Orson Welles Accepts the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1975

[@peterbellini6102]

He's just so damn smart it's crazy. Like a genius alien who has to speak in terms we humans can understand; a blessing and a curse.

[@beef4u2use]

He was so brilliant that the industry had no idea what to do with him.

[@scottmoore1614]

Probably a good 40-50 years ahead of his time.

[@dd1530]

@@scottmoore1614 Modern movies sucks

[@TheGyroBarqusShow]

just give him the same freedom as when he was donig citizen kane

[@mark-shane]

exactly. He was way above them . If he was around today he could have made far more movies and told stories he wanted

[@wallychampen1695]

They could only envy what they couldn't be.

[@hmaltravers]

A place as crass, shallow, and superficial as Hollywood could never understand nor appreciate someone of substance such as Orson Welles.

Welles revolutionized radio, theater and film-making. And what did they do in return? They spat in his face and pretty much exiled him.

[@mattcohen261]

He directed " Citizen Kane", probably the greatest film ever. The fact that it did not win a Best Picture Oscar in 1941 is a great injustice.

[@Bad_At_Parties]

Call him overly theatrical. Call him arrogant. Call him whatever, but that man was a genius.

[@DDumbrille]

How about fat? Self-hating? Mannered? Alcoholic?

[@themoreyouknowfools4974]

@@DDumbrille Still a genius, Douglas. Still a genius.

[@scottywayne3601]

@@DDumbrille genius comes in all forms

[@Edward-jn5pl]

@@DDumbrille You must be so perfect.

[@DDumbrille]

@@Edward-jn5pl Thank you! haha... :)

[@lonestarfriend]

He was a talented, well-spoken, and handsome bear. :)

[@cheedis]

All those things are true :)

[@yannatoko9898]

Not all. :)

[@savedfaves]

His speech at the James Stewart roast was one of the greatest in history.

[@mikebradshaw6484]

I watch it all the time. It's the greatest tribute speech i've ever heard.

[@welles2002]

No one can ever deny that as a 25 year old man, he made the Greatest American film Ever.My you tube is named in his Honor

[@LastlyMore]

Epic is all I think about when I see Orson Welles.

[@highiron4527]

Lastly More That is the word : Epic. Thanks

[@p47thunderbolt68]

Didn't realize to much later in life that how lucky / enriched the world was to have him in it .

[@Mrx2848]

Possibly the best film director of all time.

[@christophersmithsr5545]

Just listen to this man. His voice and the way he puts sentences together

[@csag5193]

can act, can tell tales, can speak, can direct, he is really beautiful to listen to.

[@x3Sora]

The Magnificent Welles.

[@sugarlove]

what a man! bless you Mister Welles!!

[@SukkaPunch321]

I just enjoy listening to him talk.

[@rcautela7405]

SukkaPunch321 well he was up.for the voice of Vader

[@agitcam]

To the movies, to Orson Welles, bravo.

[@GooglFascists]

Miss that marvelous, musical bass voice of his. Hope Orson realized how beloved he was to us, because he was always his own sharpest critic. R.I.P. Mr. Welles, and thanks for the memories!

[@Kinopanorama1]

Great acceptance speech. One of the best ever.

[@DoctorPepperSpray]

Orson Welles gave a speech that is just as eloquent as his films.

[@irishelk3]

I miss this guy, even though ive never known him, he seemed like an endearing, gentle, honest guy with no shortage of talent, the best voice i have probably ever heard, im glad he started his career in Dublin, where im from.

[@philip1123]

A legend and a true genius

[@MrCristoforoantonio]

I just loved him. So extremely intelligent.

[@peterbstrong]

Everytime I think Welles couldn't possibly be any more insightful and any more erudite, there he goes again. He is the "ne plus ultra" of the creative process in the art of film. I regret that it took me this long to view this extraordinary clip. Bravo signor Welles, bravo...

[@paulbaran549]

His Genius was raw and insatiable.

[@joesim12]

Might be the best AFI/award show speech of all time.

[@bunny.thebest9103]

Orson welles last words gives me tremendous amount of goosebumps "To our crazy and beloved profession to the movies,to good movies,to every possible kind" RIP Genius

[@TT_1221]

A very magnanimous speech from a man the movie industry tried to destroy. Very noble and very ethical indeed.

[@hamzajan1632]

After watching the documentary that was done with respect to his movie " The other side of the wind " this ceremony has a whole new meaning and perspective

Yes, it's now impossible to watch this without getting sad.

[@janinefarris7565]

The Orson Welles AFI award speech list so uplifting, eloquent brilliant and engender did me an effort in holding and developing more incisive thinking when I contemplate and reflect upon my own life

[@Fast_Eddy_Magic]

Orson was the best. "Polluted with ham and corn." I'm so going to use that.

[@graceonfilmsnstuff]

It was like a Victorian gentleman artist ventured centuries ahead in a time machine to accept a deserved honour

[@Ingens_Scherz]

Fantastic speech. Merely indicative of his glittering brilliance.

