What's My Line? - James Cagney; Gore Vidal [panel] (May 15, 1960)

MYSTERY GUEST: James Cagney
PANEL: Arlene Francis, Gore Vidal, Dorothy Kilgallen, Bennett Cerf

[@georgemartin1436]

60 years later people are still watching.

[@firenze5555]

Jimmy Cagney was the real deal and had it all - singing, dancing, acting. He knocked every role he did out of the park. Soooooo talented!

[@DRM-nb1fg]

The best of all-time.

[@jaypaint4855]

@@DRM-nb1fg The “BoaT” 🤣

[@mariafilotas879]

They just don't have actores like this anymore!

[@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301]

@@mariafilotas879 actor"E"s have never existed

[@adamgrimsley2900]

And that voice, a gift for Dads at Christmas

[@Robocoppat]

The way people dressed, the way they act,the questions they asked, and just the everything as a whole was all summed up in 1 word.... ....Class!

[@lllowkee6533]

Children aren’t even taught to write their names any longer, much less manners.

[@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301]

watch a couple of episodes when one of the contestants was elderly, overweight &/or not very attractive & then tell us what you think

[@TheParentTeacherBridge]

Yes. I love watching these....:)

[@shirleyrombough8173]

The panel is just as welcoming to guests who are elderly, overweight or unattractive. Sometimes these are among the most entertaining guests.

[@lolotho9951]

So gracious and humble. Pure class. They don't make em like Cagney anymore. His talent was and is unmatched.

[@sheiladavis6523]

LoLo 👋 the thing is James Cagney WAS NOT MADE he was born. 🌞 9-21-2022

[@carolinemorris7193]

A fact: they don’t make anyone anymore!

[@accomplice55]

@@sheiladavis6523: You realize that "They don't make 'em like that anymore" is a common expression, right?

[@poetcomic1]

a force of nature

[@shuroom57]

Well......John Travolta is in that multi-level category. His dancing in Saturday Night Fever, Grease. His singing in the latter. His acting in those, Blow Out, Pulp Fiction, Urban Cowboy.

[@razorback9926]

James Cagney is the greatest actor ever. His screen presence overpowers every scene.

[@monjiaitaly]

James Cagney one of the truly greatest actors that ever lived.

[@anneroy4560]

the great Orson Welles said that Cagney was / is the greatest film actor, that you cannot beat him ...

[@scottmiller6495]

One of the greatest actors and entertainers of all time, this man had class all the way and was respected by millions of people for many years !!!!!

[@billzardus95]

I've probably watched his Yankee Doodle dandy dance routine on KZbin at least 20 times, even though it is in black & white. WRZ 2023-04-03

[@scottmiller6495]

@@billzardus95 He was a work of art and extremely talented and brilliant as well!!!!!

[@warrencroom7621]

@@billzardus95 the whole film is Fantastic

[@lisahobbins614]

James Cagney is a one of a kind actor. The BEST! He could do it all; sing, dance, act, do comedy, do drama. He was a gem. I thought he should have won the Academy Award for his portrayal of a ruthless, psychotic gangster in “White. Heat”. In those days the Hollywood Code forbade gangster films from winning awards. However, Mr. Cagney did win one for “Yankee Doodle Dandy”. He surely was a gift from God. May he forever rest in peace 🙏 I wish I had h got to meet him on Eatth. At least I have all his movies ( I’m aware of. ) From Public Enemy to Man of a Thousand Faces ( where he portrays another great silent aged actor Lon Chaney, Sr.) I have his videos, too. And T-shirts, too. I may not be a rich woman but those two actors, Mr. Lon ,Chaney, Sr. and Mr. James Cagney have filled my mind with so many fond memorizes. I love both so much!

[@patheart6852]

​@@billzardus95😅

[@pearlshifer1776]

James Cagney: what a personality. He outshone everyone on this program.

[@upallnite88]

Just the mere presence of James Cagney, just sitting there, is so impressive.

