Trivia / Freebie and the Bean

• Creator Backlash: In a People Magazine interview, Alan Arkin called the film "absolute garbage".
• Fake Nationality: Alan Arkin, an American of Ukrainian, Russian, and German descent, plays a Hispanic police officer.
• Money, Dear Boy: Alan Arkin said that he only did the film because he "needed the bread".
• Recycled: The Series: There was a television series starring Tom Mason and Héctor Elizondo on CBS. It ran for just nine episodes from 1980-1. The fact that it aired opposite The Love Boat didn't help.
• Stillborn Franchise: Reportedly, Alan Arkin and James Caan's representatives were to meet with Warner Bros. executives to plan a sequel with Arkin directing.
• What Could Have Been: Al Pacino was offered one of the leads but his agent requested $250,000 plus a percentage of the profits.

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