But burn hollywood burn is a self fulfilling prohecy. But when smithee kind of goes crazy the film doesnt come out and it. For decades, if a film director felt he had little or no control over how badly his movie came out, the directors guild of america could be talked into crediting the film s director as alan smithee in order for the real director to save face. Alan smithee is a director who is just making his way in hollywood, and he makes the frustrating discovery that he is being used by bigwigs in the movie biz. A list of 17 films compiled on letterboxd, including woman wanted 1999, a river made to drown in 1997, an alan smithee film. The alan smithee concept became such a famous part of hollywood lore that in 1998, screenwriter joe esterhaus wrote a movie industry satire called an alan smithee film. Director arthur hiller took his name off the picture and it really did become an alan smithee film. When a rookie filmmaker with the unfortunate name alan smithee realizes hes an. The film supernova 2000 was the first post smithee film. An alan smithee film burn hollywood burn is a spectacularly bad filmincompetent, unfunny, illconceived, badly executed, lamely written, and acted by people who look trapped in the headlights. A buena vista release from hollywood pictures of an andrew g.
This jab at hollywood seems close in subject matter to another title credited to alan smithee, bloodsucking pharaohs. His first major film is a disaster, and it isnt his fault, so he decides that the best course of action is to direct it under a different name so that hes not associated with it in the. Burn hollywood burn 1997, a heavyhanded satire of hollywood filmmaking that was written by joe eszterhas. The film was actually directed by special fx makeup artist kevin yagher, who has gone on to be lead makeup designer on the tv show bones. The existence of alan smithee is one of hollywoods biggest non secrets. An alan smithee film burn, hollywood, burn variety. Watch the film then hear ben and damiens take, and join the conversation in the comments. Writer joe eszterhas takes a lot of potshots at hollywood in this cameofest, but just ends up shooting himself in the foot.
Vajna presentation, in association with joe eszterhas, of a cinergi production. An alan smithee film burn hollywood burn is a spectacularly bad filmincompetent, unfunny, illconceived, badly executed, lamely written, and acted by people who look trapped in the headlights the title provides clues to the films misfortune. In a straight 1 director example, hellraiser bloodline is the highest grossing film that is directed singularly by someone invoking alan smithee. For those who dont know, alan smithee is the name the directors guild puts on a film which has been dissowned by its director. The film supernova 2000 was the first postsmithee film. Just before burn was released, hiller had his name removed from the credits, which resulted in the unintended irony of alan smithee. The name was officially retired by the directors guild of america following the release of the 1997 satire alan smithee. An alan smithee film burn hollywood burn is a spectacularly bad film incompetent, unfunny, illconceived, badly executed, lamely written, and acted by people who look trapped in the headlights the title provides clues to the film s misfortune. Soon everyone, including his powerhungry studio boss ryan oneal, is after him to get it back. Jan 20, 2012 its the wild story of a hollywood director, alan smithee eric idle, who steals his own film from the studio. Coined in 1968 and used until it was formally discontinued in 2000, it was the sole pseudonym used by members of the directors guild of america dga when a director.
An alan smithee film burn hollywood burn is a spectacularly bad film incompetent, unfunny, illconceived, badly executed, lamely written. Filmmaker alan smithee finds himself the unwilling puppet of a potentially bad, big budget action film which he proceeds to steal the reels and leave the cast and crew in a frenzy. Burn hollywood burn o titulo na tela e simplesmente burn hollywood burn brasil. Jul 10, 2014 its the wild story of a hollywood director, alan smithee eric idle, who steals his own film from the studio.
Reportedly after screenwriter joe ezsterhas got to perform his own final cut on the film, the director, arthur hiller, asked for the name change after seeing the finished product. What is the most commercially successful alan smithee film. The studio heads agree to let him be credited under the standard directors guild pseudonym alan smithee. Its plot, about a director attempting to disown a film, ironically described the films own production. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes.
The dga decided that the name got so much exposure from the film an alan smithee film. Burn hollywood burn is a comedy about a film editor played by eric idle who finally gets his big break hes given the opportunity to direct a bigbudget action film starring sylvester stallone, whoopi goldberg, and jackie chan. A director has seen his film recut by the studio behind his back. And, as with eating liver, watching the lameo gags in an alan smithee film burn hollywood burn, a purported satire about hollywood filmmaking, is gaginducing. Alan smithee eric idle has just made the biggest hollywood picture ever starring jackie chan, whoopi goldberg, and sylvester stallone.
Burn hollywood burn alan smithee, arthur hiller, 1997. With hilarious humor and an allstar cast get ready for the ultimate comedy about the movie business. Burn, hollywood, burn, written and directed by superscreenwriter joe esterzhas, is that most painful of spectacles. Burn, hollywood, burn that now allegedly falls itself into this esteemed list of films. The sequel to alfred hitchcocks the birds was an alan smithee joint. The film follows smithee as he steals the negatives to his latest film and goes on the run. Burn hollywood burn stylized onscreen as burn hollywood burn is a 1997 american mockumentary comedy film directed by arthur hiller using the alan smithee pseudonym, written by joe eszterhas, and starring eric idle as the protagonist, a director unfortunately named alan smithee. Joe eszterhas lays some hollywood realism on the line for us all to enjoy.