[@RobJazzful]

upallnite88 Massive charisma.

[@jameswilliams663]

In the same vein and class as another WML mystery guest - Fredric March

[@davidsanderson5918]

Agreed. And that smile....shades of Rocky Sullivan.

[@countalucard4226]

@@davidsanderson5918 what a movie it was, Rocky an idol to the Dead End Kids, who didn’t cry at the end.

[@FashionistaDude]

Both Cagney and Bogart remind me a bit of Fredric March.

[@Joshualbm]

Arlene was such a dish. She's 53 years old here and looking marvelous.

[@robertlongwill8856]

James Cagney was my favourite actor. Although he was small in stature he sure as hell commanded the room. This man was larger than life one of the greatest actors in history

[@captainnice9698]

America had no better actor than James Cagney

[@keithkirk8697]

Something interesting here. Arlene Francis didn't have much of a Hollywood career. At the time of this show she hadn't been in a movie for ten years. At 23:30 she delivers a flowery compliment to Cagney. Less than a year later she co-starred with him in the movie One, Two, Three, one of the funniest comedies ever, in which she did just fine. Check it out.

[@paulariese260]

Amazing time when adults acted like adults and not overgrown children. Such decorum.

[@leesher1845]

Well said, Paula.

[@keithhyttinen8275]

Back when adults were paid livable wages and salaries. Those days are long gone.

[@raybon7939]

@@keithhyttinen8275 look at that shit, now look at you people today

[@Fush1234]

It is their children who have learnt bitching and moaning. Great times sadly past

[@timprescott4634]

@@keithhyttinen8275 Really?

[@Lampshade51]

Wow! James Cagney. Now THAT'S a star.

[@cookiesandmilk3207]

An absolute legend and deservedly so. It’s actually hard to believe he was real. He’s truly larger than life. And a very decent human being. An immortal of the silver screen.

[@pattyperkins5007]

I have always dearly loved James Cagney..as a child and now as a 69yr old.pure class.

[@davidleedutton]

Orson Welles once said he thought Cagney was the greatest film actor of all time, and it's hard to disagree with that.

[@blacbraun]

I think Stanley Kubrick also said something to that effect. I think Kubrick would have used Cagney instead of McDowell in Clockwork Orange if Cagney was the same age.

[@waynej2608]

High praise from another great artist. They don't seem to make 'em like Cagney and Welles anymore.

[@preppysocks209]

Franklin Roosevelt disagreed with that. He once said that other than himself, Orson Welles was the best actor in America. He therefore believed he was better than Cagney.

[@spactick]

Hey, Welles wasn't no slouch himself, he wasn't Bogart or Cagney, but he sure left his mark with his performance in Citizen Kane. by the way I heard he had something to do with the direction of that flick as well, but I'd have to check into it

[@AlexanderArsov]

Hard to agree with that, too.

[@petercroft1901]

Jimmy Cagney an example of true talent

[@kathkwilts]

Cagney was so well known for his accent that adopting a new one fooled them all... brilliant... he made no attempt to change his voice and yet his voice was one of the best known in Hollywood... it worked.

[@pattyoneill6724]

He was great in Yankee Doodle Dandy !

[@mikejschin]

It did work very well. He just missed totally fooling them by a whisker.

[@IronClad292]

James Cagney, first class all the way. He was the greatest !!

[@michaelnaisbitt1639]

IronClad292 push posh. The only reason got all the fame he did was because of one thing and one thing only --------------the man had TALENT. When compared with some of the so-called actors of today-------he is greatly missed.

[@RobJazzful]

VERY COOL! And there’s no reason to denigrate present-day actors in order to praise the very great Mr. Cagney.

[@Jenifer_G]

Genuinely loved this great actor and dancer, such talent and down to earth in himself.

