drama film starring Michael Imperioli, Richard Chamberlain (actor), Richard Chamberlain, Ute Lemper and James Duval. Although directed by James Merendino, Merendino had his name removed, and the film is credit ...

'' (1999), directed by

James Merendino James Anthony Merendino (born January 11, 1969) is an American film director and screenwriter who is best known for directing the 1998 film ''SLC Punk!''. Life Merendino was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, and moved to Salt Lake City, Utah when ...

* ''

Woman Wanted ''Woman Wanted'' is a 1999 film directed by Kiefer Sutherland (later credited as Alan Smithee). It is based on a novel by Joanna Glass, who also wrote the screenplay. It stars Sutherland, Holly Hunter, Michael Moriarty, and Sutherland's mother, S ...

'' (1999), directed by

Kiefer Sutherland Kiefer William Sutherland (born 21 December 1966) is a British-Canadian actor and musician. He is best known for his starring role as Jack Bauer in the Fox drama series '' 24'' (2001–2010, 2014), for which he won an Emmy Award, a Golden Glo ...

* ''The Disciples'' (2000), directed by Kirk Wong * ''In the Wrong Hands'' (2002), directed by Chris Johnston and James A. Seale * ''Fugitives Run'' (2003), directed by Philip Spink * ''Eep!'' (Dutch: ''Iep!'') (2010), directed by Rita Horst as ''Ellen Smith'', the only time a Dutch director asked for this credit. ''Ellen'' is a Dutch name that is pronounced similarly to ''Alan''. * ''

Old 37 ''Old 37'' is a 2015 American horror film written by Joe Landes and Paul Travers, directed by Christian Winters (under the Alan Smithee pseudonym) and starring Kane Hodder, Bill Moseley and Brandi Cyrus. Plot 1977: Two boys are living in a decr ...

'' (2015), directed by Christian Winters The following films were credited to their actual directors during their original theatrical presentations. When re-edited for TV, or for other reasons, the Smithee credit was used: * ''

Dune A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, f ...

'' (1984), only for the version as extended and edited for broadcast television; directed by

David Lynch David Keith Lynch (born January 20, 1946) is an American filmmaker, visual artist and actor. A recipient of an Academy Honorary Award in 2019, Lynch has received three Academy Award nominations for Best Director, and the César Award for Be ...

. 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 Judas Iscariot (; grc-x-biblical, Ἰούδας Ἰσκαριώτης; syc, ܝܗܘܕܐ ܣܟܪܝܘܛܐ; died AD) was a disciple and one of the original Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. According to all four canonical gospels, Judas betraye ...

and John Wilkes Booth) * '' Gunhed'' (1989) as released in the United States, directed by Masato Harada * ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'' (1990) only for the version as edited for cable television, directed by William Friedkin, credited to "Alan Von Smithee" * '' Rudy'' (1993) as edited for television, directed by

David Anspaugh David Anspaugh (born September 24, 1946) is an American television and film director. Professional career After earning a bachelor's degree from Indiana University Bloomington, Anspaugh moved to Aspen, Colorado, where he worked as a substitute t ...

* ''

Heat In thermodynamics, heat is defined as the form of energy crossing the boundary of a thermodynamic system by virtue of a temperature difference across the boundary. A thermodynamic system does not ''contain'' heat. Nevertheless, the term is al ...

'' (1995) as edited for television, directed by

Michael Mann Michael Kenneth Mann (born February 5, 1943) is an American director, screenwriter, and producer of film and television who is best known for his distinctive style of crime drama. His most acclaimed works include the films ''Thief'' (1981), ' ...

* '' Meet Joe Black'' (1998), as edited for in-flight viewing and cable television, by Martin Brest * '' The Insider'' (1999) as edited for television, directed by

* '' The Nutt House'' (1992), written by Scott Spiegel (as Peter Perkinson),

Bruce Campbell Bruce Lorne Campbell (born June 22, 1958) is an American actor and director. He is known for portraying Ash Williams in Sam Raimi's ''Evil Dead'' franchise, beginning with the 1978 short film ''Within the Woods''. He has starred in many low ...

