James Cagney Accepts the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1974
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ย. 2009
- James Cagney accepts the 2nd AFI Life Achievement Award (1974).
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![What's My Line? - James Cagney; Gore Vidal [panel] (May 15, 1960)](/img/n.gif)
This dear man _owned_ the room that night. To say that his speech hit it out of the ballpark before an adoring crowd would be a gross understatement.
The childhood friends he speaks of, I'm proud to say also includes my grandfather.
Hi , I’m from Ireland, we have a saying
Show me your friends and I tell you who you are ... I can tell your grandfather was a gentleman .. who kept great company.
Stay safe ..
Ok
mmmm...
@@moc7323 Yes he definitely was a great man. Thank you. And I like the saying that you have in Ireland.
I'm Irish, but from America. So I will have to keep that saying in mind.
Stay safe your self.
Awesome!
Mr. Cagney doing Mr. Cagney for all of us one last time. When he hitches his trousers...I mean, it's all there. The shoulder shrug, the stance, the moves. What a beautiful farewell to everyone who loved him.
ONE OF A KIND😎
'That unmistakable touch of the gutter', takes one of nature's gentlemen to acknowledge. Truth and honesty was coming over the footlights in waves. Perhaps the most sincere speech I've ever heard.
Has there ever been a classier, more grateful, authentic or more perfect acceptance by an actor? This man is so deserving.
Nope
Best ever.
I’m thinking……………………………….
James Cagney, one of my good heroes, from the time I was a child watching his great movies with my family,
I also have a book about him and his brothers as well, great actor and person who fought for fair pay for all actors,
and that's the truth.
I really don't see how there ever could have been, @jeh500, you are exactly right! James Cagney ... You led the way for ALL of us .. Such a Green Conservationist he was, too ... 💚
I didn't think my admiration for him could get any bigger. I was wrong, it just did. When Robert Redford was asked who was the actor he most admired he said "James Cagney, not only for his wonderful career but how he led his life". Amen to that.
James Cagney Inspiration As A Gentle Man, Actor, Great American.
Pour Clint Eastwood également.Il à déclaré récemment dans une interview qu'il admirait plus que tout James Cagney.
Notice how many people he mentioned who effected his life... Giving thanks to those who helped make him one of the most outstanding actors of ALL TIME! Great Man!!!
So sweet of him to mention his childhood buddies...
He looks great here at 75 years young.....I notice he gets emotional at 7:35 when speaking of his wife,brother and sister but some laughed (he wasnt being funny) Rest easy Mr Cagney, you were loved by Many!
James Cagney had some serious acting chops...could do it all: sing. dance, comedy, drama, tough gangster what a performer
Guess we will never see an actor like Cagney again. Glad we had him
.
Don't know too many today that can compare.
I have to admit I though cagney only played the tough guy until I saw him in yankee doodle dandy great actor fantasitc movie.
Yes, You Tube him tap dancing down a flight of stairs, remarkable....
Orson Welles called him the best actor of the Golden Age.
My all-time favorite actor. I wrote him a nice letter in 1981, and he (eat your heart out) sent me an autographed 8x11.
You jammy bastard! Eating my heart out as we speak!
You're a lucky bastard, you dirty rat!!!
That is wonderful. God bless you!!!
"So's your thick skull copper!" (he said jealously)
You want to sell it
They just don't make them like this anymore, a humble man who without a doubt is a superstar. God bless you Mr. Cagney, you are missed.
When people talk about a man that men wish they could be and women wish they could be with, James Cagney is in the upper strata. What a fine example of a man.
so cool that he thanked his childhood friends
Marlene Ful And that he recognised the influence that the people he knew back then had on how he grew up. It just goes to show the truth of the old adage; ‘Give me the boy until he is 7, and I will give you the man.’
@@lindashelley3635 amen!
OMG!!! Mr Cagney!!!! I NEVER knew! YOU JUST TAKE MY BREATH AWAY!!!
They just don't make 'em like Mr. Cagney anymore. He was truly a treasure!
How this makes me weep... what a beautiful soul. We are so lucky to have had a man like him share his talents with the world.
As Orson Welles said “He was never real, but he was always truthful”. A small man of huge talent!
Like so many men & women of that era, James had class & humility. His acting was underlined by the fact that he personally was a great human being. The way he thanks everybody, especially his early boyhood pals, shows that he understands exactly how luck & the influence of others shapes our path in life. We will never see the like of these people again. They knew how to conduct themselves with civility & charm. A perfect example of a disciplined parental legacy.