[@ald668]

@@RobJazzful lol

[@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301]

he's in the discussion for Top 10

[@henrysawyer3262]

Not to many Hollywood stars that I admire more than Mr cagney..truely a class act💖🤍💙✨✨✨

[@ptaylor4923]

This James Cagney episode was one of the best. He really had them going.

[@MOGGS1942]

I idolised James Cagney when I was just a mere lad, and he has never let me down. Love the man to bits.

[@philetlew8039]

I wish TV was like this today!

[@toinimoore3463]

I wish they’d make programs like this today maybe not many celebrities as bright as these are,sorry to say just have huge egos nothing like these people pity really,these are folks are really Sharp !!

[@basitk12]

Toini Moore agreed!

[@photo161]

--I show today with this much intelligence, graciousness and good humor to all wouldn't last two weeks...

[@stevekru6518]

WML is nostalgic and cute, but I’m thankful for many more recent shows like Sopranos, The Americans, Dexter, Homeland, Mad Men bringing excitement and reality. I know others rave about Breaking Bad and GOT. There is an analogy to cars. I like driving my classic sports car, but to get from one place to another a late model SUV works better

[@notphilivey]

Cagney was a brilliant actor, a great dancer, a humble man, and an unabashed proud American. Hollywood would hate him today.

[@lindaboyce8805]

you notice they called him 'Sir', rightly so respect for a great actor and man

[@danreynolds4208]

Once when living in NJ I was picking up my son at his friend's house. While waiting and chatting with the friends' mom while standing in her garage, I brought up the fact that James Cagney as a boy lived somewhere in her neighborhood. She told me to turn around. As I was she announced that the house next to theirs which I was looking at was James house. It's as though I felt his spirit right then and there!

[@FriendofRamblinJack]

Very often, I come back to this segment just to watch Mr. Cagney. In 1980 or 1981, I was a VERY young file clerk in a small but familial Newport Beach, CA, insurance brokerage; unbeknownst to me at that time, our broker-owner elderly boss had an old famous friend. One morning an immaculate old pale green Cadillac pulled up, a uniformed capped driver opened the back doo,r and a small elderly man alighted wrapped in a ground-length woolen coat with matching fedora. He steadied himself on his elegant silver-headed cane, climbing the old wooden stairs unassisted and into our little double-wide building. It was only when the gentleman slowly walked towards me, my arms full of files, that I recognized who he was! My mouth fell open, he smiled mischieviously and winked at me because he knew I was stunned, shocked and elated!, he touched his hat with the tip of his cane, nodding at me with upturned lips, pleased at his astonished affect on me, (I'm so glad I wore my prettiest dress!) and continued on his way to our boss's glass-enclosed cubicle at the back of our little office. All of us, young female clerks and older insurance agents near retirement, glanced at one another as if Heaven had just paid us a visit! And since that day, no one famous has had an affect on me as the greatest American actor and one of the finest gentlemen who ever lived - except our Lord Saviour Jesus Christ. I urge all reading this to find Mr. Cagney's auto-biography - "CAGNEY BY CAGNEY" (I was given an original 1960? paperback)- because you will be fascinated by this superb man's life, starting with his incredible mother Caroline. When Mr. Cagney went home, I mourned as if I had lost a dear uncle. By the way, Mr. Cagney had come in to see our boss, Mr. Renfro, to see if he could file a claim on one of his Martha's Vineyard horses that had been struck by lightning - but there is no way to insure such an event. Mr. Cagney and his sister Jeanne Cagney Morrison (in whose car and driver Mr. Cagney came to us that morning) owned a LOT of property in Newport Beach, including where Hoag Hospital and surrounding property stands above and off of Pacific Coast Highway and Highway 55. I can't WAIT to see Mr. Cagney (and Jesus) in Heaven as he and his wife Bill (Winifred) believed Jesus as their Saviour. God bless all.

[@sandrageorge3488]

What a great story. I have been stunned like that when I have seen famous people. Too star struck to say anything 😊

[@alanhumphrey4198]

That's a very good story about Jimmy Cagney...