[@tuxguys]

Elegant, Intelligent, Erudite, and Eloquent. Imagine this, as a life-long curse: You've made an entire career out of great movies, and great performances... ...and they're all merely footnotes to your very first movie, made when you were in your early 20's, acted in, and directed by you... ...and generally considered to be the Greatest Film of All Time.

[@AllenMQuinn]

I miss this man. Today's performers don't even come close to him.

[@johnperrigo6474]

Today it seems more about "celebrity" than performance.

[@osito060308]

the vocabulary on this guy is grogeos i brilliant artist all around

[@RSR423]

The great man himself. In all the times I've watched, or heard Orson speak, I've never once not been totally enthralled by the man. A very private person, who spoke of his accomplishments in film, radio and theatre, of friendships to powerful and famous people, all with such charm and wry wit, and an underlying confidence and authority that one acquires, through belief in ones own knowledge and abilities to take on and win at whatever situation life might throw at us.

[@lynnturman8157]

If there's been a better acceptance speech, I've never heard it.

[@watchdog304]

Lynn Turman This is as good as it gets! Morgan Freeman had a great speech as well at his AFI tribute. But, i think this is a little better.

[@allend2749]

Lynn, u sir r a moron!

[@YortOK]

Olivier's honorary Oscar speech.

[@AugustGallmeyer1998]

I really like John Huston's

[@alfredodistefanolaulhe2212]

Frank Capra's

[@KCarver]

Damn, what a speech.

[@jslasher1]

A genius if ever there was one. He will never be bettered.

[@dannyloo28]

You said it. thanks

[@LenHummelChannel]

Fully deserved. he was the true maverick of film-making. and also one of the most distinctive voices of all time.

[@Growler57]

Wells and burton best voices in showbiz

[@BuckyBrown-lt4ry]

Dom Amache and his brother, Jim.

[@dalebaker9109]

So right. This guy could lock swords in acting with the very best, and come out on top, his Othello is my top Shakespeare movie. Even with the many problems he faced.

[@HerAeolianHarp]

If I could narrate like Orson Welles, orate like Burton, murmur like James Mason and shout like O’Toole.

[@andrewjones2222]

David Bowie, Shakespearean actor John Gielgud’s is far superior to Burton and Olivier’s.

[@noafilipovic7789]

The best.

[@thomaschacko6320]

“Chimes At Midnight”: One of the greatest Shakespearean films of all time, and Orson Welles’s greatest film. And hardly anyone saw it in his own country! I have the restored version on DVD, and it is on my Top Ten list. I’m equally thankful that his “Macbeth” and “Othello” are also available.

[@TheSluremus]

0 people think that somebody else than Orson Welles is the greatest filmmaker of all time.

[@AA-sn9lz]

Let's just forgive them.

[@BaldingEagle51]

Ever the spell-binding speaker and a paragon of excellence in just that, finding the words.

[@Botmoot]

What a speech! Amazing

[@micha0001]

"For my own part, I have never had a thought which I could not set down in words..." Unforgetten!

[@69100leegrant]

I have got to the point of searching out any channels that has Orson Welles speaking, which is just fascinating. A true genius and unique individual.

[@rewelldrums]

Marvelous acceptance speech, one of professionalism, humility and most of all class. No B.S , shallowness or politics of any kind.

[@LenHummelChannel]

Greatness and genius are very rare. he had both, ... but he would never say so himself in so many words. ... so a few people who knew him and what he was all about SAID IT FOR HIM. ... btw, Frank Sinatra's tribute/song (on another clip) was AWESOME !

[@ahfaxthis]

I miss YOU , I love YOU . THANK YOU

[@rosannavitale9922]

Better there exists none. Thank you, Maestro.

[@dlastqueen]

Such a great man! Excellent speech.

[@blacki1958]

Legend...

[@SymphonyBrahms]

Writer, director, actor. Genius.

[@elijahpeterson2166]

He was truly the master of radio and film

[@MrImiller07]

With the introduction of several insightful books about Orson Welles released recently, it is fascinating that forty years have passed since Welles was given the AFI life achievement award and he was showing clips from his last film, The Other Side Of The Wind, which was never commercially released due to his inability to get "end money" i.e.financing to complete the film. Now, the contractual entanglements have been resolved and in celebration of Welles' 100th anniversary, Peter Bogdanovich is completing the film for release. Welles struggled to find financing for any film project for the remaining ten years of his life. He had alienated so many studio people, including HBO executives, that it became untenable to mount a film project.

[@bigjoetube]

The most talented man in movie history. There have been great directors, producers, actors and writers. He was second to none as he was a master in all four roles. He had no predecessor or successor.

[@ResistanceQuest]

There will never be another one like Orson

[@christophersansone2755]

"I started at the top and worked my way down" Orson Welles.

[@ricardobigi1712]

A towering man of genius, mostly unappreciated by Hollywood producers and the common man. Still, his legacy is a brilliant one and his masterpieces may be more widely appreciated one day. If FILM 101 were taught in schools to children fed on run-of-the-mill TV stuff on a daily basis... then, perhaps, things might improve a little...

[@markjones7423]

Those pauses... perfect.

