Idiosyncratic new recruit Francis "Ike" Farrell tries to help the Cubs to the pennant with his pitching and hitting.Idiosyncratic new recruit Francis "Ike" Farrell tries to help the Cubs to the pennant with his pitching and hitting.Idiosyncratic new recruit Francis "Ike" Farrell tries to help the Cubs to the pennant with his pitching and hitting.
Joe King
- Johnson - Owner
- (as Joseph King)
Joseph Crehan
- Conductor
- (scenes deleted)
Herman Bell
- Major League Baseball Player
- (uncredited)
Wade Boteler
- Giant's Manager
- (uncredited)
Pauline Brooks
- Undetermined Role
- (uncredited)
Guy Cantrell
- Major League Baseball Player
- (uncredited)
Eddy Chandler
- Detective
- (uncredited)
Jack Cheatham
- Operator
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis film holds the world record for a studio production with one of its adult actors surviving the longest after its release. Olivia de Havilland lived for 85 years, one month, and eleven days following the film's release. (As of August of 2023, some still-living child actors, such as Cora Sue Collins and Marilyn Knowlden, have beaten this record.)
- GoofsThe plot hinges on the lights being turned out at the Chicago Cubs' ballpark during a night game, so the hero can change into a uniform. Wrigley Field, the Cubs' home field, did not have lights installed until 1988.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Sports on the Silver Screen (1997)
- SoundtracksThe Shadows of Yesterday's Stars
(1934) (uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Played when Farrell thinks his pool cue is crooked
Featured review
That Windmill Windup
Alibi Ike is a mildly amusing baseball comedy based on Ring Lardner's character of a pitcher with an excuse for everything. It's a pretty good example of Joe E. Brown's hayseed type character at the height of his popularity. And of course because A Midsummer Night's Dream was held up in release, Alibi Ike marks the debut of Olivia DeHavilland on the silver screen.
Although Olivia has little enough to do in this film which is strictly a Joe E. Brown show, she's one pretty thing here. She was only 19 when she made this film and would have to wait through another film besides this one and the Max Reinhardt extravaganza before settling into her Warner Brothers niche as crinolined heroine, yearning for Errol Flynn to win her as he did in Captain Blood.
Joe E. Brown took naturally to this role, possibly because he was known as a very big baseball fan in real life. Playing his ever harried manager in Alibi Ike is William Frawley who in real life was also known as a baseball aficionado. Brown's son, Joe L. Brown didn't follow his father into show business, he became a well respected baseball executive best known as general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates world championship team of 1960.
It's worth seeing the film alone to see how Joe E. Brown does that exaggerated windmill windup when he pitches. Funny as all get out, but in real life, a runner with the speed of Ernie Lombardi would have stolen two bases on him. Who's Ernie Lombardi, a Hall of Fame catcher with the Cincinnati Reds during this same period who was a legend for his lack of speed.
For baseball fans, and baseball film fans, make sure you don't miss this.
Although Olivia has little enough to do in this film which is strictly a Joe E. Brown show, she's one pretty thing here. She was only 19 when she made this film and would have to wait through another film besides this one and the Max Reinhardt extravaganza before settling into her Warner Brothers niche as crinolined heroine, yearning for Errol Flynn to win her as he did in Captain Blood.
Joe E. Brown took naturally to this role, possibly because he was known as a very big baseball fan in real life. Playing his ever harried manager in Alibi Ike is William Frawley who in real life was also known as a baseball aficionado. Brown's son, Joe L. Brown didn't follow his father into show business, he became a well respected baseball executive best known as general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates world championship team of 1960.
It's worth seeing the film alone to see how Joe E. Brown does that exaggerated windmill windup when he pitches. Funny as all get out, but in real life, a runner with the speed of Ernie Lombardi would have stolen two bases on him. Who's Ernie Lombardi, a Hall of Fame catcher with the Cincinnati Reds during this same period who was a legend for his lack of speed.
For baseball fans, and baseball film fans, make sure you don't miss this.
helpful•41
- bkoganbing
- Jul 28, 2007
- How long is Alibi Ike?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 12 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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