Joe E. Brown and Alibi Ike, 1935
Ring Lardner's Baseball Comedy Was Made Famous by Film Star
Alibi Ike, interpreted by comedian Joe E. Brown for film in 1935, was sports writer Ring Lardner's second character played on the big screen in collaboration with top ten box office star Brown. The film, featuring a baseball hero, followed the 1933 smash hit Elmer the Great, which also went to the ball park for laughs and lessons of life.
Comedian and Baseball Buff
Brown was a baseball buff, no secret in Hollywood. He frequently was seen with baseball greats. Lou Gehrig, slugging New York Yankee first baseman, was a friend of Bown's. At Brown's birthplace, Holgate, Ohio, the high school baseball stadium was dedicated with a corner stone for the famous comedian. Brown made periodic trips to the small farm town to remember his beginnings, and he always paid tribute to the local ballplayers.
The Alibi Ike character Brown played in 1935 was resplendent with buffoonery, but also lovable for his inherent goodness. Alibi Ike may have been a clown in his ability to wittily throw out alibis for everything that went wrong -- and for some things that went right -- but he couldn't hurt a flea on a dog's back, and he never would have thought to cheat on his girlfriend.
Brown Believed in Family Life
Family was an institution that Brown earnestly supported. He believed children produced marital solidarity and responsibility. Brown was born to a large family -- he had six siblings -- and the thing he missed most as a ten-year-old trying out the world on his own in 1902 was conversation. He was isolated in his young, acrobatic career with The Five Marvelous Ashtons (out of Toledo, Ohio) before film and stardom and his own married and family life began.
Characters Imitated Life
In the characters he played, Brown elevated clumsy, clowning, talented people to higher levels of maturity and responsibility after downfalls. Brown's Ike has little time for loved ones as he pursues his all important rookie season with the Chicago Cubs. Baseball takes centerstage.
As this drama unfolds, Alibi's girlfriend, actress Olivia de Havilland, is put off by Alibi's intimation that girls desparately seek engagements and all bets are off when a man feels sorry for them. Alibi's Dolly breaks off the engagement, and Alibi loses his pitching edge.
All Is Well That Ends Well
Alas, Alibi comes through with the pennant-winning hit -- an inside the park home run. He has saved the day after shrugging off his gambling kidnappers who were trying to keep him from the decisive game, speeding to the park in a stolen ambulance, and entering the ball park by dramatically smashing through the outfield wall. Dolly has a change of heart, and all is well.
Many older, real life ballplayers are given mention in Brown's films. Adrian Constantine "Cap" Anson (1852-1922) benefits from this yarn, being recognized as the diamond game's first player of real star status. Brown never stopped being baseball
