View source for Alan Smithee

{{Short description|Pseudonym used by film directors (1968–2000)}}
{{mdy|date=June 2025}}
{{For|the 1997 film|An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn{{!}}''An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn''}}
'''Alan Smithee''' (also '''Allen Smithee''') is an official [[pseudonym]] used by [[film director]]s 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.<ref name="LATimes" /> 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 [[Artistic control|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.<ref name="directedby">{{Cite book |title=Directed by Allen Smithee |last=Braddock |first=Jeremy |author2=Stephen Hock |year=2001 |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |isbn=0-8166-3534-X |pages=[https://archive.org/details/directedbyallens0000unse/page/8 8–10] |url=https://archive.org/details/directedbyallens0000unse/page/8 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="LATimes" /> The guild also required that the director be credited, in support of the [[Auteur|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]]'' [https://web.archive.org/web/20160302021255/http://movies2.nytimes.com/mem/movies/review.html%28Movie%29%26title2%3D%26reviewer%3DHOWARD%20THOMPSON%26pdate%3D19690510%26v_id%3D12954]</ref> and [[Roger Ebert]] commenting, "Director Allen Smithee, a name I'm not familiar with, allows his story to unfold naturally."<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://rogerebert.com/reviews/death-of-a-gunfighter-1969 |title=Roger Ebert's review of ''Death of a Gunfighter'' |work=rogerebert.com |access-date=December 24, 2020 |archive-date=January 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127141836/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/death-of-a-gunfighter-1969 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following its coinage, the pseudonym "Allen Smithee" was applied retroactively to ''[[Fade In (film)|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>{{Cite web |author=Notorc |url=https://notorc.blogspot.com/2006/06/almost-famous-spelvins-plinges-and.html |title=Postscripts: Almost Famous: The Spelvins, the Plinges and the Smithees |publisher=Notorc.blogspot.com |date=December 6, 2006 |access-date=January 27, 2010 |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410203419/http://notorc.blogspot.com/2006/06/almost-famous-spelvins-plinges-and.html |url-status=live }}</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 Aldrich|Robert B. Aldrich]] Achievement Award in 2003:

{{Blockquote | style=font-size:100% |I had a couple of problems in my career having to do with [[Film editing|editing]] and not having the contractually required number of days in the editing room that my agent couldn't resolve. So, I went to the Guild and said, "This is what's going on." The Guild went to bat for me. I got Alan Smithee on them both. It was a signal to the industry from a creative rights point of view that the shows had been tampered with.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dga.org/news/v27_6/feat_taylor_aldrich.php3 |title=MAGAZINE {{pipe}} DGA Awards Aldrich: Jud Taylor {{pipe}} VOL 27-6: MAR 2003 |publisher=Dga.org |access-date=2010-01-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121011911/http://www.dga.org/news/v27_6/feat_taylor_aldrich.php3 |archive-date=2008-11-21}}</ref>}}

The spelling "Alan Smithee" became standard; the [[IMDb|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">{{IMDb name|0000647}}.</ref> A persistent urban legend suggests that this particular spelling was chosen because it is an [[anagram]] of the phrase "the [[Pseudonym|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">{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=burnhollywoodburn.htm |title=''Burn Hollywood Burn'' at Box Office Mojo |publisher=Boxofficemojo.com |access-date=January 27, 2010 |archive-date=January 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129061223/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=burnhollywoodburn.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Rotten Tomatoes reports an aggregate critical rating of only 8% positive.