Alan Smithee is a pseudonym used by film directors to disassociate themselves from a project they consider to be subpar or with which they disagree.
In the world of cinema, the name Alan Smithee has become synonymous with box office disasters. This pseudonym, created by the Directors Guild of America (DGA), was used by Hollywood directors to disassociate themselves from unsuccessful projects.
The first film credited to Alan Smithee was 'Death of a Gunfighter' in 1969. Since then, Alan Smithee had approximately 40 film, TV, and music video credits through 2000. One such film was 'Shortcut to Happiness,' originally credited to Alec Baldwin, which is now credited to 'Harry Kirkpatrick.'
In 2007, The Guardian published an article titled 'Is Harry Kirkpatrick the new Alan Smithee?' and in the same year, Patrick Walsh wrote an article for Moviefone titled 'Alec Baldwin: Please Don't Go See My New Movie.' These articles, along with others, delved into the mystery surrounding the pseudonym and the directors who used it.
One such director was the subject of an article by Dan Lewis for Mental Floss in 2011. The article, titled 'Who is Allen Smithee?', explored the history and significance of the pseudonym. The sources for the article included The Guardian, Roger Ebert, Mental Floss, Entertainment Weekly, and Moviefone, among others.
Roger Ebert, the renowned film critic, wrote a review for the film 'An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn' in 1998. The DGA officially discontinued the use of the Smithee name in 2000. Since then, disappointed directors have sometimes used alternative pseudonyms, but no single widely recognized replacement pseudonym has officially taken its place universally. Some directors use various other pseudonyms on a case-by-case basis instead of Alan Smithee.
The DGA required a director to prove creative vision was quashed to use the Alan Smithee pseudonym. Once the pseudonym was in place, the director was forbidden to speak publicly about the circumstances. The first known film of the post-Smithee era was 'Supernova,' credited to 'Thomas Lee' in 2000.
The pseudonym 'Alan Smithee' became a topic of interest in the film industry, leading to articles about high-paying jobs in the film industry, cinematographers, becoming a movie director, Steadicams, and film editing. The last access to the Mental Floss article about Allen Smithee was on August 1, 2014.
In conclusion, the pseudonym Alan Smithee, though discontinued, continues to hold a significant place in Hollywood history. It serves as a reminder of the pressures faced by directors and the lengths they may go to protect their reputations in the competitive world of cinema.
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