(as R.O.C. Sandstorm), Ivan Raimi (as Alan Smithee Sr.), and

Sam Raimi Samuel M. Raimi ( ; born October 23, 1959) is an American filmmaker. He is best known for directing the Spider-Man (2002 film series), ''Spider-Man'' trilogy (2002–2007) and the ''Evil Dead'' franchise (1981–present). He also directed the 1 ...

(as Alan Smithee Jr.) * '' Scent of a Woman'' (airline version) (1992) directed by Martin Brest (as Alan Smithee)

Television direction

* '' The Challenge'' (1970) initiated by

Joseph Sargent Joseph Sargent (born Giuseppe Danielle Sorgente; July 22, 1925 – December 22, 2014) was an American film director. Though he directed many television movies, his best known feature-length works were arguably the action movie '' White Ligh ...

, 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 "Paladin of the Lost Hour" is the second segment of the seventh episode from the first season (1985–86) of the first revival of the television series ''The Twilight Zone'', adapted from a novelette by scriptwriter Harlan Ellison. The story fol ...

" (1985), directed by Gilbert Cates. * ''

Tiny Toon Adventures ''Tiny Toon Adventures'' is an American animated comedy television series that was broadcast from September 14, 1990, to December 6, 1992. It was the first collaborative effort of Steven Spielberg's Amblin Television and Warner Bros. Animation ...

'' had episode segments that were credited to "Alan Smithee"; 1990 segments "Pit Bullied" and "Duck in the Muck" were actually directed by Art Leonardi. * ''

A Nero Wolfe Mystery ''Nero Wolfe'' is a television series adapted from Rex Stout's Rex Stout bibliography#Nero Wolfe corpus, series of detective stories that aired for two seasons (2001–2002) on A&E (TV channel), A&E. Set in New York City sometime in the 1940s– ...

'', " Motherhunt" (May 12 and 19, 2002), the fifth episode of the second season, with

Charles B. Wessler Charles B. Wessler (born May 16, 1955) is an American film producer best known for his collaborations with the Farrelly brothers. Life and career Wessler's first job was as a production assistant on the film ''Can I Do It... 'Til I Need Glasses?' ...

believed to be debuting as director. * ''Call of the Wild m'', 1993 CBS-TV movie directed by

Michael Toshiyuki Uno Michael Toshiyuki Uno is an American film and television director, credited with directing television programs such as '' Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' (the remake series that began in 1985), ''China Beach'', '' The Outsiders'', ''Early Edition'', a ...

, 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 ''Karen's Song'' is an American sitcom starring Patty Duke that aired on Fox from July 18 to September 12, 1987. Plot Forty-year-old divorcee Karen Matthews (Patty Duke) cautiously begins dating 28-year-old Steven Foreman ( Lewis Smith). Her daugh ...

'', first episode. * '' Red Shoe Diaries'', "Accidents Happen", episode 9 of season 1 (1993), directed by Mary Lambert. * ''

La Femme Nikita La Femme Nikita may refer to: * ''La Femme Nikita'' (film), a 1990 French action film by Luc Besson, originally named "Nikita" * ''La Femme Nikita'' (TV series), a 1997–2001 TV series based on the film, also called "Nikita" * ''Nikita'' (TV se ...

'', "Catch a Falling Star", episode 16 of season 4 of American television series, believed to be directed by

Joseph L. Scanlan Joseph Lawrence Scanlan (August 16, 1929 – December 18, 2020) was an American movie and television director who directed episodes of popular TV shows such as ''Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman'', ''What's Happening!!'', ''Spenser: F ...

. * ''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 John Cooper Jr. (September 15, 1922 – May 3, 2011) was an American actor, television director, producer, and executive, known universally as Jackie Cooper. He was a child actor who made the transition to an adult career. Cooper was the first ...

and Rod Holcomb. * '' 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 is a Japanese anime television series created by Gonzo. It featured a production team led by director Koichi Chigira, character designer Range Murata, and production designer Mahiro Maeda. The three had previously worked together in '' Bl ...

