No director in Hollywood has a weirder résumé than Alan Smithee. Between 1969 and 2015, his credits included the Richard Widmark western "Death of a Gunfighter"; the horror comedies "Student Bodies" and "Ghost Fever"; the Jodie Foster thriller "Catchfire"; the franchise sequels "The Birds II: Land's End" and "Hellraiser: Bloodline"; episodes of hit TV series like "MacGyver" and "Tiny Toon Adventures"; and music videos for artists like Metallica, Destiny's Child, Wu-Tang Clan, Whitney Houston, and Jennifer Lopez.
But there's a reason for that: "Alan Smithee" is not a real person. It's a pseudonym invented by the Director's Guild of America for filmmakers to use when they no longer want to be credited for their work. This usually happens when they're replaced on a project, or believe that studio interference has altered the film so much that it no longer reflects their vision. That's why you'll sometimes see "Alan Smithee" credited on TV...
But there's a reason for that: "Alan Smithee" is not a real person. It's a pseudonym invented by the Director's Guild of America for filmmakers to use when they no longer want to be credited for their work. This usually happens when they're replaced on a project, or believe that studio interference has altered the film so much that it no longer reflects their vision. That's why you'll sometimes see "Alan Smithee" credited on TV...
- 11/12/2023
- by William Bibbiani
- Slash Film
Richard Widmark reportedly used his clout to amp up this revisionist western, but the result seems forced at best, and hampered by Universal’s TV-grade production values. The sober screenplay brings in good ideas but the execution can’t quite hold its own with the more progressive westerns of the genre-changing years 1968-’69. A cast of familiar faces makes much of it look fresh: Carroll O’Connor’s venal saloon keeper steals the show, while interesting casting gives us Lena Horne as Widmark’s romantic partner.
Death of a Gunfighter
Region B Blu-ray
Powerhouse Indicator
1969 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 94 min. / working title Patch / Street Date February 27, 2023 / available from Powerhouse Films UK / £15.99
Starring: Richard Widmark, Lena Horne, Carroll O’Connor, David Opatashu, Kent Smith, Jacqueline Scott, Morgan Woodward, Larry Gates, Dub Taylor, John Saxon, Darleen Carr, Michael McGreevey, Royal Dano, James (Jimmy) Lydon, Kathleen Freeman, Harry Carey Jr., Walter Sande, Victor French.
Cinematography:...
Death of a Gunfighter
Region B Blu-ray
Powerhouse Indicator
1969 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 94 min. / working title Patch / Street Date February 27, 2023 / available from Powerhouse Films UK / £15.99
Starring: Richard Widmark, Lena Horne, Carroll O’Connor, David Opatashu, Kent Smith, Jacqueline Scott, Morgan Woodward, Larry Gates, Dub Taylor, John Saxon, Darleen Carr, Michael McGreevey, Royal Dano, James (Jimmy) Lydon, Kathleen Freeman, Harry Carey Jr., Walter Sande, Victor French.
Cinematography:...
- 3/7/2023
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Simply put, Cyberpunk 2077 was a mess at launch. The game’s various bugs and technical problems left a sour taste in the mouths of many early adopters. Fortunately, CD Projekt Red has been busy patching the game (as well as fending off lawsuits), and Cyberpunk 2077‘s latest update might have finally produced the kind of experience gamers wanted.
Earlier today, CD Projekt Red revealed and published Patch 1.5. The update applies to all versions of Cyberpunk 2077 but is focused on modern platforms. Patch 1.5 adds long-awaited improvements such as ray-traced graphics to current-gen consoles, as well as fan-requested changes such as upgraded Npc crowd AI. The result might not wash away the memory of Cyberpunk 2077’s launch woes, but it makes for a good argument to try out the game, especially since the update coincides with a new five-hour free trial. What better way to see if Patch 1.5’s alterations finally make the game worth a purchase?...
Earlier today, CD Projekt Red revealed and published Patch 1.5. The update applies to all versions of Cyberpunk 2077 but is focused on modern platforms. Patch 1.5 adds long-awaited improvements such as ray-traced graphics to current-gen consoles, as well as fan-requested changes such as upgraded Npc crowd AI. The result might not wash away the memory of Cyberpunk 2077’s launch woes, but it makes for a good argument to try out the game, especially since the update coincides with a new five-hour free trial. What better way to see if Patch 1.5’s alterations finally make the game worth a purchase?...
