Freebie and the Bean (1974)
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30% of critics liked it
(10 reviews) -
62% of users liked it
(1,366 ratings)
Freebie (James Caan) and the Bean (Alan Arkin) are a pair of San Francisco cops. Red Meyers (Jack Kruschen) is the mobster whom Freebie and the Bean would like to see behind bars -- or, failing that, six feet under. Nothing stands in the way of the cops' pursuit of Meyers, meaning that private… More Freebie (James Caan) and the Bean (Alan Arkin) are a pair of San Francisco cops. Red Meyers (Jack Kruschen) is the mobster whom Freebie and the Bean would like to see behind bars -- or, failing that, six feet under. Nothing stands in the way of the cops' pursuit of Meyers, meaning that private property is given quite a going-over in this picture. The film's most memorable scene finds Freebie and the Bean crashing their car into a poor schnook's living room. TV favorites Loretta Swit and Valerie Harper play the only female roles worth mentioning. The racist and sexist humor in Freebie and the Bean may not go over as well today as it did in the politically incorrect early '70s. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Chuck Bail, Richard Rush
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Comedy
R,
- In Theaters
- Dec 25, 1974 Wide
- Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
Freebie (James Caan) is a cop whose corruption is supposed to be charming.
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Variety Staff, Variety
Richard Rush's tasteless film, from a spitball script by Robert Kaufman, utilized lots of stunt and action crews disturbing the peace all over San Francisco.
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, Time Out
On the whole, a film one can live without.
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Vincent Canby, New York Times
It has a cast of otherwise good actors doing bits of business (sometimes called acting) as if they thought they could upstage all of the movie's automobiles, which are seldom still.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The humor is tasteless and racist, but the action scenes are fantastically choreographed and executed.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
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Cast
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Alan Arkin
as Bean
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James Caan
as Freebie
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Loretta Swit
as Meyers' Wife
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Jack Kruschen
as Red Meyers
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Mike Kellin
as Lt. Rosen
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Valerie Harper
as Bean's Wife
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Maurice Argent
as Tailor
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Ted Duncan
as Chicken Truck Driver
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Robert H. Harris
as Michigan Phil
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Thomas Huff
as Bellboy
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Whitey Hughes
as Broder
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Paul Koslo
as Whitey
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Linda Marsh
as Freebie's Girl
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Alex Rocco
as District Attorney
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Jerry Walter
as Salesman
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Kathryn Witt
as Whitey's Girl
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Eddy Donno
as Bag Man
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John Garwood
as Chauffeur
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Gary Kent
as Ambulance Attendant
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Frank Orsatti
as Laundry Truck Driver
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Marvin Walters
as Policeman
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Gary Johnson
as Liquor Truck Driver
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Christopher Morley
as Transvestite
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John Powers
as Dentist