'', episode 21, animation director unknown. * ''

Eiken Eiken may refer to: Places Norway * Eiken, Norway, a former municipality in the old Vest-Agder county * Eiken, Agder, a village in Hægebostad municipality in Agder county ** Eiken Church, a church in Hægebostad municipality in Agder county Swi ...

'', 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 is a Japanese baseball manga series by Mountain Pukuichi, serialized in Houbunsha's ''seinen'' manga magazine ''Manga Time Kirara Forward'' since April 2016. It has been collected in nine ''tankōbon'' volumes. An anime television series ada ...

'', episodes 6 and 11, director unknown.

Music video direction

* "

I Will Always Love You "I Will Always Love You" is a song written and originally recorded in 1973 by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. Written as a farewell to her business partner and mentor Porter Wagoner, expressing Parton's decision to pursue a solo career, ...

" —

Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed "The Voice", she is one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. Houston in ...

(1992) from the

soundtrack A soundtrack is recorded music accompanying and synchronised to the images of a motion picture, drama, book, television program, radio program, or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack o ...

for ''

The Bodyguard A bodyguard is an individual who protects another from harm or threats. Bodyguard may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * The Bodyguard (1944 film), ''The Bodyguard'' (1944 film), a Tom and Jerry short * Bodyguard (1948 film), ...

'', directed by Nick Brandt * "Heaven n' Hell" —

Salt-N-Pepa Salt-N-Pepa (also stylized as Salt 'N' Pepa or Salt 'N Pepa) is an American hip-hop group formed in New York City in 1985, that comprised Salt (Cheryl James), Pepa (Sandra Denton), and DJ Spinderella (Deidra Roper). Their debut album, ''Hot, C ...

(1994) * "

Digging the Grave "Digging the Grave" is a 1995 single by Faith No More, from their fifth studio album, '' King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime''. Produced by Andy Wallace in the Bearsville Studios, the song was borne out of a period of transition for the gr ...

" —

Faith No More Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1979. Before settling on the current name in July 1983, the band performed under the names Sharp Young Men and later Faith No Man. Bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist/r ...

(1995), directed by Marcus Raboy * "Let's Get Down" — Tony! Toni! Toné! featuring DJ Quik, directed by

Joseph Kahn Joseph Kahn may refer to: *Joseph Kahn (director) (born 1972), a film and music video director *Joseph Kahn (journalist) (born 1964), American journalist * Joseph Kahn (shipping executive) (1916–1979), American businessman See also *Joseph Hahn ...

(often credited as "J. Whiskey") * "

Building a Mystery "Building a Mystery" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan from her fourth studio album, '' Surfacing'' (1997). At a live performance, Sarah explains the song as being "basically about the fact that we all... have insecurities t ...

" — Sarah McLachlan (1997), directed by Matt Mahurin * "

I Don't Want to Wait "I Don't Want to Wait" is a song written, recorded, and produced by American singer-songwriter Paula Cole. Cole wrote the song in mid-1996 and released it as second single from her second studio album, '' This Fire'' (1996), on October 14, 1997 ...

" —

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(1997), directed by Mark Seliger and Fred Woodward * "So Help Me Girl" — Gary Barlow (1997) * "Victory" — Puff Daddy ( Sean Combs) featuring

The Notorious B.I.G. Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), better known by his stage names the Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls, or simply Biggie, was an American rapper. Rooted in East Coast hip hop and particularly gangsta ...

and

Busta Rhymes Trevor George Smith Jr. (born May 20, 1972), known professionally as Busta Rhymes, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the moniker Busta Rhymes, after NFL and CFL wide receiver ...

(1998), directed by Marcus Nispel * "

Kiss the Rain "Kiss the Rain" is a song by British singer Billie Myers, from her debut album, ''Growing, Pains''. It was released on 23 September 1997 as the lead single from the album by Universal Records. The song, produced by Desmond Child, is considered My ...