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/burn_hollywood_burn/ |title=''Burn Hollywood Burn'' at Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Rottentomatoes.com |date=August 5, 2003 |access-date=January 27, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100302194524/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/burn_hollywood_burn/| archive-date= March 2, 2010 | url-status= live}}</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 film)|Supernova]]'' (2000), dissatisfied director [[Walter Hill]] was instead credited as "Thomas Lee",<ref name="LATimes">{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jan-15-ca-54271-story.html |title=Name of Director Smithee Isn't What It Used to Be |work=Los Angeles Times |date=January 15, 2000 |access-date=January 27, 2010 |first=Amy |last=Wallace |archive-date=June 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618065712/http://articles.latimes.com/2000/jan/15/entertainment/ca-54271 |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[Accidental Love]]'' director [[David O. Russell]] left the product credited to Stephen Greene.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Rodrigo |date=2015-02-11 |title=Review: Stephen Greene's 'Accidental Love' Starring Jake Gyllenhaal & Jessica Biel Doesn't Nail Its Mark |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2015/02/review-stephen-greenes-accidental-love-starring-jake-gyllenhaal-jessica-biel-doesnt-nail-its-mark-267222/ |access-date=2022-11-24 |website=IndieWire |language=en |archive-date=2022-11-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221124232943/https://www.indiewire.com/2015/02/review-stephen-greenes-accidental-love-starring-jake-gyllenhaal-jessica-biel-doesnt-nail-its-mark-267222/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-07 |title=Who is Alan Smithee? |url=https://bitoftrivia.com/2022/11/07/who-is-alan-smithee/ |access-date=2022-11-24 |website=Bit of trivia |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-11-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221124232944/https://bitoftrivia.com/2022/11/07/who-is-alan-smithee/ |url-status=live }}</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 ==
Historical uses of the "Alan Smithee" credit (or equivalent), in chronological order:

=== Film direction ===
{{More citations needed section|date=August 2017}}
The following films credit "Smithee"; the actual director is listed when known.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Film
! Year
! Director
! Notes
! Reference
|-
| ''[[Fade In (film)|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">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kW8j6sHvrewC|title=Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors|first=Jerry|last=Roberts|date=June 5, 2009|publisher=Scarecrow Press|via=Google Books|isbn=9780810863781|access-date=July 13, 2018|archive-date=May 24, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524123445/https://books.google.com/books?id=kW8j6sHvrewC|url-status=live}}</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>{{IMDb title|0080769|Fun and Games}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Student Bodies]]''
| 1981
| [[Mickey Rose]]
|Produced by [[Michael Ritchie (film director)|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 [[Twilight Zone accident|killed in a helicopter accident]] during production. This represents a rare instance where the "Alan Smithee" credit was taken by an assistant director.
|<ref>{{Cite book |title=Directed by Allen Smithee |last1=Braddock |first1=Jeremy |last2=Hock |first2=Stephen |year=2001 |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |isbn=9780816635337 |oclc=237557899 |pages=102–106|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bhF3-AqlWIcC&pg=PA102}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Dune (1984 film)|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>{{Cite web|title=Dune (Comparison: Theatrical Version - Extended TV Version)|url=https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=1380|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612085126/https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=1380|archive-date=June 12, 2017|access-date=June 17, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Fye|first=Eleanor|date=June 8, 2020|title=The Story of Dune, David Lynch, and Hollywood's Most Notorious Pseudonym|url=https://gizmodo.com/the-story-of-dune-david-lynch-and-hollywoods-most-not-1843885321|access-date=2021-09-29|website=Gizmodo|language=en-us|archive-date=2021-09-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929133414/https://gizmodo.com/the-story-of-dune-david-lynch-and-hollywoods-most-not-1843885321|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Appointment with Fear (film)|Appointment with Fear]]''
| 1985
| Ramsey Thomas
|
|<ref name="auto" />
|-
| ''[[Stitches (1985 film)|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 film)|I Love N.Y.]]''
