Freebie and the Bean
The 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.,During 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.,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.,During opening credits, as people walk in front of the camera their names appear.,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.,Featured in Don Adams' Screen Test: Tarzan/Public Enemy/Hurricane/Casablanca (Pilot) (1975),Title Theme: You and Me
Vocals by Bobby Hart
Music and lyrics by Dominic Frontiere, Bobby Hart, Danny Janssen,This movie is both odd and quite funny. I saw Freebie And The Bean at the theater and laughed so hard I was actually asked to leave.

It's always a pleasure to watch Alan Arkin work, and he works so well playing off James Caan, who's fantastic in this film, too. Be forewarned, though, if you're bothered by things politically incorrect, you may be offended by Freebie And The Bean.

The story is unimportant because it's the comic skits that make this movie work. Freebie (James Caan) is part of a detective team who thinks the major part of his benefit package is whatever he can walk away with, while Bean (Alan Arkin) plods along worrying that his wife is having an affair with the landscaper. Freebie and the Bean crashing their car off an overpass and into the upper floor of an apartment building, Freebie giving Bean a fashion lesson about why buttons don't fall off of expensive shirts, or Bean grilling his wife, played by Valerie Harper, attempting to catch her in a lie about the suspected affair....these are worth watching the film for and are some of the funniest scenes I've ever seen. Keep in mind, though, this movie is quite violent and there's this fantastic trans-gendered character who seems to offend alot of folks as well.

I'll own this movie as soon as it comes out on DVD and I totally recommend it.,