- 2/15/2022
- by Matthew Byrd
- Den of Geek
At a glance, parental hatred for Blippi and his insanely popular YouTube video series seems irrational.
After all, the guy (real name: Stevin John) pulls in hundreds of millions of clicks all over the globe every time he plays at a park or bops around a children’s museum. But for moms and dads who view Blippi disdainfully, his voice, orange spectacle frames, spelling errors and perceived lack of water safety in and around swimming pools has sparked everything from playful parodies to vitriolic posts on Reddit.
More from TVLineKristen Bell and Amazon Prime Spread the Gospel of Music Education...
After all, the guy (real name: Stevin John) pulls in hundreds of millions of clicks all over the globe every time he plays at a park or bops around a children’s museum. But for moms and dads who view Blippi disdainfully, his voice, orange spectacle frames, spelling errors and perceived lack of water safety in and around swimming pools has sparked everything from playful parodies to vitriolic posts on Reddit.
More from TVLineKristen Bell and Amazon Prime Spread the Gospel of Music Education...
- 12/2/2021
- by Mekeisha Madden Toby
- TVLine.com
Someone's been listening to "traitor"... North West just tried to expose her mom for being a fake Olivia Rodrigo stan! The 7-year-old fashionista hilariously roasted Kim Kardashian after the reality star claimed she loves "cute" Olivia's debut song "drivers license." On Tuesday, May 25, Kim shared a video of the enviable PR package she received full of Olivia's new merch, including her Sour Patch Kids collab. "You guys know I love 'drivers license,'" Kim told the camera. Meanwhile, her eldest daughter can be overhead giving a delightfully sassy response, saying, "You never listen to it." Kim laughed and told her,...
- 5/25/2021
- E! Online
Variety has bolstered its television team with the promotions of editors Diane Garrett and Michael Schneider.
Garrett, most recently an editor in the Focus features department, has been named senior TV editor. Schneider has advanced to deputy TV editor in addition to his role as senior editor, TV awards. Garrett and Schneider report to Cynthia Littleton, co-editor in chief.
Garrett will work closely with Littleton and Schneider in developing news and feature stories for all Variety platforms. She will help plan coverage of TV-related news and events and help manage Variety’s growing team of reporters who cover television.
Schneider’s elevation comes as the Variety veteran takes on expanded responsibilities for steering coverage of news and features, with an emphasis on TV-related pop culture, movers and shakers and rising stars in the creative community.
As TV awards chief, Schneider oversees awards coverage and pens the weekly Awards HQ newsletter.
Garrett, most recently an editor in the Focus features department, has been named senior TV editor. Schneider has advanced to deputy TV editor in addition to his role as senior editor, TV awards. Garrett and Schneider report to Cynthia Littleton, co-editor in chief.
Garrett will work closely with Littleton and Schneider in developing news and feature stories for all Variety platforms. She will help plan coverage of TV-related news and events and help manage Variety’s growing team of reporters who cover television.
Schneider’s elevation comes as the Variety veteran takes on expanded responsibilities for steering coverage of news and features, with an emphasis on TV-related pop culture, movers and shakers and rising stars in the creative community.
As TV awards chief, Schneider oversees awards coverage and pens the weekly Awards HQ newsletter.
- 5/20/2021
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
BlizzCon 2021, the biggest Blizzard celebration of the year, is finally here! And this is where you can keep up with all of the big announcements, gameplay footage, and trailers. The show kicks off on Friday, Feb. 19 at 5 pm Et and runs through Feb. 20. You can check out the full schedule here.
Although the virtual nature of the event means that attendees won’t be able to gather under one roof for exciting tournaments and a surprise-filled Opening Ceremony, Blizzard is still bringing quite a lot to this year’s event. The studio has promised to reveal what’s next for most of its major properties, which means we’re bound to get a few big announcements and surprises during the Opening Ceremony on Friday.
What could be on the docket? Well, Blizzard accidentally leaked that fans will learn more about what’s next for World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, including the...
Although the virtual nature of the event means that attendees won’t be able to gather under one roof for exciting tournaments and a surprise-filled Opening Ceremony, Blizzard is still bringing quite a lot to this year’s event. The studio has promised to reveal what’s next for most of its major properties, which means we’re bound to get a few big announcements and surprises during the Opening Ceremony on Friday.
What could be on the docket? Well, Blizzard accidentally leaked that fans will learn more about what’s next for World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, including the...
