Why You Should Watch Alias Smith and Jones
Alias Smith and Jones
What: an old fashioned Western with a lot of humor, and two gorgeous men who travel around getting into trouble.
Why You Should Watch It
1. The humor
2. The hot men
3. The action
4. Did I mention the hot men?
5. The bathtub scenes ....
The Basics:
Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry - the two most successful outlaws in the history of the West. And in all the trains and banks they robbed, they never shot anyone. This made our two latter-day Robin Hoods very popular ... with everyone but the railroads and the banks.
This television Western aired from 1971 to 1973, and was a gentle comedy/drama which relied on witty dialogue more than sight gags or put-downs. The essence of the show was the relationship between our two heroes - one a smartass safecracker and master schemer, the other a cool-headed gunslinger with a soft side. The two were obviously partners: they teased, insulted, laughed at, and pranked one another mercilessly, but when the chips were down, they had each other's backs.
The series was one of the first for producer/creater Glen Larson, and was loosely based on the recent Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid movie (in fact, the aliases came from the line in that movie, "I'm Smith. You're Jones."). In Alias Smith and Jones, our heroes have been finding robbery increasingly more difficult.
"The safes are getting harder and the posses are getting smarter."
They are given a flier detailing a new program by the governor of Wyoming, offering amnesty for certain criminals. Though dubious, they decide to give it a shot, and approach a former comrade of theirs, who is now a sheriff. They eventually manage to convince him they are serious.
Trevors" That's for cheap crooks and small time grifters!
Curry: You can't tell me the governor's gonna penalize us for excellence!
Sheriff Trevors agrees to speak to the governor on their behalf. He gives them the aliases Smith and Jones out of semi-desperation when their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of a local businesswoman. The idea is that they keep these names so that the sheriff can keep track of them to let them know if they are going to get their amnesty.
"One thing we gotta get Heyes"
"What's that?"
"Outta this business!"
Heyes was played for roughly half of the series by Pete Duel then, after his death, by Roger Davis. Kid Curry was played by Ben Murphy.
Your Cast of Characters:
Hannibal Heyes aka "Joshua Smith": safecracker, card sharp, smartass, schemer. He can open a safe just by manipulating the tumblers and listening to the sound. He is so good with cards that he can tell that the ace is missing from a deck just by shuffling. Heyes is the one with all the plans.
Jed "Kid" Curry aka "Thaddeus Jones": gunman, tough guy, ladies man, security expert. He is the fastest gun in the West. He's always ready for trouble, but always looking for a way to avoid it if he can. He's constantly alert for possible danger. Curry is the one with the muscle.
Harry Briscoe (I always wondered if there could be any connection to Brisco County): Bannerman Detective, played by J.D. Cannon. Harry is a proud, overly enthusiastic "Bannerman Man." Unfortunately, he is also inept at detecting. He frequently asks Smith and Jones for help in his ongoing quest to bring in those two notorious outlaws, Heyes and Curry.
Kyle (L) and Wheat (R): members of the Devil's Hole Gang, formerly led by Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry. Wheat is the moderately more intelligent of the two. Kyle was played by Dennis Fimple (as an aside for you other shippers, Dennis also starred in episodes of Starsky and Hutch and Brisco County, Jr.) Wheat was played by Earl Holiman. Other gang members came and went, but Kyle and Wheat remained.
Lom Trevors: former outlaw, now sheriff of Portersville. Lom brokers the amnesty deal for Heyes and Curry, and keeps track of them via telegram, under their aliases of Smith and Jones. Lom was played by James Drury.
There weren't any recurring female characters on the show, though at one time the producers tried to convince Sally Field to take the role of Clementine, an old friend of our boys from their hometown. There were, however, a number of hideously anachronistic dresses which turned up in several episodes, on several different women.
There is also no real subtext in this show. The relationship is out in the open. In fact, it's so damn open that halfway through the second season, the narration changed from "our two latter-day Robin Hoods" to "our two Kansas Cousins!" As if the producers could explain the obvious closeness of the men by suddenly claiming they were related ... Pfui!
The series relied on the fact that "the governor can't just come flat out and give you amnesty - first you have to prove you deserve it." Thus, in each episode the heroes tried to stay out of trouble and become honest citizens - while still remaining wanted men, one jump ahead of the next bounty hunter or posse.
Curry: And in the meantime, we'll still be wanted?
Lom: I'm afraid so. Just you, me, and the governor will know about it. It'll be our secret.
Heyes: That's a good deal?
Our Boys spent each episode trying out various "honest" jobs ...
managing a saloon ...
Hauling freight ...
