IMDb RATING
6.6/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
Two reckless San Francisco police detectives finally obtain evidence against a local crime boss, and while waiting for a witness to arrive before making an arrest, they have to discreetly gu... Read allTwo reckless San Francisco police detectives finally obtain evidence against a local crime boss, and while waiting for a witness to arrive before making an arrest, they have to discreetly guard his life against an assassination attempt.Two reckless San Francisco police detectives finally obtain evidence against a local crime boss, and while waiting for a witness to arrive before making an arrest, they have to discreetly guard his life against an assassination attempt.
- Awards
- 1 win & 2 nominations total
Charles Bail
- Cadillac Salesman
- (as Chuck Bail)
Eddy Donno
- Bag Man
- (as Eddie Donno)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
A mainstay on cable in the 70's, Freebie and the Bean is by no means "great" but it certainly is thoroughly entertaining to anyone who doesn't let political correctness stand in their way.
This is no doubt a film that can offend; the two cops (especially Caan) use muscle whenever they can; a crossdresser is treated horribly and insulted; there's some racial humor. But hey, this was made in 1974 when people simply weren't as uptight as they are now.
It's a goofy movie, it has goofy music, goofy comedy and a goofy script. The goofiness, violence and non-political correctness of this flick make for an odd mix, but it's an entertaining mix. Cann and Arkin are great in their roles, and show geniune affection and friendship for each other as they try to keep a criminal alive to break a case.
Car chase fans especially like this movie, and there are some classic chases here! The highlight chase shows the duo chasing after a blue car with some truly amazing stuntwork.
All in all if you aren't the easily offended type, and like some goofy comedy mixed with action, it's worth a spin, if only to see how movies were made when not under a watchdog's microscope.
This is no doubt a film that can offend; the two cops (especially Caan) use muscle whenever they can; a crossdresser is treated horribly and insulted; there's some racial humor. But hey, this was made in 1974 when people simply weren't as uptight as they are now.
It's a goofy movie, it has goofy music, goofy comedy and a goofy script. The goofiness, violence and non-political correctness of this flick make for an odd mix, but it's an entertaining mix. Cann and Arkin are great in their roles, and show geniune affection and friendship for each other as they try to keep a criminal alive to break a case.
Car chase fans especially like this movie, and there are some classic chases here! The highlight chase shows the duo chasing after a blue car with some truly amazing stuntwork.
All in all if you aren't the easily offended type, and like some goofy comedy mixed with action, it's worth a spin, if only to see how movies were made when not under a watchdog's microscope.
One of the best of the cop-buddy-movie genre. Although there is just enough realism to keep the story's premise afloat, Director Richard Rush makes sure that this film doesn't take itself too seriously. Alan Arkin turns in a first-rate performance as the "Bean", the straight guy (with a couple of kinks of his own) against James Cann's maverick "Freebie" character.
There are a few surprising twists, even though a flick this funny doesn't really need much of a plot.
With a strong supporting cast including Valerie Harper and Loretta Swit, I found this feature outrageously funny when I saw it in the theater in 1975, and it's still just as good today. There is a scene with Alex Rocco as the "D.A.", at which my dad, a real-life D.A. at the time, nearly fell out of his seat laughing.
If you can find this classic, by all means watch it. As long as you remember that it's just a spoof, no more a serious look at policing than "Police Academy" was, you'll enjoy yourself. If we're lucky, maybe a DVD release is in the cards.
There are a few surprising twists, even though a flick this funny doesn't really need much of a plot.
With a strong supporting cast including Valerie Harper and Loretta Swit, I found this feature outrageously funny when I saw it in the theater in 1975, and it's still just as good today. There is a scene with Alex Rocco as the "D.A.", at which my dad, a real-life D.A. at the time, nearly fell out of his seat laughing.
If you can find this classic, by all means watch it. As long as you remember that it's just a spoof, no more a serious look at policing than "Police Academy" was, you'll enjoy yourself. If we're lucky, maybe a DVD release is in the cards.