Yes I was just about to say that!
Very true
You couldn't have said it better!!!
He was certainly a good and the gentleman which I can't say for now
There are people like him as in a great human being, just not as talented, he had it all.
He's so funny and fiercely intelligent! Definitely one of the most remarkable actors in the 20th century!
... of any century.
True.
A wonderful actor. A wonderful human being. And a great dancer too.
_"Made it Ma! Top of the world!"_ You were top of the world, James Cagney. The absolute top.
As this speech proves Cagney was often at his best when he did comedy. His performance in Billy Wilder's "One Two Three" (1961) is incredible.
I love that flick
I am thrilled that Hollywood honored Mr. James Cagney this way and that all the major stars came out to share this with him.
Why can't you find that type of class act now? It seems we've lost that as a society . James Cagney is one class act .
James Cole mayor of hell
Because this world stinks now and its too late for people to admit how wrong they have become !!!!!
Among the best
It's rare in Public life but the average Joe lives his and her life in the class act that doesn't get the limelight.
4 BIG STARS JAMES! *"THE GREAT SPENCER TRACY-(l900-67) DUIED BEFIRE THEY STARTED THIS AWARD IN 1973 BUT, HE WOULDN'T HAVE ACCEPTED IT ANYWAY BY THEN
I have watched this over 30 times. One of the best, funniest speeches ever!
That's CLASS. Thats James Cagney. That acceptably speech was 44 years ago and still holds up today. I'm 62 and loved that speech. The tough little guy in pictures had a big HEART. Many in the motion picture business today still try to emulate him. They are unable cause there was only ONE JAMES CAGNEY. Thank you "T.M.C" for keeping him alive forever. By the way, the dance scene in "Yankee Doodle" is one of his best scenes.
James Morgan ...And James Francis Cagney wasn't afraid of Jack L. Warner.
I was in high school and never forgot this CBS special, the love and tributes all the stars EVEN the loud mouths gave him respect, THats some speech as you listen to him, and even how he read about ART, One of a kind!
Acceptance >< "acceptably"
HEAR, HEAR, James! - You must be proud to bear his same name, too. (smile)
Now we have Will Smith talking about everything about love during his acceptance speech AFTER slapping Chris Rock.
Orson Welles once said,that James Cagney was the greatest actor to ever appear in front of a camera,so it's official James Cagney is the greatest
John Stevens
Hiram McCalister...
James Carney was the best actor there was. These actors today cannot touched him!!!!!
Don't forget about Brando that easily mate
@@khizarfarooq6778 Brando second, the first spot will always belong to Cagney.
Always adored him, and still do. Talent, charisma, charm, truthfulness, genuineness, and real class. May he rest in peace.
He had a lot more then acting chops. One of rare truly multi talented performers that ever lived.
I really loved the speech. These days everything is built around the commercial breaks. People get so impatient with speeches of thanks. But that's the entire point of awards ceremonies - not just honoring someone, but that someone acknowledging the people that helped them develop. It's so refreshing to hear a speech that's given room to breathe.
James Cagney was the man. Unbelievable performer. I'm still in awe of his work..
Brad eat your heart out.
Greg gutfeld segments
An extraordinary actor a complete joy to watch an artist and what a great speaker. A true gentleman and one of the best
Wee
the BEST....!!!
A million laughs - and not a single dirty joke or F-bomb! How on earth did they manage it ? With class !!
Because in the day if they did, the picture would get a strict rating and limited screen opportunities.
@@PenzancePete - It also helps that they had restrictions, too.
@@PenzancePete right on, there is always other words to use to make your point, you don't need f-bombs.
Command of the english language brother, great speech!!
Anybody can speak without the f-bombs, they just don't want to.
James seems like such a genuinely nice man. And when he read all those fine names it was like a trip through the nostalgia of the indelible history of Hollywood.
A great actor and dancer
A very humble man. R.I.P.
he was so good i forgot it was a film
I watch this award show from 1974 and just want to cry! What the hell happened to Hollywood in a short 47 years. God bless Jimmy! RIP
Hollywood, like everything else is a subset of larger picture - you can't expect Hollywood to remain the same when most every other segment has also deteriorated. Don't look now, but approximately half the country - quite possibly including yourself and family - are yearning to elect a convicted rapist, convicted tax cheat, and 91-count insurrection related indicted felon, President. You can't lament Hollywood's decline when more important areas have deteriorated far worse. Hell, vis a vis the state of moral leadership in politics, you might even argue "Hollywood" has somewhat comparatively held its own.