[@donaldwilliamson4150]

Thank you so much for that story it was wonderful God bless you for taking the time to relate this wonderful experience you had

[@Linda98671]

I have always,just loved James Cagney ... he is delightful.. he retired and raised cattle.. and he loved dancing!

[@Jenifer_G]

I LOVE this man, WATCHED HIM GROWING up in the 60 s. FROM Australia

[@johnnydtractive]

The decorum is like a breath of fresh air.

[@viking670]

James Cagney was an inspiration to all who demonstrated true grit during the times of the greatest generation...we're nothing now but a shadow as to what was which was an America that was truly America....how sad that we're on the threshold of losing it all for the sake of globalism.

[@barrypoupard7009]

Fred Astaire appearing on the Parkinson Show on the BBC in the 70s described Cagney as "the greatest hoofer of all" a remarkable tribute.

[@JRobbySh]

When he got overweight, he would dance to get in shape.He sure moves like an athlete.

[@depaola63]

The man was a living legend! Cagney!

[@richardmackota5463]

agreed, and one of the greatest film actors who ever lived. everytime I see a list of the greats of the 20th century you see Jimmy Cagney

[@marshallman1au]

A legend ... Period! :)

[@jamesvaughn57]

Marshall Man

[@bonscott602]

Cagney. Each year I miss him more. Each year I become more enamored of his brilliance as a performer and gentleman.

[@Brace67]

None better at his craft than the great James Cagney.

[@johnlorenzen4633]

Cagney one of the greats! No stars like that now.... you can feel that charisma pouring off him. Wow.

[@MySpace662]

Talented actor. He has left us a Legacy of his performances that we still enjoy today.

[@danielfronc4304]

Of course, there will never be another all around performer like James Cagney. He could act (Boy, could he act!), he was an amazing dancer (try to find the clip of him demonstrating how to tap dance down a broad set of stairs!), and his singing was better than serviceable. I believe his Irish persona just mesmerized viewers, as it did me. There'll definitely never be another Jimmy Cagney!

[@maryzorn3365]

Love the dancing clip with bob hope in “the seven little foys”.

[@ARGZY]

He was so good he was meant to be a secondary support character to the main role in his first film ‘The Public Enemy’ but because of his charisma and acting they made him the main role which started his career in the movies

[@amethystanne4586]

The tap dancing down the staircase…… “Yankee Doodle Dandy”, towards the end of the movie after his character has been talking with FDR in the White House and before he starts singing the last song with soldiers matching in Washington DC.

[@davidharris6581]

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. Monday Dec. 8th 1941, was the long scheduled start to begin shooting a movie for Cagney. It was a family affair. He starred, his brother produced and his sister even had a role as his on screen sister. But, before shooting began the whole company gathered around a radio to listen to FDR ask Congress to declare war on Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor the morning before. After FDR spoke Cagney lead the entire film company in prayer then snapped "Alright let's make a movie!" The movie of course was Yankee Doodle Dandy. And the rest as they say is history.

[@mikejschin]

There is a What's My Line aspect to this story: the incomparably misleading moderator (as Bennett might call him), John Charles Daly, was the first national correspondent to report the attack on Pearl Harbor.

[@wendybabendy]

Cagney did an amazing job of not giving away his voice. Though he has a very distinctive cadence, keeping his answers to just one word (or thereabouts) made it hard for them to hone in one him. Excellent work! :)

[@paacer]

Plus the English accent .

[@takealeftatthelight5284]

He did a better job after she asked him was he born outside the US.

[@irenechin4854]

I love Cagney. He would've won over the panel if his last voiced answer hadn't had the tinge of his most distinguishable voice!

[@robertfiller8634]

He did "win over" the panel in a different manner of speaking!

