I saw this on the BBC t'other day, and I've been reading that there are heavily edited versions doing the rounds. I was wondering if this was an edited version. If it was, they left a lot of the "racist" stuff in.
I thought this was an amazing movie, and especially loved the chemistry between Caan and Arkin.
It was certainly longer than the version Channal 5 showed a couple of years ago,that cut all the 'racist' stuff. Maybe it was the full version. Whatever,I love the movie,fantastic dialogue,great performances by the leads and more mass destruction than King Kong!
shareI sneaked into see this movie when I was in my teens and I'm pretty certain the recent BBC print IS indeed the original theatrical version.
The heavily truncated Channel version was an utter fiasco - this from a broadcaster that prides itself on showing it's films 'uncut' - yeah right, when it suits 'em!
They've also cut a couple of Hammer movies to my certain knowledge - how many other films have been given the 'chop' is difficult to say.
This sort of censorship wouldn't be that bad, or as hypocritical, if C4 didn't proudly state, as part of it's mission statement, their policy of respecting the filmmakers original vision, to which end they say they do NOT edit films broadcast after the 9pm watershed.
Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs went out (along with all the graphic violence) uncut, so did Lars Von Trier's The Idiots - with it's scenes of hardcore actual penetrative sex.
Of course those two films were 'critically acclaimed' and therefore 'artistically justifed' in what they depicted.
Or maybe Channel 4 is (to a degree) snobbish, and adopts an cultural high ground when it suits them.
Yeah, that sounds about right.
Sorry to go off on that rant!
Freebie and the Bean is NOT available on Region 1 or Region 2 DVD - maybe we ought to start lobbying Warner Home Video for an anamorphic 2.35:1 release...!!
Peace.
PG.
BBC2 and Channel 4 do not apparently edit films so if it went out on BBC2 then it would be the original version.
It's that man again!!