Alias Smith and Jones (1971) (TV)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Gene Levitt

Writers:

Douglas Heyes (writer)
Glen A. Larson (screenplay)

Release Date:

5 January 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

A pair of outlaws are offered amnesty by the governor if they will help to bring in a gang of desperadoes. However, they soon discover that there are more strings attached to the offer than they thought. |

Plot Keywords:

Amnesty | Drink On The House | Gold Tooth | Lighting Fuse | Swinging Door

Cast

Pete Duel	...	Hannibal Heyes - Joshua Smith
Ben Murphy	...	Jed Kid Curry - Thaddeus Jones
Forrest Tucker	...	Deputy Harker Wilkins
Susan Saint James	...	Miss Porter
James Drury	...	Sheriff Lom Trevors
Jeanette Nolan	...	Miss Birdie Pickett
Earl Holliman	...	Wheat
Dennis Fimple	...	Kyle
Bill Fletcher	...	Kane
John Russell	...	Marshall
Charles Dierkop	...	Shields
Bill McKinney	...	Lobo
Sid Haig	...	Outlaw
Kelton Garwood	...	Outlaw (as John Harper)
Jon Shank	...	Outlaw

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Castle Valley, Moab, Utah, USA

Company:

Universal TV

Quotes:

[opening narration]
narrator (opening sequence only): Into the West came many men. Some were good men and some were bad men. Some were good men with some bad in them and some were bad men with some good in them. This is the story of two pretty good bad men. Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry. Together these gentlemen substantially altered the course of America's frontier. They did a lot to change railroad schedules, too. And in all the trains and banks they robbed, they never shot anyone. This made our two latter-day Robin Hoods very popular...

Movie Connections:

Followed by "Alias Smith and Jones" (1971)

Fun Action

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.