" —

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(1998) * "

The First Night "The First Night" is a song by American singer Monica for her second studio album, '' The Boy Is Mine'' (1998). It was written by Tamara Savage and Jermaine Dupri, featuring production and additional vocals from the latter. Built around a sample ...

" —

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(1998), directed by Joseph Kahn * " Sweet Surrender" — Sarah McLachlan (1998), directed by

Floria Sigismondi Floria Sigismondi (, born 1965) is an Italian-Canadian film director, screenwriter, music video director, artist, and photographer. She is best known for writing and directing '' The Runaways'', for directing music videos for performers includi ...

* "Reunited" —

Wu-Tang Clan Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop group formed in Staten Island, New York City, in 1992. Its original members include RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa. Close affili ...

(1998) * " Waiting for Tonight" —

Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lynn Affleck (' Lopez; born July 24, 1969), also known as J.Lo, is an American singer, actress and dancer. In 1991, she began appearing as a Fly Girl dancer on the sketch comedy television series ''In Living Color'', where she rema ...

(1999), directed by

Francis Lawrence Francis Lawrence (born March 26, 1971) is an Austrian-born American filmmaker and producer. After establishing himself as a director of music videos and commercials, Lawrence made his feature-length directorial debut with the superhero thrille ...

* "The Future Is X-Rated" — Matthew Good Band (1999) * " Maria" — Blondie (1999) directed by Roman Coppola * "

Late Goodbye "Late Goodbye" is a song by the Finnish rock band Poets of the Fall that appeared in the 2003 video game '' Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne'' as well as on the band's debut album '' Signs of Life''.

" — Poets of the Fall (2004) * "Some Kind of Monster" —

Metallica Metallica is an American heavy metal band. The band was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles by vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrume ...

(2004) * " Lose My Breath" —

Destiny's Child Destiny's Child was an American girl group whose final line-up comprised Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Houston, Texas. After years of limited ...

(2005), directed by Marc Klasfeld * "Death In Midsummer" —

Deerhunter Deerhunter is an American indie rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 2001. The band currently consists of Bradford Cox (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Moses Archuleta (drums, electronics, sound treatments), Lotus Plaza, Lockett Pundt (guitar, ...

(2018)

Other media

* ''

Daredevil Daredevil may refer to: * A stunt performer Arts and media Comics * Daredevil (Lev Gleason Publications), a fictional 1940s superhero popularized by writer-artist Charles Biro * Daredevil (Marvel Comics character), a Marvel comic book superher ...

'' #338–342, a comics series published by

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...

: Writer

D. G. Chichester Daniel G. Chichester (born August 22, 1964) is an American comic book writer. His credits include ''Daredevil'' and '' Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' for Marvel Comics. Career D. G. Chichester was born in Connecticut, and studied filmmaking a ...

learned during a brief break from the series that he was to be replaced; for the five issues he was obligated to write he 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 First-person shooter (FPS) is a sub-genre of shooter video games centered on gun and other weapon-based combat in a first-person perspective, with the player experiencing the action through the eyes of the protagonist and controlling the pl ...

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 Pornographic films (pornos), erotic films, sex films, and 18+ films are films that present sexually explicit subject matter in order to arouse and satisfy the viewer. Pornographic films present sexual fantasies and usually include eroticall ...

in the early 2000s. * A teaser for the video game '' Metal Gear Solid 4'' shown at E3 2005 credits "Alan Smithee" as the director of the title before being replaced by

Hideo Kojima is a Japanese video game designer, director, producer and writer. He is regarded as an auteur of video games. He developed a strong passion for action/adventure cinema and literature during his childhood and adolescence. In 1986, he was hired ...

's name. * In the loose-leaf 1990's run of ''

Who's Who in the DC Universe ''Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe'' (1985–87), usually referred to simply as ''Who's Who'', is the umbrella title for a number of comic book series which DC Comics published to catalogue the wide variety of fictional cha ...

'', 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 The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), commonly shortened to Super NES or Super Nintendo, is a 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan and South Korea, 1991 in North America, 1992 in Eur ...

