Alibi Ike
| Alibi Ike | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Directed by | Ray Enright |
| Produced by | Edward Chodorov |
| Screenplay by | William Wister Haines |
| Based on | Alibi Ike by Ring Lardner |
| Starring | Joe E. Brown Olivia de Havilland Ruth Donnelly Roscoe Karns |
| Cinematography | Arthur L. Todd |
| Editing by | Thomas Pratt |
| Release date(s) | June 15, 1935 |
| Running time | 72 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Alibi Ike is a short story written by Ring Lardner and first published in the Saturday Evening Post on July 31, 1915. The story is about Frank X. Farrell, a baseball player who continually makes excuses for everything that goes wrong or right. For example, when asked what he batted last year, Farrell says that he had had malaria most of the season, which is why he hit only .356.
The story was made into a 1935 screwball comedy movie starring Joe E. Brown and Olivia de Havilland.[1] In the adaptation, ace baseball player Frank X. Farrell is nicknamed "Alibi Ike" due to his penchant for making up excuses. Farrell falls in love with Dolly Stevens, played by de Havilland. Farrell is kidnapped by gangsters to stop him from pitching. The film is considered one of the better baseball comedies.
[edit] Facts
- Ring Lardner is said to have patterned Alibi Ike after baseball player King Cole.
- Several popular major leaguers made cameo appearances in the film, among others Guy Cantrell, Dick Cox, Cedric Durst, Mike Gazella, Wally Hood, Don Hurst, Smead Jolley, Lou Koupal, Bob Meusel, Wally Rehg and Jim Thorpe.
[edit] References
- ^ Harrison's Reports film review; June 29, 1935.
[edit] External links
- Alibi Ike at the Internet Movie Database
- Alibi Ike at AllRovi
- Alibi Ike at the TCM Movie Database
- Text of Alibi Ike