[@toniconnor6380]

Wow! It was great watching this again. I love James Cagney

[@jacquelinesternberg8461]

I love James Cagney's use of mild self-deprecation in his answers. He did not have a big Hollywood ego, but was extremely self-assured and smart, enough so that he was one of the first to successfully buck the Hollywood studio system and get the kind of contracts he wanted until he walked away and started his own production company. When he retired from films, he devoted himself to painting and raising horses.

[@ToddMelanson]

+Cassie Katz And he was charming beyond reason. What a guy. Would have loved to have met him.

[@jacquelinesternberg8461]

Yeah, me, too. I had a big crush on him as a kid. Oh, yeah, he was also an ardent soil conservationist ... self taught.

[@ToddMelanson]

Lol, of all things, a soil conservationist, that's an interesting observation. Are you in the mid-west as I am? I'm in Minnesota.

[@jacquelinesternberg8461]

Nope, I'm not a Midwesterner...raised in the Washington, DC, area, now stuck in Pennsyltucky. (I have fond memories of visiting Minneapolis once, though it was very bleak in wintertime, I thought.) Here's another tidbit about Cagney: His own paintings are showcased in his movie "Man of a Thousand Faces" (biopic of Lon Chaney). Cagney painted the images of him as Chaney in makeup for many of Chaney's most famous roles, which the camera pans over in the end of the flick. Cagney's artwork was not credited in the film.

[@nancypine9952]

Jackie S - Cagney originally wanted to be a farmer, and applied to Farmingdale Tech out on Long Island, but was refused because he had absolutely no experience. They were looking for students who had experience with farming, but wanted to be better farmers. So he started at Columbia University in Germanic Studies, but had to drop out when his father died because he needed to help support the family. He later had farms on Martha's Vineyard and in Dutchess County, New York.

[@constantdarkfog49]

This was one of the great early panel show standards, nice seeing the Star's they bring on, Cagney is so cool.

[@lindamorrison2929]

What a great actor, movies have never been the same.

[@glenndavis5269]

in those days everyone carried themselves with such class.

[@erichvonmolder9310]

Maybe they carried themselves that way but were they? Hollywood is fake, especially then.

[@edwardupton1647]

But so boring a program

[@gregcrane4953]

@@edwardupton1647 above your level of intellect.

[@edwardupton1647]

@@gregcrane4953 thank goodness we have moved on from such “intellectual crap”

[@gregcrane4953]

@@edwardupton1647 Apparently not. :D

[@chuckberger3196]

I can remember watching this with my family during the 50's and 60's. A great show with classy and witty panelists. Thanks for posting.

[@jacobjones5269]

Very few could go over the top and get away with it.. He is truly one of the greatest actors who ever lived..

[@magoo9767]

Oh love Jimmy Cagney!

[@stevehoch9528]

Jimmy Cagney was of course extremely talented. The movie they were talking about was always one of my favorites! They don't make them like that anymore sadly.

[@pendorran]

The laughter in Cagney's eyes is wonderful

[@douglasthompson9482]

what a show....it is tough to beat the great James Cagney "Yankee Doodle Dandy. Absolutely a classic.

[@janeiwasduncan8463]

I never knew Cagney could sing or dance !then came Yankee doodle dandy! Loved it, especially the scene near the end when he was coming down the stairs then broke into a joyful dance!?!

[@RobJazzful]

Douglas Thompson you only need three dots for an ellipsis...

[@robertfiller8634]

@@RobJazzful You really should go for...............therapy.

[@brendaw321]

It mesmerizes me know watch the video of Cagney do the Yankee doodle dance !

[@hectorbartlett567]

My favourite actor when I was a kid ... Still a massive fan 💯🔥👍

[@glenndavis5269]

James Cagney the LEGEND!! :):)

[@mariannekiss9177]

I love watching James Cagney. So many wonderful films.

[@waynezimmerman1950]

James Cagney's final major movie role in Milos Forman's Ragtime(1981) proved that Cagney's brief presence was powerful; even while infirmed by age(he was 81). Still, for this young film fan in his 20s. I was thrilled to have seen its first run on the big screen. The whole movie was incredible as well, I highly recommend it to everyone.

