Bean (1997)

Director:

Mel Smith

Writers:

Rowan Atkinson (characters) &
Richard Curtis (characters) ...
(more)

Release Date:

7 November 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Tagline:

One Man. One Masterpiece. One Very Big Mistake.

Plot:

Bean works as a caretaker at Britain's formidable Royal National Gallery, and his bosses want to fire him because he sleeps at work all the time...

Plot Keywords:

Whistler's Mother | London England | Los Angeles California | Briton Abroad | Portrait

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Rowan Atkinson	...	Mr. Bean
Peter MacNicol	...	David Langley
John Mills	...	Chairman (as Sir John Mills)
Pamela Reed	...	Alison Langley
Harris Yulin	...	George Grierson
Burt Reynolds	...	General Newton
Larry Drake	...	Elmer
Danny Goldring	...	Security Buck
Johnny Galecki	...	Stingo Wheelie
Chris Ellis	...	Det. Butler
Andrew Lawrence	...	Kevin Langley
Peter Egan	...	Lord Walton
Peter Capaldi	...	Gareth
June Brown	...	Delilah
Peter James	...	Dr. Rosenblum
Clive Corner	...	Dr. Cutler
Rob Brownstein	...	Dick Journo
Julia Pearlstein	...	Phyllis Quill
Tom McGowan	...	Walter Merchandise
Sandra Oh	...	Bernice Schimmel
Tricia Vessey	...	Jennifer Langley
Alison Goldie	...	Stewardess Nicely
Dakin Matthews	...	Tucker, Passenger
Scott Charles	...	Timmy Pewker Jr
Thomas Mills	...	Officer Stubbles
Ronnie Yeskel	...	Mrs. Goodwoman
Richard Gant	...	Lt. Brutus
Priscilla Shanks	...	Sylvia Grierson
Richard Hicks	...	Kart Pusherman
Gigi Fields	...	Nurse Desking
Lela Ivey	...	Nurse Pots
David Doty	...	Dr. Jacobson
Robert Curtis Brown	...	Dr. Frowning
April Grace	...	Nurse Pans
Perry Anzilotti	...	Dr. Squeaking
Janni Brenn	...	Nurse Dyper
Annette Helde	...	Nurse Gripes
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Irving	...	Anxious Man (uncredited)
Chris Lowe	...	Passenger (uncredited)
Maridean Mansfield Shepard	...	LAX traveler (uncredited)

Directed by
Mel Smith

Writing credits
Rowan Atkinson		(characters) &
Richard Curtis		(characters)
Richard Curtis		(written by) &
Robin Driscoll		(written by)

Produced by
Rowan Atkinson	....	executive producer
Peter Bennett-Jones	....	producer
Tim Bevan	....	producer
Richard Curtis	....	executive producer
Eric Fellner	....	producer
Rebecca O'Brien	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Howard Goodall

Cinematography by
Francis Kenny

Film Editing by
Chris Blunden		(as Christopher Blunden)

Casting by
Ronnie Yeskel

Production Design by
Peter S. Larkin		(as Peter Larkin)

Art Direction by
Kevin Constant

Set Decoration by
Bill Gregory

Costume Design by
Hope Hanafin

Makeup Department
Tony Gardner	....	special makeup effects artist
Brian McManus	....	makeup artist
Emjay Olson	....	makeup artist
Rupert Simon	....	chief hairdresser
Judy Yonemoto	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Cydney Bernard	....	production manager
Deborah Harding	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Trey Batchelor	....	first assistant director: second unit
Trey Batchelor	....	second assistant director
John Greaves	....	second unit director
Cliff Lanning	....	second assistant director: UK
Todd Y. Murata	....	second assistant director
Michael Zimbrich	....	assistant director

Art Department
Deana Albers	....	on-set dresser
Jason Bartolone	....	property maker
Jim Beinke	....	special props
Tony Chavez	....	propmaker
Andy Evans	....	construction manager: UK
Maureen Farley	....	property master
Tony Gardner	....	special props
Gregory S. Hooper	....	set designer
Tom Hrupcho	....	paint supervisor
Kim Larsen-Santini	....	assistant property master (as Kim Larsen)
Theodore Sharps	....	set designer
Abigail Sheiner	....	art department coordinator
Danielle Quilici	....	specialty props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Robert J. Anderson Jr.	....	sound mixer (as Robert Anderson Jr.)
Peter Glossop	....	production sound mixer
Matt Grimes	....	supervising sound editor
Eddy Joseph	....	foley editor
Nick Lowe	....	dialogue editor
Kenneth C. Mantlo	....	boom operator
Nigel Mills	....	adr editor
Nigel Mills	....	dialogue editor
Garry Fiferman	....	sound re-recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Scott Kodrik	....	special effects
Bryan Smith	....	lab technician

