Barbara Stanwyck Accepts the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1987

Kristen thank you thank you very congenial and honest to god I can't walk on water thank you very very much and I thank the American Film Institute but this wonderful wonderful evening uh many many years ago uh-huh Joseph skank brought me out here in the beginning of talkies huh to make some films for United Artists I made one film which bond I then went over to Columbia I bombed there and I thought dad said I better go back to the theater but there was a man at Columbia and he saw something thank God uh his name was Frank Capra he taught me what film was all about and he taught me what film could do for me and what I could do for film he took me to the editing room the property room even where they make the cost sheets I knew before I started I knew all that and then each day was a learning process and it was wonderful that's why I'm here tonight mr. Frank Capra from then on other directors wonderful directors George Stevens senior Frank Capra of course Billy Wilder who taught me to kill thank God for him and I came across so many people who they gave so much to me of themselves all along the way these people have been so wonderful to me and I have tried in my own way to help other people and it's great fun to do it believe me and it's very rewarding when you see the climax it's a wonderful wonderful feeling I love doing it to all the people who have put me here they're all part of this without them forget it the wonderful writers oh god how important they are and the directors in there the wonderful actors actresses I've been with everyone I have learned something from and I hope I can learn more and before I say good night I a tiny tiny little line from an old Irish prayer may the good Lord keep his arms around all of you always thank you

Channel: American Film Institute

Views: 191,981

Keywords: Barbara, Stanwyck, LAA, acceptance, speech, AFI, American, Film, Institute, Hollywood, Legend, actress, actor, oscar, award, life, lifetime, achievement, witness, to, murder, double, indemnity, meet, john, doe, jeopardy, you, belong, me, golden, boy, union, pacific, bride, walks, out, woman, in, red, salute, gambling, lost, lady, hollywood, los, angeles, classic, barbra, stanwick, movies, films, american film institute, barbara stanwyck, american film institute life achievement award

Id: jGawA_3fIdA

Length: 4min 35sec (275 seconds)

Published: Thu Oct 07 2010