I cried through much of this. What a dear man and a great performer. As a kid, I watched his films and I remember many of those he thanked and honored. "Names. Names." Most now gone but alive in my heart.
and that's OK! It sure IS! James Francis Cagney ... The best we ever had.
The Great Cagney. Never another. He was my late father's favorite actor. My father, as a young boy in the late 30's worked at the famous Uptown Theater in Chicago, as an usher. He watched all of the great movies. During, WWII, my father was serving, and met James Cagney. When I was born 3 months premature, I grew up with flag in hand, celebrating my birthday on the 4th of July. I never miss watching Yankee Doodle Dandy. Cagney's favorite. God rest his soul.
WOW, Liz! --(I was born 3 mos. preemie, too, btw) - Your Dad MET him?! I'm agog. He's been my favorite since I was 16 and saw "Angels w/ Dirty Faces." Now I've seen all his films, except for about 7 (GOT to see those). That's magical! HOW WONDERFUL! Can you share anything more that your Dad said abut him? I'm so wistfully jealous of your father ... (hee). - My own father carried Louis Armstrong's trumpet for him, when he did a concert @ Colgate Univ. - My dad was the trumpeter in a small jazz band there -- I go GAGAGAGA over that one, too !!! (chuckle) and my Dad just simply shrugs and says, "Yeah, he was a real nice guy.'" Drives me nuts! lol. Thanks, though - Keep well and safe, - VCH.
@@virghammer1 What I understand about Mr. Cagney was he was a simple man from a classic old Irish Roman Catholic background, who was a tremendously hard worker. He did his best to be humble and just called acting another job. You should learn about his relationship with little John Travolta, hehehe. His mother somehow knew him. If John Travolta did not brush his teeth, Mrs. Travolta called up Mr. Cagney. All over Hollywood, there was heavy admiration for him. He was a very special man within that community.
Mr Cagney remains my favourite movie actor, many come close but no one has ever matched his superb skills and modesty.
Who could possibly not like this clip? Great speech delivered by an enormous talent.
A real class act. There won't be another like him not now not ever! A true gem.
BallymurphyBabe Not ever. We were blessed we had him.
One of the best actors that ever lived. Being 71 years old most of the great actors I got to enjoy and admire are all gone now but their memories will go on and on.
I could listen to him speak all day..
James Cagney not only defined "American", he was and will always be the greatest movie star of all time...did you see the looks on the faces of John Wayne, Ronald Reagan, etc?? Other film and American greats looking upon him with awe...RIP sir..you will always be my Yankee Doodle Dandy.
Jamie Smith Strange he didn't mention Ronald Reagan who was at Warner Brothers at that time....
Cagney was friends with Reagan. If you're implying there wasn't a friendship between Cagney and Reagan, you're sadly mistaken.
He and Jack Oakie were the most brillant movie guys from 1930s
Ronald Reagan made one film that starred James Cagney, in a small part as a radio announcer for the movie "Boy Meets Girl" (1938). A few months later, Reagan would star in the hit comedy "Brother Rat" with Eddie Albert and future first wife Jane Wyman.
Alec Caprari jack oakie was a character actor, one in hundreds of them when they were common in movies.
The best there ever was and ever will be. Not a phony bone in his body.
What an event to be in attendance at! The sheer number of stars recognizing this great man, and what a entrance and speech! Thank you for airing this.
James Cagney my favorite actor of all time None of the so-called actors today could carry his shoes.
James Cagney was a man among men
Treorchy male choirs
Ella fitzgerald
What a strong heart in a small man and the world was in love with him
Aaaaaand a minx is a moose amongst mice...
James Cagney never to be forgotten, a great entertainer!!
Yankee doodle dandy one of the best movies ever made, and he made it!!
I saw it as a child and I remember the endless energy he had ...
He was pure class ... what a dancer
The man could dance breathtaking
With only one error in the biographical storyline. George M Cohan received the Golden Medallion of Honor, ratified and awarded through Congress and presented by Roosevelt.
The CMH is only given to service members who are or were active or posthumously. It is entirely possible that neither men knew this at the time of the meeting.
Interesting tidbit... The scene when he walks out of the Capital and a man turns to look at Cagney with surprise... Ladies and Gentlemen... Mister George M. Cohan himself... And the look of surprise was real, shot in one take.
