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Personal Quote: When I refused to take directing credit for the film [Death of a Gunfighter], as did Bob Totten, the Directors' Guild made up a pseudonym for Totten and myself, 'Allen Smithee'. As the picture was well received, I told my young friends who wanted to be directors to change their name to Smithee and take credit for direction of the picture. I don't know if anyone did this. I still think under ... See more When I refused to take directing credit for the film [Death of a Gunfighter], as did Bob Totten, the Directors' Guild made up a pseudonym for Totten and myself, 'Allen Smithee'. As the picture was well received, I told my young friends who wanted to be directors to change their name to Smithee and take credit for direction of the picture. I don't know if anyone did this. I still think under ...

Trivia: The Alan Smithee escape nomenclature can and has also been used by screenwriters and scenarists. It's true that it began being used by directors who did not want their mangled work identified as theirs but writers quickly began to catch on. Those not intimately familiar with the production process, especially so with big companies, might not quite understand this. However if an inept person in a ... See more The Alan Smithee escape nomenclature can and has also been used by screenwriters and scenarists. It's true that it began being used by directors who did not want their mangled work identified as theirs but writers quickly began to catch on. Those not intimately familiar with the production process, especially so with big companies, might not quite understand this. However if an inept person in a ...

Trademark: Alan Smithee has no distinguishable style, nor is it usually apparent what director he is taking the credit for.