Gene Kelly Accepts the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1985 

What a wonderful speech, he was really talented not only for dancing but for telling stories!

Wow. Such class. Where has all the class, that the world used to have, gone? What an incredibly sweet, lovely n classy man. I miss Gene Kelly.

Class and intelligence and authenticity. I wish we had more of those virtues in the present world of entertainment.

Love you Gene RIP.

Perhaps the most elegant, and real, acceptance speech I have ever heard.

Who’s watching in Dec 2019? Luv this man’s dancing😂♥️🕺

The world lost one of the best loves and joys of dancing. RIP Gene Kelly, you were one of my favorites.

Man do I miss him....I miss talent, dedication, and humility...I miss Gene.

He makes everythig about musicals seem worth while, he was an amazing man, died the year i was born and that makes me sad because i would have loved to be alive when all of his movies first came out! We have his memory, that will have to be enough

I work as a music/recreation therapist with patients with dementia/Alzheimer's disease. One of the programs that I'd created is called "Celebrity of the month;" being that Gene Kelly's birthday would have been in August, he was today's "topic." This had been my 1st time watching this particular clip which I found quite interesting: Mr. Kelly had mentioned about the "magic" he'd created in his work and of course, to credit many others who worked with him. I'd showed his famous "dance in the rain" scene to these patients; the magic was still there in how their faces lit up, smiled, sang along and/or moved along to the song....they actually applauded at the end of the scene. I'd mentioned how after "Singin' in the Rain" came out in 1952, over 60 years later, it looked like the magic was still there... I believe that's a magic that lives on...and how interesting that Mr. Kelly described it as "magic" as well.

Class act and a well-raised gentleman from the golden days of America.

Gene giving credit to all those people behind the scenes. What a beautiful, lovely, sincere individual Mr Kelly was :)

Now THERE was a Star !!!!!

Classy. An acceptance speech focusing on the talents on others. No political statements. Just being grateful to make others smile. That's class my friend.

A giant of a man, dancer and performer! He produced timeless entertainment at an incredible level. Juts love to watch his movies!

One of the best Entertainers We ever had. R.I.P. Gene.

You don't see entainers like him anymore. Masters and Inovators in their craft yet humble and appreciative to collabators.

I love that he thanked the people who often go unnoticed. Also dancing joy....he was a bodhisattva. 🥰

Look how his kids look! Gene had such great genes indeed!!!

i still so so so admire him.....legend will never been forgotten~~~

Handsome, talented, and just a STAR. He could dance, and be soooooooooo athletic, act, and sing. Just a wonderful guy. I truly admire Gene Kelly. He was such a dancer. Athletic and and was so PERFECT.

He is my Idol AND Inspiration !! Thank you Gene Kelly for EVERYTHING !!

I agree. What a talent, and what a genuine person behind it. And that smile...wow.

The embrace between Gene and Leslie gets me every time.

I just can't get enough of Gene Kelly...his gorgeous smile, his endless charm and his fantastic personality. What a man. They just don't make them like this anymore. I'd give anything to go back in time and have the chance to meet him, I truly can rely on his films to make me smile when I'm down. We all miss you, Gene!

That last line makes me cry every time...

Loved genes dancing, one of my film idols when young.

Gene and Leslie's embrace at the end-beautiful.

I will always love him!!!

Now that's a speech.

I cry watching this.. his speech was so beautiful !

This guy was the epitome of awesome! So talented and so gracious. There should be way more people like him in the world! :-)

Beautifully understated speech.

he was the best dancer ever i never tire of watching him i watched singin in the rain last night it was as it was the first time i saw it just fantastic. He rules the dance.love him.

I'm 18 and I have to say that I listen to gene Kelly on my iPod almost 24/7,also rave over is films. he is my hero. I miss him. I wish I was born back when he was boomin' I would have been there to cheer him on! :) We love you, Mr. Gene Curran Kelly -3

Gene's dancing & acting was pure genius. Im an eternal fan of his work!!

So talented and incredibly humble :) not many actors talk about people behind the scenes :)

Thanking and extolling everybody in such a heartfelt way. We'll never see his like again.

He was so amazing.

Gene Kelly not only made the road; He dance on it. A true "ICON".

I loved the way leslie kissed gene!! she obviously was very moved by his speech!!

every time Gene Kelly opens his mouth to sing or speak he just captures you, he was such an inspirational talented person. There are very few actors nowadays that can measure up to him He can sing He can dance and he can act

There are no words... I wish I could be like Him! Mahalo for being Gene Kelly

Gene i miss your smile, you are a great legend

Greatest Dancer ever. End of story. Sorry Fred Astaire. Gene is one of the greatest entertainers ever. He could also sing and act too. I miss you Gene. Every time I see that scene when he is dancing in the rain with so much joy breaks me up and I get so upset when the cop comes by and the fun ends. That scene can go on forever.

I love how he pays his respects to the musicians, and mentions how crimeful it is that they're uncredited. Class act

Thank you for posting this! I wish I can see whole video. I love love love Gene Kelly! His movie brought so much joy in my life!

He was pure class

One of the best show biz speeches ever given-You dance love, you dance joy and you dance dreams.

Great speech Gene. Class and dignity and modesty. Shame these kind of Gentlemen hardly exist today. I miss you and salute you Mr. Gene Kelly. You are and we're uniqueband you will always be my love. ,❤️

Amazing man.

I love you and we miss you Gene!