Stunts
Julie Adair	....	stunts
Bobby Aldridge	....	stunts
Tony Lee Boggs	....	stunts (as Tony Boggs)
Tony Brubaker	....	stunts (as Anthony Brubaker)
Eddie Fiola	....	stunts
Shawn Howell	....	stunts
Brandy Johnson	....	stunts (as Brandy Johnson-Scharpf)
Max Kleven	....	stunts
Keoni Kramer	....	stunts (as Keoni G. Kramer)
Gene LeBell	....	stunts
Gary Morgan	....	stunts
Jane Oshita	....	stunts
Chris Palermo	....	stunts
Carl Paoli	....	stunt double: Mr. Atkinson
Monte Rex Perlin	....	stunts
Denise Lynne Roberts	....	stunts (as Denise Roberts)
Bill Scharpf	....	stunts
Ben Scott	....	stunts
John-Clay Scott	....	stunts
Lori Scott	....	stunts
Walter Scott	....	stunt coordinator
Chad Stahelski	....	stunts
Gwynn Turnbull	....	stunts
Mike Watson	....	stunts
Danny Wong	....	stunts
Steve Griffin	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jeff Case	....	key grip
Shawn Duchscherer	....	electrician
Suzanne Hanover	....	still photographer
David Kagen	....	electrician
Joe Kraft	....	dolly grip
George Lozano Jr.	....	rigging electric
James M. McClure	....	electrician (as James McClure)
Michael McCormack	....	video assist operator
Ronald W. McLeish	....	gaffer (as Ron McLeish)
Roy A. McLeish	....	best boy (as Roy McLeish)
Melissa Moseley	....	second still photographer
Alexandre Naufel	....	set lighting
Bill O'Drobinak	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Angelo Orefice	....	electrician
Randall Ott	....	electrician
Eric Parker	....	best boy
Nick Pearson	....	dolly grip: English unit
Gregory Romero	....	grip (as Greg Romero)

Casting Department
Richard Hicks	....	casting associate
John Hubbard	....	casting: UK
Ros Hubbard	....	casting: UK
Rich King	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mitzi Haralson	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Steve Farman	....	negative cutter
Heidi Freeman	....	assistant editor
Steve Maguire	....	assistant editor
Julian Pryce	....	assistant editor
Lynne Warr	....	first assistant editor
William Webb	....	additional film editor

Music Department
Ronan Keating	....	composer: theme song "Picture of You"
Daniel Giorgetti	....	music assistant (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Loren Bess	....	driver
John Bologa	....	driver
Gary Cheek	....	driver
Bernard Glavin	....	driver
Leon Glavin	....	driver
Chris Gorden	....	driver
Shane Greedy	....	transportation coordinator
Steve Howard	....	driver
Tom Neal	....	driver (as Tommy Neal)
Don Poole	....	driver
Charlie Rothstein	....	driver
Tom Stillman	....	driver
Robert J. Young	....	driver

Other crew
Scott Aguilar	....	medical consultant
Julianna Arenson	....	production accountant
Richard Bellos	....	stand-in: Harris Yulin
Gavin Charlton	....	sous chef
Lauren Feige	....	production assistant
Emma Freud	....	script editor
Cori Glazer	....	script supervisor
Kurt Greufe	....	first assistant accountant
Rachel Holroyd	....	legal advisor
Elizabeth Joan Hooper	....	assistant production coordinator (as Elizabeth Hooper)
Ian Lyons	....	production assistant
Lance Mancuso	....	key medic
Liz Matthews	....	location manager
Elizabeth Maxwell	....	caterer (as Liz Maxwell)
Michael Maxwell	....	caterer
Jo McIllece	....	production coordinator
Richard M. Newkirk	....	stand-in: Mr. MacNicol
Carrie Nicol	....	paymaster
Sandra Nixon	....	production accountant: UK
Chris Romberg	....	first assistant accountant
Louise Seaman	....	assistant accountant: UK
Emma Thomas	....	company coordinator
Fran Triefus	....	production coordinator
Steven Yudson	....	stand-in: Mr. Atkinson
Anthony Genovese	....	stand-in: Tom McGowan (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Polygram Filmed Entertainment
• Working Title Films
• Tiger Aspect Productions

Distributors

• Gramercy Pictures (I) (1997) (USA) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (1997) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• PolyGram Filmed Entertainment Distribution (1997) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (1997) (Germany) (theatrical)
• PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (1997) (UK) (theatrical)
• REP Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (1997) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Sogepaq Distribución (1997) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Vitória Filmes (1997) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Amuse Video (1998) (Japan) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (Australia) (VHS)
• GAGA Humax
• GAGA
• Image Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (2000) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Pinema (1997) (Turkey) (all media)
• PolyGram Video (1997) (Netherlands) (video)
• PolyGram Video (USA) (DVD)
• Polygram Filmed Entertainment (video)
• Scanbox Entertainment (1998) (2001) (Finland) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (1998) (Finland) (VHS)
• Top Tape (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Alterian