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 ''NHL Hitz 2003'' is an ice hockey video game published by Midway Games. One version was developed by Black Box Games and released on the Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube in 2002. The other was developed by Exient Entertainment and released on the G ...

'', a 2002 video game released by Midway for the

PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on 3 ...

Xbox Xbox is a video gaming brand created and owned by Microsoft. The brand consists of five video game consoles, as well as applications (games), streaming services, an online service by the name of Xbox network, and the development arm by the na ...

and

GameCube The is a home video game console developed and released by Nintendo in Japan on September 14, 2001, in North America on November 18, 2001, and in PAL territories in 2002. It is the successor to the Nintendo 64 (1996), and predecessor of the Wii ...

, 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 ''12 Monkeys'' is a 1995 American science fiction film directed by Terry Gilliam, inspired by Chris Marker's 1962 short film ''La Jetée'', starring Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, and Brad Pitt, with Christopher Plummer and David Morse in sup ...

, director Terry Gilliam draws a doodle illustrating his frustration at unexpectedly poor

test screening A test screening is a preview screening of a movie or television show before its general release to gauge audience reaction. Preview audiences are selected from a cross-section of the population and are usually asked to complete a questionnaire or ...

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 Mythical Hero Elimine is credited as "Alan Smithee".

Other pseudonyms

* In several BBC television drama programmes in the 1970s, writers used the pseudonym " David Agnew", for reasons similar to the Smithee name. * The 1976 ''

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the u ...

'' 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'' (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.'') * '' Showgirls'' (1995) as edited for television, directed by

Paul Verhoeven Paul Verhoeven (; born 18 July 1938) is a Dutch director, producer and screenwriter, active in the Netherlands, France and the United States. His blending of graphic violence and sexual content with social satire is a trademark of both his dram ...

(who used the pseudonym "Jan Jensen", instead of "Smithee"). However, the edited, R-rated version of ''Showgirls'' that was prepared for release at

Blockbuster Blockbuster or Block Buster may refer to: *Blockbuster (entertainment) a term coined for an extremely successful movie, from which most other uses are derived. Corporations * Blockbuster (retailer), a defunct video and game rental chain ** Blo ...

was supervised and authorized by Verhoeven, and this version carries the director's name. * ''

'' (2000), dissatisfied director Walter Hill was credited as "Thomas Lee". * '' Accidental Love'' (2015) originally filmed in 2008, director

David O. Russell David Owen Russell (born August 20, 1958) is an American filmmaker. His early directing career includes the comedy films ''Spanking the Monkey'' (1994), '' Flirting with Disaster'' (1996), ''Three Kings'' (1999), and ''I Heart Huckabees'' (200 ...

left the film in 2010, later disowning it while the directing credit was changed to "Stephen Greene". * ''

Exposed Expose, exposé, or exposed may refer to: News sources * Exposé (journalism), a form of investigative journalism * ''The Exposé'', a British conspiracist website Film and TV Film * ''Exposé'' (film), a 1976 thriller film * ''Exposed'' (1932 ...

'' (2016): during the editing process Lionsgate changed the story's focus.

Gee Malik Linton Gee Malik Linton (born December 9, 1973) is an American film director, screenwriter and producer. Career Born in Brooklyn, New York, to a Jamaican family, Gee Malik Linton majored in physics in college and was pursuing a master's degree until he ...

is the director of the film, but is listed under the pseudonym of "Declan Dale".

References

External links

*
Music videos credited to Alan Smithee
* ''Directed by Allen Smithee'', () a 2001 book about the director and auteur theory in general. See contributions by

Craig J Saper Craig Saper is Professor of Language, Literacy, & Culture at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). Saper is the author of ''Amazing Adventures of Bob Brown'' (2016), ''Intimate Bureaucracies: A Manifesto'' (2012), ''Networked Art'' ( ...

.
* The Top 10 Films of Alan Smithee - Meditoria.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smithee, Alan Film characters introduced in 1968 Anonymity pseudonyms Collective pseudonyms Fictional directors In-jokes Placeholder names