James Cagney Accepts the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1974 

The childhood friends he speaks of, I'm proud to say also includes my grandfather.

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.

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.

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.

Has there ever been a classier, more grateful, authentic or more perfect acceptance by an actor? This man is so deserving.

'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.

My all-time favorite actor. I wrote him a nice letter in 1981, and he (eat your heart out) sent me an autographed 8x11.

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!

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!!!

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.

James Cagney had some serious acting chops...could do it all: sing. dance, comedy, drama, tough gangster what a performer

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.

They just don't make 'em like Mr. Cagney anymore. He was truly a treasure!

He's so funny and fiercely intelligent! Definitely one of the most remarkable actors in the 20th century!

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.

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.

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.

so cool that he thanked his childhood friends

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.

As Orson Welles said “He was never real, but he was always truthful”. A small man of huge talent!

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 .

I am thrilled that Hollywood honored Mr. James Cagney this way and that all the major stars came out to share this with him.

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.

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.

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

Always adored him, and still do. Talent, charisma, charm, truthfulness, genuineness, and real class. May he rest in peace.

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.

I have watched this over 30 times. One of the best, funniest speeches ever!

A million laughs - and not a single dirty joke or F-bomb! How on earth did they manage it ? With class !!

James Cagney was the man. Unbelievable performer. I'm still in awe of his work..

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.

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.

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.

This man has more charmisma on in his pinky finger than all the rest of Hollywood have on their entire hand

A great actor and dancer A very humble man. R.I.P.

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

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.

James Cagney never to be forgotten, a great entertainer!! Yankee doodle dandy one of the best movies ever made, and he made it!!

Mr Cagney remains my favourite movie actor, many come close but no one has ever matched his superb skills and modesty.

He had a lot more then acting chops. One of rare truly multi talented performers that ever lived.

A real class act. There won't be another like him not now not ever! A true gem.

Who could possibly not like this clip? Great speech delivered by an enormous talent.

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 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 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.

''unmistakable touch of the gutter'' .....has anything ever been so well spoken......simply too much talent for words really.......

As down to earth speech you'll ever hear. Never forgotten his roots

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.

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:)

That’s class + eloquence - qualities of the past so may they RIP too. Cagney’s humour was clean + sharp and everyone got it... BRAVO!!! 👏🙏🥰💕

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.

Of all the legends Cagney mentioned in his speech that night, only one --- Olivia DeHavilland --- is still living, at well over 100 years old.

I half expected Mr Cagney to say... " My Father thanks you, my Mother thanks you, my Sister thanks you, and i thank you. "

Spent the entire speech mentioning other friends and actors wow we could do with some of that these days, class is an understatement.

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 never get tired listening to this. What a great thoughtful speech so touching.

The best there ever was and ever will be. Not a phony bone in his body.

It seems that 24 people (who gave thumbs down) have NO clue OR understanding of what CLASS and ARTISTRY is defined as!

James Cagney my favorite actor of all time None of the so-called actors today could carry his shoes.

A classic icon that will never be forgotten. What talent and passion. My all time favorite.

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!

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 ....

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 👼

One of my favorite actors of all time, pure class all the way...Mr James Cagney, rest in peace, Sir.

that laser stare with just a hint of mischief behind... wow. star quality. there will never be another!

James Cagney was a man among men

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.

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.

Perhaps one of the best acceptance speeches. I remember watching this when it was first on CBS and mesmerized by the cavalcade stars and James himself. What a fabulous actor and human being. The wonders of RU-vid now give a new generation a chance to see it. I recorded the event on my cassette tape recorder with a cheap mic, like did many shows back then. Video recorders were not common place in the 70's mind you. I listened to it over and over. All those he mentioned in his speech all but gone now. The golden age of Hollywood was the pinnacle of picture making in my opinion. When he died I tried to get to the church service, which was in his old neighborhood on the upper East side. I drove up the FDR, and got as close as I could. The crowd waiting outside the church was overwhelming. I got to see his coffin carried out and at that moment the crowd burst into applause. What a moment. Thanks Jimmy Cagney, you were a one of a kind. This tribute from the AFI said it all.

"Duke Wayne,God bless him!" What a class act Cagney was.:)

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 someone else said - class act, thanking those who help put him in that position - absolutely wonderful stuff, great guy.

One of greatest actors I have ever seen

Without a doubt.. The best there ever was... James Cagney!

I could listen to him speak all day..

One of the greatest actors and performers of all time.

Whaddya hear whaddya say.... This guy is the definition of charisma.

The Hollywood firepower in that room was amazing!

The male equivalent to the class, style and love that Doris Day and Audrey Hepburn embodied is, without question, James Cagney! He was loved in the Hollywood community like no other actor....only Jimmy Stewart would be able to equal it. Cagney was a kind and generous man and is sorely missed! I agree with Orson Welles...that James Cagney was the greatest actor to have ever appeared in front of a camera!

The one and only James Cagney...a true legend

Cagney's acceptance speech for the AFI Life Achievement Award was arguably the best in the history of the presentations. Bette Davis was a close runner up, but Cagney made it a point to emphasize the contributions of his co-workers at Warners, the presenters, including Bob Hope, Doris Day, George C. Scott and the host, Sinatra, as well as quotations from poets and authors who were meaningful to him. A class act all the way.

Total class act... incredible actor and truly one of the best. They simply don’t make actors like this anymore

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

So much CLASS, on stage and in the audience... and gone now.

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.

Omg who doesn’t love James Cagney🥰

I am watching this in 2019 and I got goosebumps and tears in my eyes. Bless you, James Cagney. What a legend!

"the way art affects our daily lives" ..... i have dedicated much of my life to this concept - as an educator, and as a historian and graphic artist

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.

Loved his movies.when he danced its like hes dancing on air.great actor

This MAN always gave us his Best! Cagney, you are so very loved forever & for always!

A perfect gentleman and a damn good Actor PERIOD!!!!!

Cagney was so funny!! He was an incredible handsome man, even in old age.

Wonderful, thoughtful, insightful acceptance speech many could learn from. There are too many people who act and too few that are actors anymore. The Golden Age of movies created men and women who still stand the test of time. There aren't many today that will.

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.

I fell in love with Jim Cagney every Saturday night as a teen in the 70s, watching the late night movie channel. He was always so electric in his roles, never static or dull. And no matter how naughty his character was, you rooted for him and wanted him to come out on top.💕

The most versatile actor of all time

So well spoken but also very entertaining at the same time.

I could not imagine an actor with such a tough guy persona, can give such an eloquent and classy speech. Now I have. I thoroughly enjoyed every nuance of his speech.

The greatest acceptance speech of all the AFI Life Achievement Awards by the greatest honoree.