4. Tony Kaye - American History X
The making of American History X is a pretty bizarre story. It was the first feature film of Tony Kaye, about a neo Nazi skinhead played by Edward Norton. While New Line Cinema was pleased with Kaye's initial rough cut, Kaye began cutting down the film to 87 minutes. The studio told him to work with Norton to provide a longer version of the film. Kaye became very angry during the process, even going so far as takinG out attack ads against the film. He then brought a priest, a rabbi and a Tibetan monk in to the office of New Line's president, asking for an extension on editing his cut of the film. The president said no, that they were going to release the film he and Norton put together. Kaye disowned the film and asked to have it credited to either Alan Smithee or Humpty Dumpty. Unfortunately for Kaye, since he publicily criticized the film, they could not remove his credit off the film. Norton would receive an Oscar nomination for his performance and the film would become considered a modern classic.