Although it's story is a letdown, Caan and Arkin' make a great teaming of "throw the book out the window cops", I'm prepared to forgive this. They're two of the most unruly cops I've ever seen. They're methods of questioning are mostly exorcised by physical violence and threats of intimidation. They total three squad cars in three days, would you believe, one of the cars going off a speed ramp and crashing through a wall of a elderly couples home is a classic. The couple, sitting up in bed, sharing milk and cookies, just have stunned looks. These cops are tailing this old codger, who's involved in racketeering, where there's a good chance he's gonna be hijacked. This leads us to wonder why our dynamic duo are so wasting their time on this clown. They even trawl threw a boot of garbage, fishing out a list, they present to their superior, who tells them "They're not fit to guard the fish at the aquarium". This movie works, thanks to Caan, and especially Arkin, who I loved in this. One interrogation scene, involving a gay guy in a bath, was funny too, wanting the two to rough him up, where Caan says "Let's get out of here before this freak starts drinking the bathwater". Valerie (Rhoda) Harper lends great support as Arkin's wife, while Loretta "Hot lips Hoolahan" Swit pops up as the old codger's mistress. I love this movie every time I watch it. It one of those rare buddy cop movie's where, the cops are so out of line, it's not funny. Sometimes they are like kids, causing an ambulance to topple over at it's end, or chasing each other through a playground while on surveillance of that joker. Don't miss this opportunity view.
Most buddy cop films are just that, a pair of mismatched boys in blue in pursuit of an evil bad guy. "Freebie and the Bean" has a bad guy, however he is neither important or particularly bad. What is important about this movie is not the story itself, it is all about James Caan and Alan Arkin's deadpan humor while crashing police cars . There certainly have been longer police chases. There certainly have been more crashed vehicles. There never has and never will be a more hilarious chase than in "Freebie and the Bean". The chemistry between Caan and Arkin seems so natural, that it can't all have ben scripted. So forget plot inconsistencies and take a ride with the best buddy cop film ever. Highly recommended. - MERK
The Daddy of 'em all. The original & still the best. Arkin & Caan are on top form as (you saw it here first) mis-matched, loose-cannon cops, who leave a trail of destruction (oh, beautiful destruction!) in their wake. With it being the 70's, the language is somewhat 'colourful', which just adds to Caan's character. Foul-mouthed 70's cops, don't you just love 'em? The stunts are top-notch and spectacular, not to mention highly original and almost comic book (The car pile-up scene & 'that' scene where they crash the car)
Rush's direction is excellent as well. He only made this because he couldn't get 'The Stunt Man' off the ground! (which is another corker) Altogether an very, VERY enjoyable romp (COP-romp, that is) The film was virtually remade as Lethal weapon 4 (not to mention 1, 2 & 3!)
My favourite scene is the ludicrous fight in the restaurant kitchen, where Rush must've just said 'try to destroy everything you can in this scene, boys'. Which they did. Brilliant.
Rush's direction is excellent as well. He only made this because he couldn't get 'The Stunt Man' off the ground! (which is another corker) Altogether an very, VERY enjoyable romp (COP-romp, that is) The film was virtually remade as Lethal weapon 4 (not to mention 1, 2 & 3!)
My favourite scene is the ludicrous fight in the restaurant kitchen, where Rush must've just said 'try to destroy everything you can in this scene, boys'. Which they did. Brilliant.
Did you know
- TriviaThe film became an action-comedy after Alan Arkin and James Caan met for improvisational sessions in which they explored a more comedic approach to the characters' relationship.
- GoofsDuring the first car chase (with the white van), Bean straps on a police helmet for his safety. In the very next shot of the car, Bean isn't wearing the helmet.
- Crazy creditsDuring opening credits, as people walk in front of the camera their names appear.
- Alternate versionsUK 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.
- SoundtracksTitle Theme: You and Me
Vocals by Bobby Hart
Music and lyrics by Dominic Frontiere, Bobby Hart, Danny Janssen
- How long is Freebie and the Bean?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $3,000,000 (estimated)
- Runtime
- 1h 53m(113 min)
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
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