| 1987
| Gianni Bozzacchi
|
|<ref name="auto" />
|-
| ''[[Gunhed (film)|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 (director)|Michael Gottlieb]]
|
|<ref name="auto" />
|-
| ''[[Solar Crisis (film)|Solar Crisis]]''
| 1990
| [[Richard C. Sarafian]]
|
|<ref name="auto" />
|-
| ''[[The Guardian (1990 film)|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 (film)|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>{{Cite web|url=http://www.joblo.com/hollywood-celebrities/gossip/then-now-amy-yasbeck|title=Then & Now: Amy Yasbeck|website=JoBlo.com|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-16|archive-date=2012-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923011051/http://www.joblo.com/hollywood-celebrities/gossip/then-now-amy-yasbeck|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Scent of a Woman (1992 film)|Scent of a Woman]]''
| 1992
| [[Martin Brest]]
| Used for the version edited for [[airline|in-flight]] viewing
|
|-
| ''[[Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence]]''
| 1993
| [[William Lustig]]
|
|<ref>{{cite web |last1=Arrigo |first1=Anthony |title='Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence' 4K Review - Worth Buying for the Commentary Track Alone |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/421811/maniac-cop-iii-badge-of-silence-4k-review-worth-buying-for-the-commentary-track-alone/ |website=Dread Central |access-date=31 July 2023 |date=16 February 2022 |archive-date=31 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230731173336/https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/421811/maniac-cop-iii-badge-of-silence-4k-review-worth-buying-for-the-commentary-track-alone/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Rudy (film)|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>{{Cite web|title=Intel's IMAX Sci-Fi Feature Film you don't Remember|author=[[Nostalgia Nerd]]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlp7jGxWHgI&t=90| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/qlp7jGxWHgI| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|access-date=2020-08-31|website=www.youtube.com |date=August 31, 2020 }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=THE JOURNEY INSIDE {{!}} The Bedlam Files|url=https://thebedlamfiles.com/film/the-journey-inside/|access-date=2020-08-31|language=en-US|archive-date=2019-05-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514104405/https://thebedlamfiles.com/film/the-journey-inside/|url-status=live}}</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 film)|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 [[airline|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 (film)|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>{{Cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3355506/review-old-37-crowdfunded-slasher-done-right/|title=[Review] 'Old 37' As a Crowdfunded Slasher Done Right - Bloody Disgusting|website=bloody-disgusting.com|date=3 August 2015|access-date=20 February 2020|archive-date=10 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710101859/https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3355506/review-old-37-crowdfunded-slasher-done-right/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{IMDb title|1600429|Old 37}}</ref>
|-
| ''Anatar''
| 2023
| Lorenzo Dante Zanoni
|
|<ref>{{IMDb title|17351870|Anatar (2023)}}</ref>
|}

=== Television direction ===
{{More citations needed section|date=August 2017}}
* ''[[The Challenge (1970 film)|The Challenge]]'' (1970) initiated by [[Joseph Sargent]], finished by George McCowen (credited on screen as Allen Smithee)
* ''[[Mrs. Columbo|Kate Loves a Mystery]]'', "Love, on Instant Replay", directed by E. Arthur Kean.
* [[The Twilight Zone (1985 TV series)|''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.<ref>''[[Tiny Toon Adventures]]'', {{IMDb title|0979180|Strange Tales of Weird Science}}.</ref>
* ''[[A Nero Wolfe Mystery]]'', "[[The Mother Hunt#A Nero Wolfe Mystery (A&E Network)|Motherhunt]]" (May 12 and 19, 2002), the fifth episode of the second season, with [[Charles B. Wessler]] believed to be debuting as director.<ref>''[[A Nero Wolfe Mystery]]'': {{IMDb title|0394811|Motherhunt: Part 1}} and {{IMDb title|0658769|Motherhunt: Part 2}}.</ref>
* ''Call of the Wild'', 1993 CBS TV movie directed by [[Michael Toshiyuki Uno]], starring [[Ricky Schroder|Rick Schroder]].<ref>{{IMDb title|0106506|Call of the Wild}}.</ref>
* ''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 (Australian game show)|It's Academic]]'' (June 19, 2006); this episode had numerous credits attributed to Smithee.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s1682940.htm |title=''It's Academic'' credits |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=June 19, 2006 |access-date=January 27, 2010 |archive-date=April 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418104435/http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s1682940.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* ''[[Karen's Song]]'', first episode.
* ''[[Red Shoe Diaries]]'', "Accidents Happen", episode 9 of season 1 (1993), directed by [[Mary Lambert (director)|Mary Lambert]].
* ''[[La Femme Nikita (TV series)|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]].<ref>{{IMDb title|tt0093867|Riviera}}.</ref>
* ''[[MacGyver (1985 TV series)|MacGyver]]'', "Pilot", directed by Jerrold Freedman,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2015/08/jerry-freedman-conversation.html|title=Jerry Freedman: A Conversation|work=The MacGyver Project|date=12 August 2015|access-date=20 July 2018|archive-date=20 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720195056/http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2015/08/jerry-freedman-conversation.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and "The Heist", director unknown (1985).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2015/01/52-heist.html|title=#52: The Heist|work=The MacGyver Project|date=January 25, 2015|last=Sweedo|first=Nicholas|access-date=July 20, 2018|archive-date=July 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720195108/http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2015/01/52-heist.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* ''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 film)|The Owl]]'', 1991 television film credited to director [[Tom Holland (filmmaker)|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".<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://theactionelite.com/the-owl-1991-tom-hollands-directors-cut/|title = The Owl (1991) - Tom Holland's Director's Cut|date = 9 March 2018|access-date = 2 October 2019|archive-date = 25 February 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210225101706/http://theactionelite.com/the-owl-1991-tom-hollands-directors-cut/|url-status = live}}</ref>
* ''[[Last Exile]]'', episode 21, animation director unknown.
