Alan Smithee was first used (in film) when Don Siegel & Robert Totten requested their names be taken off the credits on Death of a Gunfighter in 1969 because the studio edited their film completely against their will and knowledge. Without returning the money given to direct, they legally couldn't take their name off, so The union decided to use a stage name. Here is a likely explanation I found...
"...in actuality it grew out of a decision that this particular stage name should be so individual that no other person would ever be likely to appear whose name matched that of Smithee. Although Smith, then Smithe, were considered, eventually it was decided that a second "e" would guarantee this individuality, and Smithee has functioned under this name ever since. Although his first name is occasionally misspelled "Allen", the name Alan Smithee has come to represent a unique vision in American film."
Alan Smithee is one of the most prolific writers and directors in the industry.
Alan Smithee
Sometimes Credited As:
Alan Smithee Jr.
Allan Smithee
Allen Smithee
A. Smythee
Director - filmography
1. Halloween: Retribution (2006) (announced)
2. Street Walkers 3 (2005) (V)
3. Alan Smithee Presents 'The Andy Griffith Show' (2004) (V)
4. Team Spirit (2004) (TV)
5. "Schulmädchen" (2004) TV*Series (pilot)
6. Here Comes Santa Claus (2003)
7. Fugitives Run (2003)
... aka Ne m'appelez pas Tonto (Canada: French title)
8. Schulmädchen (2002) (TV)
9. "A Nero Wolfe Mystery" (2001) TV*Series (episode "Motherhunt: Parts 1 & II")
... aka Nero Wolfe (USA: promotional title)
10. The Disciples (2000) (TV) (really Kirk Wong)
11. Woman Wanted (2000)
12. To Light the Darkness (1999) (really Vance Kotrla)
... aka A Little More Than Kin (USA)
13. The Coroner (1999)
14. Soul's Ark (1999) (V)
15. Picture of Priority (1998)
16. Wadd: The Life and Times of John C. Holmes (1998) (really Wesley Emerson)
17. Firehouse (1997) (TV)
18. Sub Down (1997) (really Gregg Champion)
... aka Sub Down: Take the Dive (video box title)
19. Zombi de Cap-Rouge, Le (1997)
20. An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn (1997) (really Arthur Hiller)
... aka Burn Hollywood Burn (UK: video title)
21. Dilemma (1997)
22. A River Made to Drown In (1997)
23. Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996) (really Kevin Yagher)
... aka Hellraiser IV
... aka Hellraiser IV: Bloodline Story
24. Raging Angels (1995)
25. Senior Trip (1995) (segment "Forrest Humps")
... aka Folle excursion de National Lampoon, La (Canada: French title)
... aka National Lampoon's Senior Trip (USA: complete title)
26. The O.J. Simpson Story (1995) (TV) (really Jerrold Freedman)
27. Smoke n Lightnin (1995) (really Mike Kirton)
28. While Justice Sleeps (1994) (TV) (really Ivan Passer)
29. The Birds II: Land's End (1994) (TV) (really Rick Rosenthal)
30. Call of the Wild (1993) (TV) (really Michael Uno)
31. "Red Shoe Diaries" (1992) TV*Series (episode "Accidents Happen")
32. Bay City Story (1992) (TV)
... aka Deadline (USA: video title)
33. Bloodsucking Pharaohs in Pittsburgh (1991) (really Dean Tschetter)
... aka Picking Up the Pieces
34. The Owl (1991) (TV)
35. Fatal Charm (1990) (TV) (really Fritz Kiersch)
36. The Shrimp on the Barbie (1990) (really Michael Gottlieb)
... aka The Boyfriend from Hell (UK: video title)
37. Solar Crisis (1990) (really Richard C. Sarafian)
... aka Kuraishisu niju-goju nen (Japan)
38. Catchfire (1990) (really Dennis Hopper)
... aka Backtrack (USA: TV title (director's cut))
... aka Catchfire (Australia)
... aka Do It the Hard Way
39. Ganheddo (1989) (really Masato Harada) (US version)
... aka Gunhed
40. I Love N.Y. (1988) (really Gianni Bozzacchi)
41. "Karen's Song" (1987) TV*Series (episode "Take Me Out to the Ballgame") (as Allen Smithee)
42. Riviera (1987) (TV) (really John Frankenheimer)
43. Ghost Fever (1987) (really Lee Madden)
44. Morgan Stewart's Coming Home (1987) (really Paul Aaron and Terry Windsor)
... aka Home Front
45. Appointment with Fear (1987) (really Ramzi Thomas)
... aka Deadly Presence (USA)
46. Let's Get Harry (1986) (really Stuart Rosenberg)
... aka The Rescue
47. Dalton: Code of Vengeance II (1986) (TV)
48. "MacGyver" (1985) TV*Series (episode "The Heist")
49. MacGyver (1985) (TV)
50. "The Twilight Zone" (1985) TV*Series (episode "Paladin of the Lost Hour")
51. Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz (1985) (TV)
52. Stitches (1985) (really Rod Holcomb)
53. "Paper Dolls" (1984) TV*Series
54. "The Cosby Show" (1984) TV*Series (episode 8.22 "You Can't Stop the Music")
55. Moonlight (1982) (TV) (really Jackie Cooper and Rod Holcomb)
56. "McClain's Law" (1981) TV*Series (episode "Requiem for a Narc")
57. Fun and Games (1980) (TV) (really Paul Bogart)
58. City in Fear (1980) (TV) (really Jud Taylor)
59. Gypsy Angels (1980)
60. "Mrs. Columbo" (1979) TV*Series (really E. Arthur Kean) (episode "Love, on Instant Replay")
... aka Kate Columbo (USA)
... aka Kate Loves a Mystery
... aka Kate the Detective
61. The Barking Dog (1978)
62. The Challenge (1970) (TV) (really George McCowan)
63. Death of a Gunfighter (1969) (really Don Siegel & Robert Totten)
64. Fade-In (1968) (TV) (really Jud Taylor)
... aka Iron Cowboy
65. The Indiscreet Mrs. Jarvis (1955) (TV) (unconfirmed)
Writer - filmography
1. Grønne slagtere - en virkelig god marinade, De (2003) (TV)
... aka Store lærred: De grønne slagtere, Det (Denmark: promotional title)
2. An Enraged New World (2002)
3. The Frozen Inferno (2000) (V)
4. The Tony Blair Witch Project (2000)
5. The Nutt House (1992) (really Ivan Raimi and Sam Raimi)
6. Q & A (1990) (screenplay) (on television prints)
7. Ganheddo (1989) (really Masato Harada) (US version)
... aka Gunhed
8. The Horror Show (1989) (written by) (really David Blyth)
... aka Horror House
... aka House 3 (Australia: video title)
... aka House III: The Horror Show (UK: video title)
9. I Love N.Y. (1988) (really Gianni Bozzacchi)
