Alan Smithee
Alan Smithee (also Allen Smithee) is an official pseudonym used by film directors who wish to disown a project. Coined in 1968 and used until it was formally discontinued in 2000,[1] it was the sole pseudonym used by members of the Directors Guild of America (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 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.[2]
For the 1997 film, see An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn.(1970) initiated by Joseph Sargent, finished by George McCowen (credited on screen as Allen Smithee)
The Challenge
, "Love, on Instant Replay", directed by E. Arthur Kean.
Kate Loves a Mystery
had episode segments that were credited to "Alan Smithee"; 1990 segments "Pit Bullied" and "Duck in the Muck" were actually directed by Art Leonardi.[23]
Tiny Toon Adventures
, "Motherhunt" (May 12 and 19, 2002), the fifth episode of the second season, with Charles B. Wessler believed to be debuting as director.[24]
A Nero Wolfe Mystery
Call of the Wild m, 1993 CBS TV movie directed by , starring Rick Schroder.[25]
Michael Toshiyuki Uno
Dalton: Code of Vengeance II, the second television movie (May 11, 1986) in the series, actually a mashup of two episodes of a failed series
Code of Vengeance
, "You Can't Stop the Music", episode 22 of season 8 (1992), director unknown
The Cosby Show
, first episode.
Karen's Song
, "Catch a Falling Star", episode 16 of season 4 of American television series, believed to be directed by Joseph L. Scanlan.
La Femme Nikita
Moonlight, TV movie and pilot for an unsold series (1982) (not to be confused with the later CBS vampire series), directed by and Rod Holcomb.
Jackie Cooper
, 1995 television movie directed by Jerrold Freedman.
The O. J. Simpson Story
, 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".[30]
The Owl
, episode 21, animation director unknown.
Last Exile
, second episode, director unknown
Eiken
, first episode, assistant animation director unknown.
Gunslinger Stratos: The Animation
, second episode, director unknown.
Joker Game
, episodes 4 and 9 (season 1), storyboard artist unknown.
KonoSuba
, "Requiem for a Narc", director unknown.
McClain's Law
, episodes 6 and 11, director unknown.
Tamayomi
In several programmes in the 1970s, writers used the pseudonym "David Agnew", for reasons similar to the Smithee name.
BBC television drama
The 1976 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".
Doctor Who
The 1977 TV series was so heavily rewritten, screenwriter David Gerrold was credited as "Noah Ward", sounding like "no award".[37]
Logan's Run
(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.).
City Heat
(1995) as edited for television, directed by Paul Verhoeven (who used the pseudonym "Jan Jensen", instead of "Smithee"). However, the edited, R-rated version of Showgirls that was prepared for release at Blockbuster was supervised and authorized by Verhoeven, and this version carries the director's name.
Showgirls
(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".
Highball
(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".
Accidental Love
(2016): during the editing process Lionsgate changed the story's focus. Gee Malik Linton is the director of the film, but is listed under the pseudonym of "Declan Dale".