* ''[[Eiken (manga)|Eiken]]'', second episode, director unknown
* ''[[Gunslinger Stratos: The Animation]]'', first episode, assistant animation director unknown.
* ''[[Joker Game]]'', second episode, director unknown.
* ''[[KonoSuba#Anime_series|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 ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2017}}
* "[[I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston recording)|I Will Always Love You]]"{{snd}}[[Whitney Houston]] (1992) from the [[soundtrack]] for ''[[The Bodyguard (1992 film)|The Bodyguard]]'', directed by [[Nick Brandt]]
* "[[Heaven 'n Hell]]"{{snd}}[[Salt-N-Pepa]] (1994), directed by [[Marcus Raboy]]
* "[[Digging the Grave]]"{{snd}}[[Faith No More]] (1995), directed by Marcus Raboy
* "[[Let's Get Down (Tony! Toni! Toné! song)|Let's Get Down]]"{{snd}}[[Tony! Toni! Toné!]] featuring [[DJ Quik]] (1996), directed by [[Joseph Kahn (director)|Joseph Kahn]] (often credited as "J. Whiskey")
* "[[Building a Mystery]]"{{snd}}[[Sarah McLachlan]] (1997), directed by [[Matt Mahurin]]
* "[[I Don't Want to Wait]]"{{snd}}[[Paula Cole]] (1997), directed by [[Mark Seliger]] and Fred Woodward
* "[[So Help Me Girl]]" (US version){{snd}}[[Gary Barlow]] (1997)
* "[[Hard Charger]]"{{snd}}[[Porno for Pyros]] (1997), directed by [[Liz Friedlander]] and Geoff Nelson 
* "[[Victory (Puff Daddy song)|Victory]]"{{snd}}[[Sean Combs|Puff Daddy]] featuring [[The Notorious B.I.G.]] and [[Busta Rhymes]] (1998), directed by [[Marcus Nispel]]
* "[[Kiss the Rain]]"{{snd}}[[Billie Myers]] (1998)
* "[[The First Night]]"{{snd}}[[Monica (singer)|Monica]] (1998), directed by Joseph Kahn
* "[[Sweet Surrender (Sarah McLachlan song)|Sweet Surrender]]"{{snd}}[[Sarah McLachlan]] (1998), directed by [[Floria Sigismondi]]
* "Reunited"{{snd}}[[Wu-Tang Clan]] (1998)
* "[[Waiting for Tonight]]"{{snd}}[[Jennifer Lopez]] (1999), directed by [[Francis Lawrence]]
* "The Future Is X-Rated"{{snd}}[[Matthew Good Band]] (1999), directed by [[William Morrison (director)|William Morrison]] and [[Matthew Good]]
* "[[Maria (Blondie song)|Maria]]"{{snd}}[[Blondie (band)|Blondie]] (1999), directed by Roman Coppola
* "[[Late Goodbye]]"{{snd}}[[Poets of the Fall]] (2004)
* "[[Some Kind of Monster (song)|Some Kind of Monster]]"{{snd}}[[Metallica]] (2004), directed by [[Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky]]
* "[[Lose My Breath]]"{{snd}}[[Destiny's Child]] (2005), directed by [[Marc Klasfeld]]
* "Death in Midsummer"{{snd}}[[Deerhunter]] (2018), directed by [[Bradford Cox]] and Marisa Gesualdi

=== Other media ===
{{More citations needed|date=August 2016}}
* ''[[Daredevil (Marvel Comics series)|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 [[2000 AD (comics)|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>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/marine-sharpshooter-4/credits |title=Marine Sharpshooter 4 (2008) Windows credits |publisher=MobyGames |date=July 28, 2008 |access-date=May 30, 2013 |archive-date=November 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112165331/http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/marine-sharpshooter-4/credits |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Alan Smithee was credited as the director and included in the title of three [[Pornographic film|adult movies]] in the early 2000s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iafd.com/person.rme/perfid=AlanSmithee/gender=d/Alan-Smithee.htm |title=Alan Smithee - Porn Director |publisher=Internet Adult Film Database |access-date=May 30, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723235256/http://www.iafd.com/person.rme/perfid%3Dalansmithee/gender%3Dd/alan-smithee.htm |archive-date=July 23, 2010}}</ref>
* A comical teaser for the video game ''[[Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots|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>{{Cite web |url=https://metagearsolid.org/reports_mgs4_kojimaVSmgs4.html |title=Kojima VS MGS4 |access-date=2024-04-22 |archive-date=2024-04-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422032659/https://metagearsolid.org/reports_mgs4_kojimaVSmgs4.html |url-status=live }}</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 (1993 video game)|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 (TV series)|Anatole]]'', "Anatole's Parisian Adventure", credits Alan Smithee as the writer.