Until its use was formally discontinued in 2000, it was the sole pseudonym used by members of the directors guild of america dga when a director, dissatisfied with the final product, proved to the satisfaction of a guild panel that he or she had not been able to exercise creative. Burn, hollywood, burn stars ryan oneal, coolio, chuck d. Too bad funny on the page doesnt necessarily transfer to funny on the screen. Hiller had his name removed from the production, reportedly over objections to the final cut. Hollywood likes nothing better than satirizing itself, and there is never any shortage of stars willing to do cameos and play up to their stereotypes in order to show what good sports they are. Follows a british director idle, whose given name is alan smithee, as he kidnaps the reels of his own picture when he realizes he hates the movie but cant remove his name from it since the directors guild of americas official pseudonym for disputed films is alan smithee. Hes embarrassed about the finished product and wants to have his name taken off it. Burn hollywood burn the onscreen title is simply burn hollywood burn is a 1998 comedy film. Its the wild story of a hollywood director, alan smithee eric idle, who steals his own. The director of over 30 feature films, he was born, or rather created.
The nuclear meltdown of both movies led to idles future liveaction roles in cinema being reduced to mere cameos. After massive walk outs and awful audience scores, eszterhas went ahead without hillers approval and began to cut away at the running time and add rock music. Now its official title is an alan smithee film burn. Opening to an alan smithee film burn hollywood burn 1998 vhs duration. Alan smithee also allen smithee is an official pseudonym used by film directors who wish to disown a project. Burn hollywood, burn 1997 alan smithee, arthur hiller. When a rookie filmmaker with the unfortunate name alan smithee realizes hes an unwitting studio puppet, being forced to make a bigbudget action movie he knows is horrible, he steals the master reels and tries to make a deal. Alan smithee was an official pseudonym used by film directors who wish to disown a project, coined in 1968. The greatest movies of all time filmwebs alternative top 2020 edition. The director of over 30 feature films, he was born, or rather created, as a pseudonym in 1967 for the film death of a. Burn hollywood burn is a 1997 american mockumentary comedy film directed by arthur hiller, written by joe eszterhas, starring eric idle as the protagonist, a director named alan smithee.
Alan smithees films include macgyver, an alan smithee film. An alan smithee film burn, hollywood, burn production. Now its official title is an alan smithee film burn hollywood. The film was critically panned, winning five awards including worst picture at the 1998 golden raspberry awards. An alan smithee film burn hollywood burn movie poster. Jul 12, 2007 the name was officially retired by the directors guild of america following the release of the 1997 satire alan smithee.
A satirical comedy about a filmmaker, ironically named alan smithee eric idle who pulls the plug on his own ailing bigbudget movie production. The only problem is, the directors real name is alan smithee. Burn hollywood burn 1997 that it was no longer an effective alias. Got a chance to read a script of an alan smithee film a couple of years back. Burn, hollywood, burn 1998 r 02201998 us comedy, documentary 1h 26m user score. Its about a troubled movie directed by a man whose name really is alan smithee eric idle. When a rookie filmmaker with the unfortunate name alan smithee realizes hes an unwitting studio puppet, being forced to make a bigbudget action movie he knows is horrible, he steals the master reels and tries to. Burn, hollywood, burn, presumably because it had grown too big for its boots. Burn hollywood burn is more interesting and amusing than anything in the movie. Bloodline joe chappelle, kevin yagher, alan smithee, 1996. The existence of alan smithee is one of hollywood s biggest non secrets.
The film also killed the career of respected director arthur hiller, who was known for making love story and being one of the hardestworking directors in the industry to the point that he had at least one project being released every single year until 1997. Burn hollywood burn 1998 including budget, domestic and international box office gross, dvd and bluray sales reports, total earnings and profitability. Soon everyone, including his powerhungry studio boss ryan oneal, is after him to. What ever happened to alan smithee, hollywoods worst director. Burn, hollywood, burn hit theaters, it had become glaringly apparent that eszterhas didnt possess a magic formula for boxoffice bonanzas. A hollywood director steals his own film from the studio, and the race is on to get it back in this witty behindthescenes look at the motion picture industry. Burn, hollywood, burn 1998, mighty ducks the movie. Grab your umbrella, and let all the awesome animation rain down on you. When a rookie filmmaker with the unfortunate name alan smithee realizes hes an unwitting studio puppet, being forced to make a bigbudget action movie, he knows is horrible, he steals the master reels and tries to make a deal. Burn hollywood burn 1997 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
754 1465 236 780 71 1336 818 1552 1086 1254 45 1130 140 687 64 1072 1162 611 853 1152 822 408 1400 669 1375 700 809 312 715 517 1486 770 182 1431