So wonderful~! He included in his thank you's: "The Romero's,' part of my former husband's family. Alex and Carlos Sr. Romero. Loved hearing that, as they were brilliant too! XO

This guy is rather awesome...

I've always loved this man, and this speech only cemented that.

Thanks you, Thank you for posting the entire speech! Kelly was so hella cool & I totally admire his talent, respect his legacy!! This made my day...no,my year!

Thank You Gene Kelly for these awe inspiring musicals. You make us happy watching your incredible talent as a dancer/actor/director. Rest in power 🙏❤🙏

that grin from Mikihal (i didnt spell that right) was priceless.

Beautiful speech from a beautiful man ❤️❤️❤️

Oh that voice -3 I love it.

BRILLIANT

Gene Kelly! The Greatest 👏🏻

Wonderful! I always enjoy sharing Gene's amazing work with my Film Studies students who truly appreciate it! Hope to see his widow Patricia's presentation on his work!

one of the heros

"We dance love. We dance joy. And we dance dreams" Excuse me, just gotta get a box of tissues!!!

I watched this as a kid! I was ten years old and obsessed with Broadway musicals but had no idea who Gene Kelly was. I videotaped it and watched it obsessively over and over - it was great and showed most of his big dance sequences totally intact. I wish I still had that tape but I remember this speech down to the word, particularly the last line about the Pirates losing "one hell of a shortstop".

Gregory Hines (3:13) is enamored with Kelly. Rightfully so. Hines was a phenomenal talent himself.

It's nice to imagine how proud and gratified the iconic "song and dance man" Gene Kelly would be if he knew that the 60th anniversary of Singin In The Rain was being celebrated in July 2012 with a commemorative edition on bluray and a theatrical showing on today's date. Donald O'Connor would be thrilled as well.

What a man!!! What a star!!!

Earlier this week, Derek Hough and his dancing partner re-created Kelly's iconic dance sequence from "Singin In The Rain" and during rehearsals, Patricia Ward Kelly, Gene's widow, made an appearance to give her encouragement to Derek and to present a framed photo of Kelly performing the number; she looked sensational and Derek did a great homage to Kelly on Dancing With The Stars.

I don't mean demean any other great actors, but few are as good as Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. They were true artistes. I mean, they had such incredible amount of talent, such versatility, not limited to 1-2 tricks, the vast skill sets that remained mostly unrivaled even after they left the stage. Truly deserving honour!

His talent was matched only by his humility. Thanks for the memories, Gene Kelly!!!

Happy 100th bday Mr.Kelly.

thankyou this is wonderful!

You just cant die with talent like that, I believe he is up there somewhere still entertaing ,like a lot of the old stars.nothing like it to day.x

What a Legend! Its too bad I was 3 when he died! I love his movies

When he said "JUDY", everyone love Judy, no one will forget her.

My #1 favorite. Best there ever was.

He was before my time but i love him

People think of him only as a dancer and singer, but he was also an actor, choreographer, and director.

I would love to see the entire tribute.....

Leslie Caron, Cyd Charisse, and Debbie Reynolds all looked wonderful here as Gene Kelly was extolling their contributions to Singin" In The Rain, An American In Paris and Brigadoon. Kelly should have been given the opportunity to recreate the two roles that he was born to play: Joey Evans, which launched him to stardom on Broadway in Pal Joey and Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls.

Very good Gene Kelly my favorite movie with Gene Kelly is on the Town

Mrs H 🇬🇧 .. Gene is a legend.... He loved his children but he got old... Being old doesn't stop you loving your kids but it wants you to feel young and loved again causing you to be flattered by someone who show interest in you.. It's normal but the outcome can be devastating.. RIP Gene.. Love & Hugs to his children

I'd say he aged beautifully.

What a wonderful artist and man

Damn I truly was born too late. I mean I love everything from the 40's 50's and 60's and so on but can only see it on tv and RU-vid:(. Wish I could of been there

Interesting that they would use as his exit music "You Wonderful You" from Summer Stock, which was Judy Garland's last MGM film.

I love you gene kelly you were the whole package.

the man can still run

One of my absolute heroes right there.

Biggest revelation here, made as an offhanded comment. Everyone always amazed by his tap number on roller skates in It's Always Fair Weather, an almost superhuman achievement. He talks of his brother act starting out, and that they cooked up a dance bit on skates using acrobatics. Then he remarks that the filmed number was easy, since those were simple steps compared with what he'd do with his brother, doing back flips on skates and more. Which raises the issue....HE COULD TAP DANCE AND DO BACK FLIPS ON ROLLER SKATES!! Never thought I'd watch that number and ever think "Boy, I wish he hadn't held back with what he did here!"

You ´re my LOVE !!!!!!

Probably my all time favorite dancer...

Amazing.

the humility of the man!

Amazing Talent & gift to the world. The real deal ….

Typical Gene. Getting up there to receive his own Life Achievement Award and using the entire speech to give praise to his costars and shining a light on the lesser-known. What a fantastic person.

Moving and poignant to see a shot of Fred Astaire and Andy Williams, both of whom have left us, sitting in close proximity to each other. Kelly was still in good heath at this point and looks like he did in Xanadu. He was gracious to give credit to the contributions of Vincente Minnelli, Stanley Donen, Comden and Green, Saul Chaplin, Roger Edens and the Metro team that were responsible for his greatest achievements, Singin In The Rain, An American In Paris, On The Town, etc.

We need more of this in the world.