That’s class + eloquence - qualities of the past so may they RIP too. Cagney’s humour was clean + sharp and everyone got it... BRAVO!!! 👏🙏🥰💕
What a national treasure .....I have so much respect for this man ...as big as the ocean ...and that’s an understatement....what a great man .....I salute James Cagney ....
''unmistakable touch of the gutter'' .....has anything ever been so well spoken......simply too much talent for words really.......
What an astonishingly classy and elegant acceptance speech.
John Wayne and Bob Hope give HIM a standing ovation: That is HUGE.
Delicious moment:
At 4:55 he does a "James Cagney" imitation.
As down to earth speech you'll ever hear. Never forgotten his roots
Silly too!
A classic icon that will never be forgotten. What talent and passion. My all time favorite.
This man has more charmisma on in his pinky finger than all the rest of Hollywood have on their entire hand
a real man mans.
a real man man.
+atiboyful So true, he was one of our nations all time great entertainers.
+atiboyful i could not agree with any more!!
Truly he did
Without a doubt One of the greatest actor of our time. In all categories..drama, comedy and music. You will be missed forever Jimmy. A very kind and humble man too:)
One of the greatest actors and performers of all time.
Having watched so many of his films, it’s easy to say what a talented and natural actor he was. Having heard and read so much from those who knew and spent time with him, it becomes clear what a treasure he was. It’s not as often as we may think that the talent is contained in the body of a beautiful soul.
i want to go down the comments and agree with every one of the fantastic remarks about james cagney...his excellence in every sphere of acting is awe inspiring. for me, no actor in modern time can come anywhere close.
Spent the entire speech mentioning other friends and actors wow we could do with some of that these days, class is an understatement.
The one and only James Cagney...a true legend
I never get tired listening to this. What a great thoughtful speech so touching.
Great speech. I wonder if it was written with his biographer, Jack McCabe.
I agree. I've watched it several times.
@@johnsrabe I do 100% doubt that. - That came a bit after, anyways, I believe.
@@virghammer1 I was joking.
@@johnsrabe Oh. Lol. OK. Duh on me. (chuckle)
Cagney was so funny!! He was an incredible handsome man, even in old age.
Cagney is my favorite actor of the old movies! He was smart, humble, caring, professional in his art and an all round great guy! I still watch his movies on DVD, the ones I can find anyway, and they still are as good as the first time I watched them. I'm sure he's with the Lord now young again and being a Yankee Doodle dandy! Rest in peace Mr. Cagney and know that you are missed by your fans!
Watched this a number of times. How wonderful it is! He talks about tough times. Early influences. With such dignity and a wealth of talent. Don't like particularly to denigrate recent actors but it's hard not to. There isn't one that could shine his boots.
One of my favorite actors of all time, pure class all the way...Mr James Cagney, rest in peace, Sir.
Without a doubt.. The best there ever was... James Cagney!
Oh this man I admire as a young child I was so in Love with him staying up late to watch his movies .RIP 👼 James Cagney 👼
Total class act... incredible actor and truly one of the best. They simply don’t make actors like this anymore
Of all the legends Cagney mentioned in his speech that night, only one --- Olivia DeHavilland --- is still living, at well over 100 years old.
Alas, poor Olivia recently passed...
Shirley Maclaine is still alive hehe
that laser stare with just a hint of mischief behind... wow. star quality. there will never be another!
Yep! Well put, "P&SM!"
When I was a child I watched his movies and thought, wow this is what acting is all about. At 58 years old I see that the actors of those days are gone for good because film simply isn't even close to what it was in those wonderful days of film. This man was and always will be one of the greatest actors the world has ever seen. James Cagney is an all time favorite of mine.
So much CLASS, on stage and in the audience... and gone now.
Those were the days my friend, I wish they had never ended. James Cagney one of the greatest!! There's only a handful left with class like his.
What a guy! A real class act
One of greatest actors I have ever seen
Top of the World!
elvicare35 mother
The Greatest Actor Ever ❤❤❤❤
Orson Welles loved him above all other actors.
@@reginaldstyles3129 -
Well said as I agree with you on that one bigtime!!!!
You can tell when an actor is special and has charisma....you look at no one else when he is performing. Mr. Cagney was like that..
What someone else said - class act, thanking those who help put him in that position - absolutely wonderful stuff, great guy.
