Episode 50 sent us to movie jail, so we missed last week, but we have been released into the general population for episode 51. However, due to extreme studio interference, we have all adopted pseudonyms, lest this episode tarnish our hitherto (mostly) unblemished reputations.
This week we're looking at the career of one of Hollywood's longest-working and most diverse filmmakers, Alan Smithee. It is no exaggeration to say that he ranks among the most industrious directors in tinseltown, with more than 100 features, innumerable screenplays and a raft of production credits to his name.
And for those that didn't know, from 1968 that name was the official pseudonym used by film directors who wanted to disown a project, until it was formally discontinued in 2000. In those years it was the sole pseudonym used by members of the Directors Guild of America (DGA) when a director wished to disown themselves from the final product, after proving that they had not been able to exercise creative control over a film.
So are there any hidden gems in his filmography, was he merely a patsy, a fall guy who had to take the bullet for better known film makers? Or does he deserve his sullied reputation? Join us as we delve into the career of one Alan Smithee and find out.