* ''[[NHL Hitz 2003]]'', a 2002 video game released by [[Midway Games|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>{{Cite web|url=https://inverse.com/entertainment/12-monkeys-oral-history|title=The oral history of 12 Monkeys, Terry Gilliam's time travel masterpiece|access-date=2021-10-09|archive-date=2021-10-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009130034/https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/12-monkeys-oral-history|url-status=live}}</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>{{IMDb title|1266555|The Elusive David Agnew}}.</ref> This use of the pseudonym is in reference to "David Agnew" itself being a pseudonym under which ''Doctor Who'' producer [[Graham Williams (television producer)|Graham Williams]] and script editor [[Anthony Read]] were credited for their writing work on ''The Invasion of Time''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/dvd-bluray/7587/doctor-who-invasion-of-time-dvd-review|title=Doctor Who - Invasion Of Time DVD review|website=Den of Geek|date=21 April 2008|access-date=8 April 2023|archive-date=14 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714042118/https://www.denofgeek.com/dvd-bluray/7587/doctor-who-invasion-of-time-dvd-review|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref>
*[[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 ==
{{More citations needed section|date=August 2017}}
* 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 (scriptwriter)|Robert Holmes]], Dicks demanded that his name be removed and credit be given to a "bland pseudonym".
* The 1977 TV series [[Logan's Run (TV series)|''Logan's Run'']] was so heavily rewritten, screenwriter [[David Gerrold]] was credited as "'''Noah Ward'''", sounding like "no award".<ref>{{Cite web |author=Minty Comedic Arts |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPpyq7_xhfQ%3Ft%3D687 |title=10 things You Didn't Know About LogansRun |publisher=YouTube.com |date=2020-11-06 |access-date=2022-11-03 |archive-date=2024-05-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524123512/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPpyq7_xhfQ%3Ft%3D687 |url-status=live }}</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. (film)|S.O.B.]]'').
* ''[[Solar Crisis (film)|Solar Crisis]]'' (1990) credited Tedi Sarafian, the son of the [[Richard C. Sarafian|director]] (himself credited as "Alan Smithee") and one of the writers, as "'''Crispan Bolt'''".<ref name=tvg>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvguide.com/movies/solar-crisis/review/129498/ |title=Solar Crisis |work=[[TV Guide]] |accessdate=2017-07-13 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826105824/https://www.tvguide.com/movies/solar-crisis/review/129498/ |archivedate=2017-08-26 }}</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 LLC|Blockbuster]] was supervised and authorized by Verhoeven, and this version carries the director's name.
* ''[[Highball (film)|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 film)|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 film)|Exposed]]'' (2016): during the editing process [[Lionsgate Films|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 ==
{{Portal|Film|United States}}
* [[WGA screenwriting credit system]]
* [[:Category:Films credited to Alan Smithee]]
* [[:Category:Music videos credited to Alan Smithee]]
* [[Harlan Ellison#Cordwainer Bird|Cordwainer Bird]], a literary equivalent employed by author [[Harlan Ellison]]
* [[Damnatio memoriae]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|id=0000647}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smithee, Alan}}
[[Category:Film characters introduced in 1968]]
[[Category:Anonymity pseudonyms]]
[[Category:Collective pseudonyms]]
[[Category:Fictional directors]]
[[Category:In-jokes]]
[[Category:1960s neologisms]]
[[Category:Placeholder names]]
[[Category:Nonexistent people used in jokes]]