So true
Admirable
Absolutely so it is ❤️🦁👑
This MAN always gave us his Best! Cagney, you are so very loved forever & for always!
An absolute legend - dead ringer of my dear father. He could also tap dance. Jimmy you were so gifted and a natural and a very humble guy too.
Never be another Jimmy Cagney. I simply adore your class versatility act. Anyone’s watching this legend. 🥰x
Loved his movies.when he danced its like hes dancing on air.great actor
A class act if there ever was one. Can you imagine any of today's "stars" giving such a speech. No vulgar language or political rantings.
A man to be loved and respected.He has given his audience many hours of enjoyment in his movies.They sure don't make them like that anymore.Thankyou.Mr Cagney from myself and from generation s to come.
Whaddya hear whaddya say....
This guy is the definition of charisma.
When men were allowed to be men and not watered down shells
Rocky Sullivan.
"Duke Wayne,God bless him!" What a class act Cagney was.:)
I half expected Mr Cagney to say...
" My Father thanks you, my Mother thanks you, my Sister thanks you, and i thank you. "
Bill23799 That would have been great - and would, I’m sure, have garnered another appreciative laugh from the audience. But I guess that Mr Cagney made so many wonderful movies that he just didn’t have time to reference them all.
@@lindashelley3635 Linda i got a little kick that the last film James Cagney made before he passed from us, Ragtime, took place partly in the City where I grew up. New Rochelle, NY which is 45 minutes from Broadway.
@@Bill23799 " imagine the changes it brings..."
Omg who doesn’t love James Cagney🥰
A perfect gentleman and a damn good Actor PERIOD!!!!!
It seems that 24 people (who gave thumbs down) have NO clue OR understanding of what CLASS and ARTISTRY is defined as!
At today's date (7/28/19) there are now 217 "thumbs down" by 217 people who can all go play on the freeway as far as I'm concerned.
The thumbs down by those who chose to just react rather than research. The cluelessness of so many makes me glad that their only real ability is to anonymously be fools and then we never have to deal with them again. James Cagney was as wonderful a man as he was an actor. That is a rarity when referring to the film acting community.
The stupid moronic snowflakes of today who don't even know their own SEX have no idea of what class really is Todays films are crap with only a handful of people who can actually act this man and his ilk made the movie industry in the early years
Well said 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. God bless
These people are not old enough to know . They have only ever known mediocrity , so can only compare the mediocrity they have seen , with the mediocrity they are watching .
He was Spencer Tracy's long time friend. He once said that Spenc would call him in the middle of the night and it was like continuing a conversation.
Heard George c Scott was close to him as well
I am watching this in 2019 and I got goosebumps and tears in my eyes. Bless you, James Cagney. What a legend!
You got goosebumps in your eyes
The Hollywood firepower in that room was amazing!
James Francis Cagney was always one hell of a gentleman. And the movies he made were absolutly fabulous!
He may have been small in physical stature but he was and will always remain a giant among Hollywood actors.
...in terms of talent & vitality ,Cagney walked taller than the Empire State Building.
Jimmy Cagney, what a blessing to have known him
Cagney - One of the Top Five to ever act in Hollywood, and here in his 70s, retired for about 13 years, and still a badass. God, he was great.
The most versatile actor of all time
To be young again and see Cohan is to have love of country burned into you indelibly, hard and forever, with that "touch of the gutter."
The man was all class.
I've recently discovered what an amazing man Cagney was. Lately I've been watching a lot of his movies and am so impressed with his on screen presence and charisma.
A PURE CLASS ACT OF TALENT, GOODNESS AND TENDERNESS, WHAT MORE CAN YOU ASK FOR IN A SUPERSTAR, TOO BAD WE HAVENT MANY LEFT. LOVE YOU JIMMY.
God Bless James Cagney who all of us loved while he was here with us. We will miss him forever.
This guy was such class and talent! Truly one of Hollywood's best. I've admired him for years. When He, Stewart and Grant passed away, they took most of the class Hollywood had with them.
James cagney a true star and a gent r.i.p
Love his speech my all time favorite actor he may have been small in statue but he had one big heart we will never see the likes of him any more R.I.P Jimmy l hope that if there heaven l will see you up there
He to me is one of lifes great inspirations, He depics what acting is all about. He is a real talent, which we'll never see the likes of again.👍 I loo forward every year to watching Yankee Doodle Dandy.🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🦅🦅🦅.