[@shuroom57]

I love that scene when he dresses down the racist cop in that movie, Ragtime, by saying, full Cagney voice, "Willie, people tell me that you're a worthless piece of slime!"

[@michealcurrie8272]

Mr. Cagney, megastar. Never come again .

[@voyaristika5673]

Every wonderful comment made about Cagney has my wholehearted endorsement. I'm so glad to see so many people feel the same as I do about his unmatched talent. They REALLY "don't make 'em like that anymore."

[@chiedu90069]

Could you imagine going to a dinner party at Arlene's and Martin's? She really is incredibly gracious. I love that she pours on the praise to James Cagney because it it took them so long to guess him. Such class!!

[@mikejschin]

Arlene must have been the perfect hostess. I would bet that every person left the party with the impression that Arlene considered them the most interesting person there. She had an amazing gift for giving praise.

[@rayeugene8139]

You probably dont give a shit but does anybody know of a tool to get back into an Instagram account?? I stupidly lost the login password. I would appreciate any help you can offer me

[@creedriley1578]

@Ray Eugene Instablaster ;)

[@rayeugene8139]

@Creed Riley Thanks for your reply. I found the site through google and I'm trying it out now. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@rayeugene8139]

@Creed Riley it did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. Im so happy! Thanks so much, you saved my ass !

[@donclark4685]

Jimmy Cagney! Class Act...

[@44032]

Arlene got her wish: Cagney was soon back on the screen - with Arlene Francis playing his wife!

[@daisycassidy2448]

James Cagney was such a fantastic actor and he seemed like such a gentleman, too. Loved him in Love Me or Leave Me with Doris Day. and just on a general note, it seems like all of the people on WML had such a fun time and laughed a lot. I wish we could get today's version of it!

[@carolclement1008]

Yes me too, I'm only 33 years old but I love his movies especially in. Yanky Doodle Dandy, he did it all, dancing+ acting in that!!!💝💝💝

[@sophiaraniuk2665]

I cannot express enough the talent and genius of James Cagney....I have so much respect for him that it overpowers me with emotion What a joy to watch him on utube ........i love it .......thank you so much .......

[@RobJazzful]

sophia raniuk You only need three dots for an ellipsis...

[@TRRyan]

@@RobJazzful Is your self-appointed position of syntax policeman a gratifying one?

[@kimberly1234j]

sophia raniuk I agree wholeheartedly with your statement. He is such a joy to watch in everything and I love this video of him just as himself on WML.

[@youturd55]

@@RobJazzful 👈21st century woke jerk arses

[@robertfiller8634]

@@RobJazzful picky...............picky

[@MickeyT54]

He was a gift. Never could take your eyes off him when was on screen. An all around performer.

[@tonymazz9912]

If you want to see one of the greatest dance skits, Look up the Movie " The Seven little Foys" about George M. Cohan . He dances with Sir Bob Hope on a Bar/ table top .The timing, and energy is amazing.

[@laurahoward5426]

Yes, I agree....wonderful scene

[@AlwaysASunnydayBuster]

Brilliant thank you for posting Jimmy Cagney is just the best actor ever an by all accounts a lovely human being 👍👍👍👍

[@miriamjewett5438]

Dorothy always wore beautiful jewelry. Wonder what happened to it all. These old games shows were so classy and respectful..

[@donnawoodford6641]

Could be costume jewelry.

[@lisahinton9682]

@@donnawoodford6641 It doesn't matter if it was costume or not. It was beautiful jewelry. Is the point lost on you somehow??

[@donnawoodford6641]

Look in the mirror.

[@sandrageorge3488]

I would hope it went to her daughter.

[@maureensmith1689]

the one and only Cagney....loved him and lucky enough to have his autograph sent to me by Jimmy himself

[@JDAbelRN]

Very lucky to get his autograph.