- 2/19/2021
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
Logan. Patch. Weapon X. Wolverine. The mysterious mutant has gone by many names and lived many different lives. Now, experience him unleashed in his most ferocious stories ever crafted. Beginning in November, Wolverine: Black, White and Blood will feature Wolverine’s wildest adventures. New tales of the best there is all packed together in unadulterated black and white format told through the lens of an all-star cast of creators!
The blood starts to flow in Wolverine: Black, White and Blood #1 and a return to the Weapon X program with Gerry Duggan and Adam Kubert, and encounter a new revelation from Wolverine’s shattered memories. Then, join Matthew Rosenberg and Joshua Cassara on an explosive deep-cover spy mission from Wolverine’s association with Nick Fury. After that, head into the wilds with writer/artist Declan Shalvey as Logan finds himself in the crossfire of a deadly trap!
Wolverine: Black, White & Blood #1 (of 4)
Written by Gerry Duggan,...
The blood starts to flow in Wolverine: Black, White and Blood #1 and a return to the Weapon X program with Gerry Duggan and Adam Kubert, and encounter a new revelation from Wolverine’s shattered memories. Then, join Matthew Rosenberg and Joshua Cassara on an explosive deep-cover spy mission from Wolverine’s association with Nick Fury. After that, head into the wilds with writer/artist Declan Shalvey as Logan finds himself in the crossfire of a deadly trap!
Wolverine: Black, White & Blood #1 (of 4)
Written by Gerry Duggan,...
- 8/18/2020
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
This past weekend, the world got a little less entertaining with the passing of veteran actor John Saxon, whose career spanned over an impressive seven decades. A truly singular onscreen presence, Saxon was teen idol turned character actor with a penchant for playing authority figures throughout his diverse career.
If you look at Saxon’s Hollywood résumé, John’s contributions to both the cinema and small screen entertainment are endless, with roles in timeless classics like The Plunderers, Posse from Hell, Summer Love, The Appaloosa, Death of a Gunfighter, Gunsmoke, Fantasy Island, The Big Score, Fast Company (which was directed by an up-and-coming David Cronenberg), Falcon Crest, Running Scared (1980), Beverly Hills Cop III, Dynasty, Melrose Place (playing Daphne Zuniga’s lawyer for multiple episodes), and of course, Enter the Dragon, opposite Bruce Lee.
In terms of his genre output, the variety of films that Saxon was a part of is equally impressive,...
If you look at Saxon’s Hollywood résumé, John’s contributions to both the cinema and small screen entertainment are endless, with roles in timeless classics like The Plunderers, Posse from Hell, Summer Love, The Appaloosa, Death of a Gunfighter, Gunsmoke, Fantasy Island, The Big Score, Fast Company (which was directed by an up-and-coming David Cronenberg), Falcon Crest, Running Scared (1980), Beverly Hills Cop III, Dynasty, Melrose Place (playing Daphne Zuniga’s lawyer for multiple episodes), and of course, Enter the Dragon, opposite Bruce Lee.
In terms of his genre output, the variety of films that Saxon was a part of is equally impressive,...
- 7/30/2020
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
John Saxon, the stoic yet charismatic character actor who starred in many iconic horror, western and genre films, died in Murfreesboro, Tenn., after a battle with pneumonia, according to multiple reports. He was 83.
The daughter of his “Enter the Dragon” co-star Bruce Lee paid tribute on the late martial arts actor’s Twitter page.
The daughter of his “Enter the Dragon” co-star Bruce Lee paid tribute on the late martial arts actor’s Twitter page.
- 7/26/2020
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
HBO Max has a major job on its hands to justify its approximately $15 a month subscription fee, especially given the strong competition out there from established names like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Disney Plus faced a similar challenge last year in arriving onto an already-saturated streaming marketplace, but at least had the advantage of major series like The Mandalorian to promote. While HBO Max will eventually be home to the Snyder cut of Justice League, and has some originals for its first week of availability, the big draw right now is its enormous back-catalogue of movies.
Given the various corporate elements that are going into HBO Max, including the Warner Bros. library, owners AT&T will be hoping that the combination of brand recognition for HBO programming, and a deep bench of movies, will convince people to add a new subscription to their list. To this end, HBO Max have added 122 films today,...
Given the various corporate elements that are going into HBO Max, including the Warner Bros. library, owners AT&T will be hoping that the combination of brand recognition for HBO programming, and a deep bench of movies, will convince people to add a new subscription to their list. To this end, HBO Max have added 122 films today,...
