[James Cagney]: The American Film Institute [2nd Annual] Award for Life Achievement in Motion Pictures and Television 1974 [cover variant: white/red]

[Washington DC]: The American Film Institute. Near Fine. [1974]. First Edition. Stapled wraps. [light external handling wear only]. (B&W photographs) Tribute book for the AFI's second annual award, the first presented to an actor. Includes two short articles, "The Unforgettable Young Man" by Joan Blondell, and "James Cagney: A Few Thoughts on the Next 2 Billion Years" by Ray Bradbury; plus numerous comments from Cagney's professional colleagues and friends. At that time he had been retired from the screen for 13 years, but was subsequently lured back for two appearances, notably in Milos Forman's RAGTIME (1981) and much less notably in the dreadful 1984 TV-movie TERRIBLE JOE MORAN. NOTE regarding the variant (white/red) cover: I don't know why this publication was issued with two different cover designs, nor what their respective purposes were. (The contents are identical.) This was only the second year the award was presented, so I guess the AFI hadn't quite decided on a format yet; however, I think of the silver/white cover as the standard cover, because that's what they they used for the "event" versions, at least through 1983 (as opposed to the "souvenir" versions, which had an image of the honoree on the front cover, the first of which was the 1981 edition honoring Fred Astaire). I have handled several of the silver/white versions over the years, but this is the first white/red variant I've ever seen, and so on that basis I'm considering it less common. . (Inventory #: 29406)