Freebie and the Bean (1974)

San Francisco police detectives Freebie and Bean are determined to bust local crime boss Red Meyers at any cost, even if this means destroying the whole city in the process.

Director:

Richard Rush

Writers:

Robert Kaufman (screenplay), Floyd Mutrux (story)

Stars:

Alan Arkin, James Caan, Loretta Swit

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alan Arkin	...	Bean
James Caan	...	Freebie
Loretta Swit	...	Mildred - Red Meyers' Wife
Jack Kruschen	...	Red Meyers
Mike Kellin	...	Lt. Rosen
Paul Koslo	...	Whitey
Linda Marsh	...	Barbara - Freebie's Girl
John Garwood	...	Chauffeur
Alex Rocco	...	D.A.
Valerie Harper	...	Consuelo - 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)

Storyline

Freebie and Bean, two San Francisco police detectives, have one goal in life: to bring down Red Meyers, a local hijacking boss. After many fruitless months they finally collect an important piece of evidence. However, before they can get an arrest warrant, they hear the news of the hitman being hired to kill Meyers.

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Plot Keywords:

black comedy | best friend | machismo | gangster | police | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

25 December 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der Superschnüffler

Filming Locations:

Embarcadero Center, San Francisco,California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

After the gunfight at a dental surgery, one of the boys remarks "I've got to get a bigger gun, I can't hit nothing". Possibly a borrow from the earlier Hickey & Boggs (1972).

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Goofs

Bean's suspect ends his run on a restaurant kitchen stove and sizzling is heard on the soundtrack. When Bean removes him from the burners there is no burn damage to the man's body or shirt.

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Quotes

Bean: [after a fight in a restaurant kitchen] It's mostly ketchup, I think he's still alive. Call an ambulance!
Freebie: [having just arrived] What for? Get a large bun and a doggie bag, we'll take him with us

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Crazy Credits

During opening credits, as people walk in front of the camera, the older names are erased and the newer names appear.

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Alternate Versions

UK cinema and video versions were cut by 29 seconds by the BBFC to remove a face kick and to reduce the number of shots fired into the transvestite from 5 to 2. The version shown on Film Four is uncut and intact.

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Connections

Followed by Freebie and the Bean (1980)

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Soundtracks

Hard Core Man
Vocals by Bobby Hart
Music and lyrics by Dominic Frontiere, Bobby Hart, Danny Janssen

User Reviews

Make's 'Dirty Harry, Look Clean!

This Is a classic 70's 'Buddy Buddy comedy/Actioneer, that certainly paved the way for '48hr's 'Leathal Weapon' and many more cop flick's 'Freebie And The Bean' star's James Caan, as the macho tough guy 'freebie' Alan Arkin, is the short fused and neurotic 'Bean'

Freebie And The Bean have one goal together and that's to bring down the Obnoxious 'Red Myer's who is the local mafia kingpin, but whilst waiting for the Warrant to Arrest their man,They have to wait until Monday for the Important Warrant to arrive,The pair have to fight off various hit men,

It's down to Freebie And The Bean, to catch the assassins's And try and get their man with hilarious and riotous result's which have some of the finest car stunt's committed to celluloid!,

Freebie And The Bean Also star's Lorreta Swit, Alex(Godfather Rocco) And Valerie Harper AsArkin's wife,There is a mildly amusing subplot which has Arkin Convinced his Ethnic wife is cheating on him with equally hilarious result's!

The film also excel's in the verbal Chit Chat between Arkin And Caan, The film has numerous funny moment's including the scene where Arkin/Caan, whilst in pursuit of the Assasain's Accidentally Skid off the highway and crash in to two old people's apartment wall! That scene has got to be seen to be believed!

The stunt men and women must have got paid a lot for this film, and it show's incidentally the director Richard Rush, later Directed another cult favorite 'The Stunt Man,

Hopefully warner brother's will finally release this although the film like a lot of 70's classic's is overtly not PC(politically Correct) It'll be great to view it in It's 2:35 -1 Aspect Ratio, a commentary track by Arkin And Caan, would make a load of fan's happy,