Other Companies

• Pinewood Studios  movie studio
• AON  insurance
• American Standard Company  restroom fixtures
• Big Time Picture Company  editing facilities: USA
• C.A.S.T. Security  security
• Duracraft  oscillating fan
• Entertainment Partners  payroll services
• General Screen Enterprises  titles and opticals
• Home on the Range  catering
• Inter Video  24 frame video services
• Mercury Records  soundtrack
• Mobile Mouthful  catering (UK)
• Professional Negative Cutting  negative cutting
• Sapex Scripts  post-production services
• Twickenham Film Studios  dubbing facilities

Also Known As:

Bean: The Movie (USA) (video box title)
Bean: The Ultimate Disaster Movie (Hong Kong: English title)
Dr. Bean (UK) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for moments of risque humor.

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Ireland:PG | South Korea:12 | Italy:T | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Netherlands:AL | Norway:7 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 (certificate #35186) | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Polygram Filmed Entertainment

Trivia:

The soundtrack album for this film contains "(I Want To Be) Elected" by Alice Cooper, as sung by Bruce Dickinson. Rowan Atkinson appears in the song, making comments throughout as Mr. Bean, who is running for British prime-minister. His lines contain many references to Atkinson's series "Black Adder the Third" (1987). For example, Vincent Hanna appears reading off the votes, like he did on the first episode of Blackadder III. Like in that episode, all the parties listed off "no votes" until Atkinson's, who received all the votes (so Bean gets elected in the song). Also, Bean's speech starts off "Unacustomed as I am to public speaking..." like Prince George's did in the episode "Sense and Senility".

Goofs:

Factual errors: The real painting is actually bigger than the one used in the film.

Quotes:

Lt. Brutus: He's a genius, huh?
David Langley: That's what they tell me.
Lt. Brutus: Well, he looks like a fruit cake to me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "It Takes Two: (#2.2)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Picture Of You

Sometimes quite funny, but still disappointing after the TV show

Despite only having fourteen episodes, "Mr. Bean" was a VERY successful TV series, developing a well-deserved reputation for its excellent visual humour! Two years after the show's demise, it was decided that it was time to bring Rowan Atkinson's character to the silver screen. The result was "Bean" (a.k.a. "Bean: The Ultimate Disaster Movie"), but unfortunately, this didn't turn out to be nearly as good as the classic TV series, and has disappointed many fans, including me.

Mr. Bean works as a caretaker for England's Royal National Gallery, and is one lousy employee (as one would probably assume), constantly sleeping on the job! Because of this, the board of directors plans to fire him, but the chairman will not permit this. The Grierson Gallery in Los Angeles has just purchased the famous "Whistler's Mother" painting, and curator David Langley has requested that the Royal National Gallery sends an art scholar to make a speech at the unveiling of the painting. Since the board of directors can't fire Bean, they see this as an opportunity to get him out of their lives, at least temporarily, so they send him, under the name, "Dr. Bean"! David Langley has no clue that Bean is not a doctor, nor is he even an art expert, and the painting could now be in danger because of him! Not only that, the presence of the Royal National Gallery's terrible employee may also threaten the future of poor David's job and family!

This movie's main problem is that it simply isn't nearly as consistently funny as the TV series. There are quite a few funny parts, I can't deny that, but I think most of them only made me smile or snicker, not enough big laughs, which there are a lot of in the show! Also, some gags from the show are repeated in this movie, and were done better the first time. These include Mr. Bean falling asleep while sitting down and gradually falling onto his knees and head (I guess that one is not as funny when nobody else is in the picture), and getting his head stuck in a turkey dinner (the main reason why it's not as funny this time is probably because the turkey isn't as big). Now, this movie did introduce some new and funny gags, but none of them can match some of the priceless ones in the show. None of the other characters really add much to the humour, and sadly, Mr. Bean cannot steadily carry it all by himself throughout the entire thing. Towards the end, I've found the film gets a bit tiring.

Overall, I wouldn't say "Bean" was not a bad first attempt to bring the world-renowned walking disaster to the silver screen, but hardly a good one, either, they certainly didn't completely pull it off. I am only one of many fans who have been disappointed by it to some degree. I certainly don't think it's something to watch for non-stop laughs over and over again, and that's pretty much how I would describe many of the short sketches, which I'm sure many would agree with. I think most fans of the show would at least find SOME laughs in this movie, but it seems that some fans hate it, so that's certainly not a guarantee.