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
Baseball comedy is charming and very funny
Joe E. Brown stars as Frank X. Farrell, rookie pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. Talented but quirky, Farrell quickly picks up the nickname Alibi Ike—it seems that he apologizes for everything, even his accomplishments:
Cap: "How many games did you win last year?" Ike: "Only 28. Had malaria most of the season."
Brown is hilarious as the alternately boastful and bashful Ike. William Frawley (looking almost young!) is fine as Cap, the often frazzled team manager. Ruth Donnelly is solid as always as Frawley's wife.
Olivia de Havilland, at the very beginning of her career, is lively and cute as the girl who wins Ike's heart, dumps him when he makes one excuse too many, and then roots for him to redeem himself when it counts.
Brown's charm really carries the picture; his reluctance ever to give a straight answer is humorous, sometimes almost poignant, but never as irritating as it would be in real life. Sometimes his excuses are very funny, too—like when his buddies, hoping to pin him down, ask him if he gave de Havilland a ring, and he says no, he lent it to her.
Lots of laughs, with some great on field baseball action too.
Cap: "How many games did you win last year?" Ike: "Only 28. Had malaria most of the season."
Brown is hilarious as the alternately boastful and bashful Ike. William Frawley (looking almost young!) is fine as Cap, the often frazzled team manager. Ruth Donnelly is solid as always as Frawley's wife.
Olivia de Havilland, at the very beginning of her career, is lively and cute as the girl who wins Ike's heart, dumps him when he makes one excuse too many, and then roots for him to redeem himself when it counts.
Brown's charm really carries the picture; his reluctance ever to give a straight answer is humorous, sometimes almost poignant, but never as irritating as it would be in real life. Sometimes his excuses are very funny, too—like when his buddies, hoping to pin him down, ask him if he gave de Havilland a ring, and he says no, he lent it to her.
Lots of laughs, with some great on field baseball action too.
helpful•20
- csteidler
- Sep 8, 2017
- 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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