In this speech from 1983, director, actor and writer John Huston accepts the 11th AFI Life Achievement Award. Some Huston's best known films include CHINATOWN, THE MALTESE FALCON and THE AFRICAN QUEEN.
There are not many around , these days who could deliver a speech so elequently, the whole room was silent, listening to every word of John Huston. He was 77 years old there, in 1983, gettin a lifetime achievement award, rightfully so.
Huston was the ultimate ground breaking film maker. He created the "film noir" genre with The Maltese Falcon in 1941. He was the 1st to film the majority of a top feature film on location when he made his incomparble masterwork of art, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre in 1948 and in 1950 he made the 1st film that told the story of a major crime from the perspective of the criminals with the fully evolved film noir The Asphalt Jungle. Huston was unmatched at producing great scenes and story telling. He and Bogart, of course, comprised the greatest director-actor combo in film history because they were each the best at what they did. They each in their careers made the most top level films, Huston of any director and Bogart, mostly because of his unparalleled screen presence, of any lead actor.
Certainly, Humphrey Bogart did his best and most memorable film work under Huston's direction: The Maltese Falcon, Treasure Of The Sierra Madre, The African Queen. As Huston said in his eulogy at Bogart's funeral, "He is quite irreplaceable".
I rewatched Maltese Falcon the other night, and was (once again) utterly struck at what a magnificently staged and shot film it is. Every scene is framed perfectly, and the actors make the absolute most of it. There's no shortage of "great films" in this world, but no matter what is on the list, Falcon better damn-well be near the top of the heap.
Looks to me that people nowadays usually forget or dont even know who John Huston was. When i hear people arguing about the best directors, i always hear the same names, but he is never among them. Thats the guy who was nominated to FIFTEEN Academy Awards. He had an infinite talent, a great actor/writer/director.
I'm simply a carpenter who worked in LA for 35 years!! I met Marlon Brando who's meeting is always a story for me!! I missed Orson Wells; which I regret........ but John Houston would be my other regret!
John Huston...LEGEND.....remembered by all in County Galway, Ireland.....R.I.P.....i live by a mantra, and i think John Huston would agree....'Here for a great time....not a long time'
Along with his friend Billy Wilder, one of the great writer/directors because they understand that it all begins with the writing and the dialogue, and that the images and the performances you capture as director accompany and compliment the script.
THE POWERS THAT BE SENT DASHIELL HAMMET TO FREEZE TO DEATH ON DUTY IN ALASKA DURING THE WAR BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T LIKE HIS SOCIAL OR POLITICAL ANTI- FACSIST OUTLOOK!!!!HE WROTE THE MALTESE FALCON AND THE GLASS KEY DETECTIVE!HE WAS PARTICULARLY AGAINST CORRUPTION IN HIGH PLACES THE THE LENGTHS THAT EVIL PEOPLE GO TO TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS!A WRITER OF CONSCIENCE THAT FLOWERED BRIEFLY RIGHT BEFORE US!
Absolutely brilliant speech and remembrances. he was a legend among those who admired great acting and Direction. right up there with Orson Welles and the greatest of the great.
I love his voice so much, its fun to imitate and its music to listen too. He was great director and pretty darn good actor, I still say his performance in Chinatown is one of the greatest villian roles in the history of cinema.
What a life, what a man, BRAVO sir well done! One of My favorite directors definitely my favorite character he was a Brilliant actor, voice and artist they don't make them like that anymore! RIP GENIUS
What impresses me most about this is how cheerfully he makes jokes about his failing health at the start of his speech. Hollywood worships youth and health, they did in 1983 and now they do even more so.
He was essentially still a young man in an old man’s body….in his energetic speaking voice. And that voice…note how the whole room goes silent when he starts speaking and then continues to be silent.
I love the story about everyone getting sick during The African Queen except for Bogart and Huston because the only water they drank was with their whiskey.
They respected each other more. after that bloody encounter , i hear...Olivia DeHavilland's honor was the source of the fight apparently. Startling to think that she's still around!!
Far Eastwood! Gandalf recounting the time they ate African villagers..."Long Pig" My old girlfriend had a Polonesian friend who was taken to the islands to meet her gr grandma. As a girl they still ate human so she told her gr grandchild what the best part was...the thumbsticks...no lie!