Even construction ...
Nothing really appealed to them - besides, there was always the fact that the next lawman might recognize them, and they'd spend the next twenty years in prison!
Why It's So Damn Addictive:
First, there's the writing. Roy Huggins, the executive producer wrote most of the episodes (only for some odd reason, the people in charge told him he couldn't write them, so he turned them in under the name John Thomas James!) He had a quick wit that really made the show funny without detracting from the action scenes. He was knowledgeable about history, and any facts mentioned in the show are accurate - yes, that includes the amnesty offer. This made the shows fast paced, with enough action to keep you on the edge of your seats, and enough puzzles to make you rack your brain for the solutions.
Another attraction is the acting. Pete and Ben made those characters come alive. There are scenes where nothing is said, but you know exactly what each is thinking by their expression and body language. Pete, especially, in his role as Heyes the con man, put on many disguises - each time, he totally changed, often to the point that you really didn't recognize him until he removed the disguise! Ben, in his role of the gunfighter, was great at the cold, steely expression, but he also played tender scenes very well. Often, it was Curry who softened first, feeling sorry for someone who had been mistreated and talking Heyes into helping them. In these scenes, Ben's expressions are perfect. Poor Roger Davis usually gets the short end of the stick, having been thrust into the role of Heyes two days after Pete's death. However, he is also a talented actor, and while his Heyes never had the camaraderie with Curry that Pete's did, he brought a different depth to the role.
And speaking of acting - that little show, which lasted only three years, had some of the most amazing guest stars! Some of them were already famous, so much so that you wonder how the producers convinced them to star in a TV series. Some appeared on the show and used it as a stepping stone to later fame.
Here's a list of all of them. Here are a few you'll recognize, though, so you'll believe me when I say they had some astonishing guests!
The "Also Starring" List:
Susan St. James, Alan Hale, Fernando Lamas, Dick Cavett, Sally Field, Walter Brennan, Pernell Roberts, Forrest Tucker, Jo Ann Pflug, Burl Ives, Keenan Wynn, Patrick MacNee, Belinda Montgomery, Slim Pickins, Cesar Romero, Dana Elcar, Ann Sothern, Buddy Ebsen, Don Ameche, Frank Sinatra Jr, Susan Oliver, George Montgomery, Jim Backus, Cameron Mitchell, Lee Majors, Randolph Mantooth, Jeanette Nolan, Will Geer, Jack Albertson, Ida Lupino, Jane Wyatt, Joan Hackett, Claudine Longet, Judy Carne, Jack Cassidy, Larry Storch, Louis Gossett Jr, Heather Menzies, Jack Elam, Barbara Stuart, Adam West, Diana Muldaur, Sam Jaffe, and even a very young William Christopher *M*A*S*H's Father Mulcahey
The entire show is available on DVD - you can get it anywhere you buy DVDs, but you'd do better to order online, because your local store is going to ask "Alias WHO?"
Many episodes are available free at IMDB/Hulu.
Where's the Fic?
Our LJ community, full of slashy goodness and other fanfiction, is aliassmithjones
Here are some other links you might enjoy:
Alias Smith and Jones Fanfiction one of the better fanfiction sites I've found - a stable of talented writers to choose from - PG to R ratings
Good Deal Productions: A Virtual Season - fanfiction written as a "virtual season" of the show, with a "cast" of guest stars and photos (you can also choose a text only version)
ASJ Fanfiction Archive - an older site (last updated in 2005!) but links to some good fanfiction
Buckshot Enterprises Presents ASJ Fanfiction - chats, fiction, and a variation on the virtual season
Alias Smith and Jones Collection - contains huge photo galleries, filmographies, sounds and videos, news articles, etc
Personal Ephemera: Alias Smith and Jones - contains actor bios, episode guides, script notes, and Snarkathons! (don't ask ... just go look)
Alias Smith and Jones Image Library - a massive collection of video frame captions from the episodes
Ablaze for Heyes - one fan's take on the episodes, with snarky comments, trivia, goofs, and some damn fine photos!
Pete Duel's Website - photos from ASJ, video captures, and fanfiction, plus information about the actor who played Hannibal Heyes. There's also a link to the memorial store, where you can get these nifty "It's All About Pete" t-shirts and mugs.
Ben Murphy's Website - Ben's official website
I couldn't find an official website for Roger Davis - honestly, I did look! Anyway, for those of you who think I'm slighting the poor man, here's a photo: And now I have found his Official Website at last!
And that's the story of "two pretty good, bad men." Come over to aliassmithjones sometime and join us as we sit around the campfire and spin a few tall tales.
