Freebie and the Bean (1974)

Director:

Richard Rush

Writers:

Robert Kaufman (screenplay)
Floyd Mutrux (story)

Release Date:

25 December 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Above all... It's a love story.

Plot:

Freebie and Bean, two San Francisco police detectives, have one goal in life: to bring down Red Meyers...

Plot Keywords:

Police | Main Character Shot | Mexican American | Stadium | Karate

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Alan Arkin	...	Bean
James Caan	...	Freebie
Loretta Swit	...	Meyers' Wife
Jack Kruschen	...	Red Meyers
Mike Kellin	...	Lt. Rosen
Paul Koslo	...	Whitey
Linda Marsh	...	Freebie's Girl
John Garwood	...	Chauffeur
Alex Rocco	...	D.A.
Valerie Harper	...	Bean's Wife
Christopher Morley	...	Transvestite
Bruce Mackey	...	Floorwalker
Monty Stickles	...	Texas Brawler
Charles Bail	...	Cadillac Salesman (as Chuck Bail)
Eddy Donno	...	Bag Man (as Eddie Donno)
Robert Harris	...	Michigan Phil
Whitey Hughes	...	Broder
John Vick	...	Policeman
Marvin Walters	...	Policeman
Frank Orsatti	...	Laundry Truck Driver
Ted Duncan	...	Chicken Truck Driver
Gary Johnson	...	Liquor Truck Driver
Sheila Kayne	...	Apple Lady
Kathryn Witt	...	Whitey's Girl (as Kathie Witt)
George Burrafato	...	Vendor
Regina Parton	...	Fighting Lady
Maurice Argent	...	Tailor
Jerry Walter	...	Salesman
Tommy J. Huff	...	Bellboy (as Thomas Huff)
John Powers	...	Dentist
Terris Hall	...	Nurse
Bill Shannon	...	Sammy (as Billy Shannon)
Gary Kent	...	Ambulance Attendant
James De Closs	...	Ambulance Attendant (as James Decloss)
Marrietta Schmidt	...	Woman at Stadium
Mike Bast	...	Motorcyclist
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Evel Knievel	...	Motorcyclist (uncredited)
Sacheen Littlefeather	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Rush

Writing credits
Robert Kaufman		(screenplay)
Floyd Mutrux		(story)

Produced by
Floyd Mutrux	....	executive producer
Anthony Ray	....	associate producer (as Tony Ray)
Richard Rush	....	producer

Original Music by
Dominic Frontiere

Cinematography by
László Kovács		(director of photography) (as Laszlo Kovacs)

Film Editing by
Michael S. McLean		(as Michael McLean)
Fredric Steinkamp

Art Direction by
Hilyard M. Brown		(as Hilyard Brown)

Set Decoration by
Ruby R. Levitt		(as Ruby Levitt)

Makeup Department
Joan Phillips	....	hair stylist
Don Schoenfeld	....	makeup artist (as Donald Schoenfeld)

Production Management
Anthony Ray	....	unit production manager (as Tony Ray)
Sheila Scott	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles Ball	....	second unit director
Lorin Bennett Salob	....	second assistant director (as Lorin Salob)
Christopher Seitz	....	first assistant director (as Chris Seitz)

Art Department
Jerry Graham	....	property master

Sound Department
James Nelson	....	sound effects
Arthur Piantadosi	....	sound re-recording mixer
Sam F. Shaw	....	sound effects (as Sam Shaw)
Barry Thomas	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Sass Bedig	....	special effects

Stunts
Charles Bail	....	stunt coordinator (as Chuck Bail)
Phil Adams	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mike Bast	....	stunts (uncredited)
Pamela Bebermeyer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Calvin Brown	....	stunts (uncredited)
Hank Calia	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddy Donno	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ted Duncan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Kenny Endoso	....	stunts (uncredited)
Leonard P. Geer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tommy J. Huff	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dean Jeffries	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gray Johnson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Kevin N. Johnston	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peaches Jones	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gary Kent	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gene LeBell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Minor Mustain	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jimmy Nickerson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Frank Orsatti	....	stunts (uncredited)
Regina Parton	....	stunts (uncredited)
Regis Parton	....	stunts (uncredited)
Brandon Pender	....	stunts (uncredited)
Audrey Saunders	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Shannon	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tom Steele	....	stunts (uncredited)
Marvin Walters	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Richmond L. Aguilar	....	electric gaffer (as Rich Aguilar)
Gene Evans	....	camera operator
Leonard Lookabaugh	....	key grip (as Len Lookabaugh)
Paul Caven	....	best boy (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jerry Alpert	....	wardrobe
Agnes Lyon	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Don Guidice	....	assistant editor
Randy Roberts	....	assistant editor
Ralph Sandler	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer (uncredited)

Other crew
Dan Perri	....	title designer
Sheila Scott	....	production assistant
Terry Terrill	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Warner Bros

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1978) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Warner Bros (1974) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1984) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:(Banned) (1974) | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Australia:R | Iceland:12 | Netherlands:18 (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Alco Plaza, San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros

Goofs:

Continuity: When Freebie and the Bean lose the head-on collision battle with the van, their crumbling Ford then makes a right turn down a wrong way street, and collapses on the right-hand side of the street. In the next shot, the car is way on the left and even next to another car which wasn't there previously.

Quotes:

Freebie:Hi, Fred. We got a little accident. Could you send a tow truck, please, to 618 Elm Street? Hold it. It's the, uh, third floor, apartment 304.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Soundtrack:

When You Need Someone

Look out San Francisco

Long before the PC crowd raised their ugly heads, there was Freebie and the Bean(1974), a very watchable and funny comedy about two San Francisco cops who nearly destroy the city in their pursuit of a gangster. Alan Arkin and James Caan are in top form as the constantly bickering partners who will say or do anything to get their man. Entertaining from start to finish.