Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1399 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-06-11
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 4
• Running time: 752 minutes

Synopsis
Two former outlaws try to start fresh in this Western series from the mind of Glen Larson (Magnum P.I.). Kid Curry (Ben Murphy) and Hannibal Heyes (Pete Duel) may have new names (the Smith and Jones of the title) and new lives, but their past keeps finding them. To get a pardon from the governor, they must attempt to live crime-free lives, a difficult task with zealous bounty hunters and bandits around every corner. This release presents the first series of the classic show from the 1970s.

Customer Reviews

Timeless and Wonderful
Was it really 1971? I can still remember the opening credits from way back then when the series aired on BBC 2.
This is the classic comedy western series. It's timeless because it's set in the West. Some of the music is a bit 70's, but for the most part it could have been filmed any time.
The chemistry between Pete Duel and Ben Murphy is excellent.
If you haven't watched it before, the premise is a couple of likeable rogue robbers have the opportunity to go straight and earn amnesty. The only problem is they have to stay straight for a year and only they, the governor and an old friend, now turned sheriff, can know about it.
The Series revolves around their escapades and efforts to achieve this while still being on the most wanted list.
If this genre is for you, it pushes all the buttons. It also comes highly recommended in the family entertainment category. Buy it or rent it, but watch it!

Alias Smith and Jones - First Season
I'd give this six stars if I could. I was fifteen when Alias Smith and Jones first hit BBC2 and the memory has stayed with me ever since. It was an instant success and the cheerful, self-effacing style of AS&J was irresistable. (I read somewhere that at its height the BBC was receiving 5,000 letters a week demanding more episodes and rapid re-runs).

For the first time we had a Western series that featured two amiable rogues as the lead characters. The level of scripting and the storylines were, for the most part, very original and highly intelligent, but what carried the series was the free-wheeling approach of the late Pete Duel (as Hannibal Heyes) and Ben Murphy (Kid Curry). Some of the stories involved quite sophisticated "stings", making it almost a Western version of the present-day Hustle, and clearly AS&J was closely modelled on Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (and a good premise at that).

Watching the pilot episode is just so uplifting and reminded me just how good some US television can be; it's not all about designer suits and hairdos. And essentially, unlike many old TV series, AS&J has not dated. It looks great, it's funny, uplifting and so fresh in its approach. I'm not sure that anything's come near it since. The only negative point is that the sad and untimely death of Pete Duel cost the series a key player after he'd filmed around 32 episodes. The dozen or so that followed were of a similar quality but it wasn't easy to replace him, although Roger Davis made a gallant effort.

I could start quoting memorable one-liners or dialogues from the series. I'll resist the temptation and just affirm that this is, without reservation, an excellent series. Buy it and enjoy it!

Tongue in cheek cowboy fun
I have waited a very long time for this DVD!
AS&J is one of my all time favourite shows and Pete Duel has always been my favourite actor. He was,sadly, taken from us far too soon.
It's Pete and Ben Murphy's on screen chemistry and excellent timing that really make this show so enjoyable and easy to watch. They are supported by some brilliant guest stars - J D Cannon as Harry Briskow is superb - and some interesting story lines with lots of gags to keep you smiling all the way.
Nostalgic? Yes - and I love every minute of it!!