- 6/1/2020
- by Jessica James
- We Got This Covered
Welcome to the HBO Max era! WarnerMedia’s streaming giant arrived on May 27 and is absolutely bursting with Warner movies, TV shows, and other titles. But time waits for no man or streaming service and each new month HBO Max will be expected to bring new content to the table. Things get started in June 2020 with the first batch of HBO Max new releases.
To be clear, the majority of the original series coming to HBO Max actually belongs to HBO. Shows like I May Destroy You (June 7), Perry Mason (June 21), and I’ll Be Gone in the Dark (June 28) all belong to HBO…which now just happens to be a part of HBO Max. Confusing stuff, we know, but rest assured that if you have HBO Max you’ll get these shows…and if you only have HBO, you can go ahead and just get HBO Max for the same price anyway.
To be clear, the majority of the original series coming to HBO Max actually belongs to HBO. Shows like I May Destroy You (June 7), Perry Mason (June 21), and I’ll Be Gone in the Dark (June 28) all belong to HBO…which now just happens to be a part of HBO Max. Confusing stuff, we know, but rest assured that if you have HBO Max you’ll get these shows…and if you only have HBO, you can go ahead and just get HBO Max for the same price anyway.
- 5/27/2020
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
One notable thing about the new trailer for "After Earth" (June 7), starring look-alike father-son duo Jaden and Will Smith, is the absence of director M. Night Shyamalan's name. Following the disastrously reviewed, 3-D retrofitted "The Last Airbender," not to mention "The Lady in the Water" and "The Happening," Sony is choosing not to remind audiences of Shyamalan's involvement in the movie. Does this mean that Shyamalan is an actual negative as a selling tool? On some level, Sony might as well make "After Earth" an Alan Smithee film. Alan Smithee is the official pseudonym used by filmmakers who wish to disown a project. The term came about in 1968, when actor Richard Widmark enlisted director Don Siegel to complete the film "Death of a Gunfighter," after vocalizing his discontent with current director Robert Totten. Siegel's logged days on the film were less than half of Totten's, and he contended after...
- 3/8/2013
- by Beth Hanna
- Thompson on Hollywood
Velvet-voiced singer, actor and activist who broke new ground for black performers
A handful of decades ago the roles for black performers in Hollywood movies were deliberately kept peripheral to the plots, so that their appearances could easily be edited out for screenings in the American south. Black singers and musicians were barred from taking rooms in the same hotels in which they were performing. Partners in an interracial marriage might decide to leave the Us and move to more hospitable locations, such as Paris, to avoid hate mail and threats. All this and more happened to the singer and actor Lena Horne, who has died aged 92.
Horne not only rose above it all, but also significantly contributed to changing the situation. The velvet-voiced, multi-talented Horne first negotiated, and then resisted, the worst that a racist entertainment industry could throw at her. She rose to its summit as an original...
A handful of decades ago the roles for black performers in Hollywood movies were deliberately kept peripheral to the plots, so that their appearances could easily be edited out for screenings in the American south. Black singers and musicians were barred from taking rooms in the same hotels in which they were performing. Partners in an interracial marriage might decide to leave the Us and move to more hospitable locations, such as Paris, to avoid hate mail and threats. All this and more happened to the singer and actor Lena Horne, who has died aged 92.
Horne not only rose above it all, but also significantly contributed to changing the situation. The velvet-voiced, multi-talented Horne first negotiated, and then resisted, the worst that a racist entertainment industry could throw at her. She rose to its summit as an original...
- 5/10/2010
- by John Fordham
- The Guardian - Film News
A veteran character actor Robert Sorrells has been hit with a murder charge after witnesses told police he walked into a California bar and shot two patrons, killing one. The 74-year-old actor, who has appeared in such films as Death Of A Gunfighter and Gunfight In Abilene and popular TV western Gunsmoke, was arrested close to the Simi Valley bar - called The Regency Lounge - shortly after Saturday's shooting. He was booked for investigation of murder and attempted murder and held at the Ventura County Jail. Police Sergeant Paul Fitzgerald declined to say whether authorities knew of a motive, but said Sorrells had visited the bar before. A bartender says Sorrells had been at the bar until it closed on Friday night, returned Saturday morning looking for his credit card, then returned again in the afternoon and opened fire. Police say he shot Arthur De Long, 45, in the back and Edward Sanchez, 40, in the face and back - De Long was killed, while Sanchez, 40, was hospitalized in serious condition.
- 7/28/2004
- WENN
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