[@melindamercier6811]

My father was a doorman for a residential building in upper midtown and had the wonderful opportunity to meet a number of the Golden Age stars in their elder years. His stories are priceless to me. I had a second-hand starstruck moment of sorts when he told me about the time he got to meet James Cagney a few months before his (Cagney’s) passing.

[@jasonayres]

Dad...or even you yourself should have written some type of memoirs!

[@terryniblett9329]

James Cagney, great actor and entertainer, loved the gangster films, "Angels With Dirty Faces"!!

[@andysolution62]

James Cagney - one of my absolutly HERO`S ever...

[@MrCC379]

As soon as Cagney said "Whisker", Bennett Serf figured it out.

[@WilliamT1964]

A "whiska"... :D

[@Anaxiphile]

CFC123 Cerf. Hardly a serf.

[@cak8132]

What a decent and humble man. Mr. Cagney was a fine actor and a class act.

[@eLEMENTARYimage]

Cagney's retirement was rather whimsical; during the production of a film he left a sound stage to step outside for some fresh air and he never went back. Retired a humble farmer in NY State. His home was a modest, cottage size house.

[@alanaronald244]

Cagney: class act unsurpassed.

[@larryjung8062]

James Cagney a Hollywood legend he could act, sing and dance.The movie Angels With Dirty Faces starring James Cagney is a classic !.

[@laurieforal5603]

I love watching these. I used to watch this in the evening with my grandma so many years ago. Brings back great memories.

[@PhilBagels]

One year later, Cagney and Arlene Francis would make the hilarious movie One, Two, Three, playing as husband and wife. Apparently the movie didn't do well at the time "too soon" perhaps, but it's a very funny movie. Cagney found making this movie so stressful, due to the very fast-paced timing of the comedy and lines, that he didn't make another movie for 20 years.

[@CindyNavarro]

I loved that movie. I remember seeing it as a child.

[@ericoberlies7537]

Great movie

[@laurahoward5426]

FABULOUS MOVIE

[@Reespeck4all]

Surfing by accident, saw his name and had to stop and see what this is about. Very rare to see James Cagney on a T.V. live show because he was one of the best of all times but also appreciated his private time with wife and family. So he proved that you can be great, never a problem to be brought out in public, maintain the class that everyone loved as an actor, and did it all( in pictures) as far as playing every part they gave him. We all wish that we could talk to him, as we do with our fathers, grandfathers, etc., because he definitely seems like we thought, humble and kind. This man is blessed and we the American Public are blessed to have seen his movies.Yankee Doodle Dandy to White Heat, 360 degrees apart and he nailed both. Rest in Eternal Peace James, knowing how much you were loved.

[@secondstring]

I've always wondered why the panel never applauds the mystery guest when they unmask themselves. I always feel like they should, but for some reason, they never do. Well they did here, for good reason. Cagney is a good guy, a class act, and a great actor.

[@normasandow]

When Dame Anderson was the mystery guest they not only applauded the panel all stood up and shook her hand!

[@davemac5260]

Cagney in “Angels with dirty faces”. One of my childhood favorites that my dad made me watch over and over. Amazing to see him on this show.

[@edithsymmans3273]

James Cagney was a brilliant actor who I watched in the movies as a child back in the wonderful days of 1950's & 60"s.... I never get tired of watching the old wonderful movies because they were done brilliantly.... James Cagney was one of my favourites to watch on Saturday and Sunday's on television as a child, wonderful gentle man who just wanted the quiet life..... Once out of the lime light he did what he wanted, raised horses.

[@GinaBush-gb6tk]

I agree with you..My parents watched him and took me to his films,as a child I loved to watch him dance because I was taking lessons . Later as I aged,I still loved to watch his films.

[@barbaravendro8400]

The only movies worth watching.

[@treeguyable]

His sister( Cagneys') ,Jeanne, was my neighbor in DC in the 60s, she was a class act, very nice lady.

