Alias Smith and Jones

Although there is a quite obvious influence from BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID, this TV pilot has an energy and humour that made it thoroughly entertaining in its own right. Duel and Murphy (as Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry) establish a quick rapport and Duel in particular delivers some priceless lines. Holliman is also deliciously funny as gang member Wheat, who challenges Duel's Heyes for leadership of the gang. The opening twenty minutes provide the set-up for Duel and Murphy to seek amnesty for their crimes. Drury is suitably deadpan as an old-friend, now a sheriff, who is their spokesperson with the governor and there is much fun with how the pair cope with temptation as they are hired as guard and teller at a bank run by Susan Saint James. Forrest Tucker also shines as a dozy deputy in an excellent supporting cast. The following series was the last in a run of classic TV westerns and was the best of its lightly-comic style since "Maverick".

I don't know what this TV western make so special. Of course the Pete Duel en Ben Murphy chemistry as already mentioned by other comments, is a fact. But could it be most episodes of this series are so exiting because the episodes have very good plots. good stories with adventure, special kind of humor and also tension. I consider most episodes to be of a higher quality than many western movies. Season 1 is available now in the Netherlands. I hope Universal will also release the other seasons.

Glen Larson really made something that will not age. There simply were outstanding TV series made like "The Prisoner" in the UK. Alias Smith & Jones is also one of them if you like the genre.

"Alias Smith And Jones" is actually a reworking of an earlier pilot/movie, called "The Young Country," about con artists in the Old West. It starred Roger Davis AND Pete Duel and was quite good. If it has ever been shown anywhere since its original ABC network airings (I assume they reran it once) it got by me. Apparently an ABC executive said "Not bad, but make it more like 'Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid'" and a Universal studio exec added, "Here's a sort of Paul Newman look-a-like we've got under contract you can use, so lose one of those guys." So Ben Murphy replaced Davis in the second pilot and the rest is history. If you doubt me, note that in "Country" Joan Hackett plays a character called Clementine Hale, the same name given to Sally Field's two-time guest role in the "AS&J" series. It is a shame that Roger Davis is thought of as the guy that flopped as Duel's replacement, because he was very effective in the original.

This 1970 ABC movie was very well received and done in the Butch Cassidy/Sundance Kid vein. The Pete Duel/Ben Murphy chemistry was excellent as they built strong scenes together. Their characters, Hannibal Heyes (Duel) and Jed Curry (Murphy) were trying to go crime free. The governor would grant them amnesty if they could do it for one year. The bad deal is they would still be wanted by the law. They could be killed, but could not kill. It was interesting to see how they would talk their way out of numerous situations (some which were very funny). This was so well received that they made it into a series which featured frequent guest star Sally Field as Clementine Hale. Sally Field and Pete Duel had starred in "Gidget" together.

Around New Years 1972, midway through their second season, Pete Duel lost his long time battle with depression and took his own life. ABC promptly replaced him with the show's narrator, Roger Davis. Even though Davis did an excellent job as Heyes, viewers had a hard time making the mental switch without thinking about the Pete Duel tragedy. ABC renewed the series for a Third Season (1972-73), however it was canceled in February of 1973.

When TNT or TVLand air the reruns of Alias Smith & Jones, whether it is the Duel/Murphy or Davis/Murphy chemistry, it is worth watching.

This series came about on the coat-tails of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and offers that same flavor of camaraderie and larceny in the old West. With just enough humor and angst throw in to make it a cult classic. I say cult because its not what you'd call a "straight" Western. It has drama, adventure, humor, and a bit of good ole fashion crime. It's well written and the two leads are perfect in their respective roles. I think the show would have lasted longer if not for the sudden death of one of its stars. No disrespect to Roger Smith but the chemistry was lost when Pete was replaced. Alas its not available on DVD (YET!) but you can find VHS eps on ebay and other sites. It's well worth a look!