[@richardsiciliano7117]

Welles was a true maverick, and in spite of what they may say, Hollywood really doesn't like mavericks. He offered genius, and they hated him for it.

[@peggymcgath3588]

A true original. Like no other.

[@andrewwilliams9599]

Clearly humbled. At a loss for words--which was rare for this great man.

[@watchdog304]

Orson Welles could perform a narrative play by play of someone taking a dump and it would sound so epic you would get goosebumps.

[@Lee_Forre]

Incredible shame it was that Hollywood cast such brilliant artist away. OW made not only show business what it was but raised the bar for so many artists. The embodiment of theatricality and flair. What a voice. What a talent. Terrible shame he was never truly revered as one of the crown jewel artists America ever had.

[@WBShepherd]

Watched many of his films in film school; and still do today.

[@artbychristine]

He terrified Hollywood.

[@TheFixedPoppnfresh]

I want his voice

[@jdogsguitar]

AMAZING speech!

[@jgsmile1331]

Mr. Welles was a fascinating and genius man. He was also genuinely funny. His award is very much deserved.

[@donaldmatthew4980]

One of the greatest gentleman, with a grasp of the English language that not many have.

[@irwinmiller8684]

Welles showed film clips from his directorial work in progress, The Other Side Of The Wind, suggesting that he needed "end money' to complete his film. No Studio was forthcoming with the completion money, and the unedited film remained in a vault in a foreign country for decades. Ultimately, with the assistance of Bogdanovich, and Netflix, the film was completed posthumously in 2019.

[@HonoredGeneral]

Simply Amazing. 'Tis such a shame that he is no more.

[@dtzjones7632]

So well deserved the man was a genius 👌 Orson welles

[@Mazurka1001]

GIANT.

[@michaeljayklein500]

What he's saying here...it is applicable to all artists--to every possible kind. It may be restrictive and held to argument to hold the belief there will never be another like Orson Welles, but so far...

[@radarasmarie3404]

I have so deep admiration for the talent of Orsen Welles. He was and will still be for decades the most talented man in cinemas history. He was just perfect in every field. What a voice he had, his english was so perfect comparing to the american bad accent of some american actors... Anyhow, the only thing bothers me why the hell he became OBESE and his doctors let him going on living in such a body. RIP Mr. WELLES

[@FirstPlace97]

He was always larger than life, literally and figuratively.

[@whitelion44]

I toast to you Mr Welles, The Maverick!

[@christianzafiroglu6705]

Few people are or were geniuses. At best, most of us access it fleetingly. Orson Welles was a genius, on every matter he touched.

[@tootsiePOP745]

He was a BIG man

[@MrImiller07]

The supreme irony is that the film directed by Welles that was previewed at the AFI tribute, "The Other Side Of The Wind" was never completed and was never commercially released; it is still involved in litigation. Welles , in his ten remaining years, never directed another film. After his death, his 1958 masterpiece, "Touch Of Evil" was restored based on his notes and re-released to new acclaim. "Citizen Kane" continues to be regarded as one of the top ten films of all time.

[@philiphalpenny9761]

The Other Side Of The Wind finally released in 2018...

[@Sanja1405972]

Great man...Great,great man!!!

[@bradhill1099]

One of the most interesting and talented men of the 20th century.

[@BunWackettBuzzard]

Great speaker.

[@KarlMariaFattig]

And Rosalind Russell at 0:58 - another class act, a decent person, who freely gave of herself from early stardom, to the end of her life, a year after this presentation.

[@francisalbertsinatra9120]

If only Hollywood let this genius produce his work. . . he would have been greater than Kubrick. His production of “Don Quixote” may have been my favorite film, as it is my favorite book.

[@kkampy4052]

That is an incredible acceptance speech.

[@MrImiller07]

Welles must have had decidedly mixed emotions about receiving an AFI Life Achievement Award from an industry that consistently refused to employ him as a director of studio projects despite the fact that he had received accolades for his direction of Citizen Kane, one of the most innovative films in the history of American Cinema, Touch of Evil, The Magnificent Ambersons, Chimes At Midnight and other memorable projects..

[@spockboy]

Great man.

[@johnpitchlynn9341]

I miss Orson Wells. Today he would have been much more accepted as an independent film maker and the major studios would have been less of block to his talent.

[@fede018]

A24 would finance him.

[@fdavyes]

This is how Leo DiCaprio gonna look in 30 years.

[@shubhamshahhi]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@TheRubberStudiosASMR]

i was just thinking that. haha

[@fdavyes]

haha

[@joaofernandes4769]

Yeah, but still without the talent...

[@PlaybyRaine]

This is so random. Looks don't matter.

[@NxDoyle]

It should be made mandatory to preface any mention of Orson Welles with 'The Great'.

[@rajendrabiswas]

citizen Kane what a movie ! touched me deep ...

[@sumitmazumder6900]

The Great Orson Welles🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@everettfuqua114]

How true!

[@MangetsuSAMURAI]

My favorite super hero. Orson Wells is what I'd like to think the Lord sounds like, booming yet kind. God bless you, Lamont Cranston.

[@ModerateObserver]

One of the greatest Americans