[@padgetd8517]

"Do you sing?" "After a fashion." I know he LOVED to sing and dance, but he certainly didn't have a big head about what he could do.

[@josephloughrey3434]

wow A 30 minute show with 25 minutes of content. Amazing

[@DieHard10901]

Good one! True, too! LOL!!

[@RobJazzful]

Yeah! Let’s be like the idiots on other posts who’ll blame this on Liberals!! Grrrrrr...

[@paulakpacente]

I absolutely adored James Cagney. He is one of my FAVORITE actors of ALL TIME!

[@judywhiting4684]

Ohhh the world cries for another Cagney...ALAS will never be....so unassuming..elequent...brilliant...l MAN AMONG MEN....and just a special talent........"We hardly knew ye" ye"

[@davidsanderson5918]

More than just a wonderful performer, Arlene....he was the most powerful and arguably most significant actor of his generation. It's been said when Cagney walks on screen for the first time in Public Enemy (1931) that modern cinema begins.

[@DexterHaven]

23:29 pure class, grandeur, and honest sentiment, perfect for the moment by Arlene there!

[@Suze947]

Wish I had been in the audience that night. I would have waited outside the backstage entrance to get an autograph for sure!!!

[@magal55]

When I heard James Cagney speaking fluent Yiddish, I was flabbergasted.

[@Mandeley100]

I cannot get over how enormously entertaining these shows are and I am so grateful to you for posting them on KZbin. The panel is always an utter delight, particularly the brilliant Miss Kilgallen and the lovely Miss Francis. I'd also like to give out a hurrah for Mr John C Daly,surely one of the most urbane and witty hosts in the history of television. Thank you once more for sharing these gems with us all.

[@WhatsMyLine]

My pleasure-- I'm glad you've been enjoying the videos!

[@johnwettermark]

Ditto!

[@discoball2011]

im the same jeff i only turned this on tae see the one with groucho and ive been on watching different ones for the last 2 and a half hours now lol i cant click onto something else im hooked lol

[@peter359]

Mandeley100 I don't think I could have said it any better. Singling out Daly is wonderful to see and I am so happy I wasn't the only one who felt as you do that he's just so erudite and with an easy manner that is a delight to watch over and over again.

[@ToddMelanson]

+Mandeley100 Couldn't agree more. Too bad there's not T.V. like this today. Oh there is... here.

[@marktestoni6483]

A time when all of America believed that NYC was the centet of the cultural universe and they were correct. Intelligent and interesting panelists that make you wonder how did we go from Bennett Cerf to Snookie on a game show

[@thesweeples3266]

I think we all know

[@patmctallica3522]

Arlene Francis1 what a radiation, what a lady! Funny, that show was before she did the Billy Wilder movie with James! Jimmy, what a carismatic man he was!

[@WillScarlet1991]

Love Jimmy. Sorely missed :(

[@mrkeno1000]

This man was so unbelievably talented and really humble

[@MrJoeybabe25]

The James Cagney segment is one of the best mystery guest spots ever. The panel was on...what's the opposite of fire? 😁

[@Questor-ky2fv]

Today was a lucky day! Several hours ago the John Wayne episode of What's My Line showed up in my KZbin feed, and less than an hour ago the James Cagney episode showed up. I enjoyed both very much. I also liked the kindergarten teacher segment in this episode. None of the panelists guessed her job, but Bennett Cerf eventually guessed that James Cagney was the mystery guest. I wonder if my luck will hold out a little longer, and an episode with Charlton Heston will show up in my feed. All 3 were great actors. Anyway, thanks for posting this series, it brings back a lot of memories.🤗👍👏

[@moviemonk1000]

There not any Jim Cagney's anymore because the era that Mr Cagney grew up in is long long gone

[@basitk12]

charles pope sadly! But the youth should learn from them.

[@moriahjacobs6131]

Not really. Just go to hells kitchen and east harlem, ain't nothing changed! Whadaya see whadaya say!!!

[@ronniecozzi8385]

You got that right.