Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Desert Island Discs
Presented by Roy Plomley
Film producer known for a long list of films, many based on original stories or plays, seen by hundreds of millions worldwide.
Eight records
Swan LakeFavourite
No reason or quote was given for this disc in the transcript.
No reason or quote was given for this disc in the transcript.
No reason or quote was given for this disc in the transcript.
No reason or quote was given for this disc in the transcript.
No reason or quote was given for this disc in the transcript.
No reason or quote was given for this disc in the transcript.
No reason or quote was given for this disc in the transcript.
Tchaikovsky (and Other Russians)
No reason or quote was given for this disc in the transcript.
The keepsakes
The luxury
In conversation
Presenter asks
Entertainment seems to have been the primary factor in your career. Is that something you're proud of?
I'm not ashamed of that. I think it's our first duty to entertain.
Presenter asks
Where do you find your subjects mainly? From books you read? From plays?
I don't read very many books in looking for film material. I do a great deal of reading, but for enjoyment.
Presenter asks
Cinema audiences are still falling throughout the world. Until this situation evens out, it must be rather a tricky market to aim at. Do you find that?
I don't find it so. I think there's an enormous and most attractive market throughout the world. Some of my films nowadays are seen by hundreds of millions of people.
The recording
Timestamps play the recording from that turn
Presenter
This download is the only extract the BBC has of this edition of Desert Island Discs. The presenter was Roy Plumley.
Presenter
Now looking down this impressively long list of films, it's obvious that you haven't had many serious ambitions as a campaigner. Um entertainment seems to have been the
Anatole de Grunwald
the primary factor.
Anatole de Grunwald
I'm not ashamed of that. I think it's our first duty to entertain. And if one can do that, one is r doing a great deal.
Presenter
Doing
Anatole de Grunwald
Indeed. Where do you find your subjects mainly? From books you read? From plays? No, I don't read very many books in looking for film material. I do a great deal of reading, but for enjoyment.
Anatole de Grunwald
And most of my films have been either original stories or plays.
Anatole de Grunwald
Personality.
Presenter
Cinema audiences are still falling throughout the world, and until this situation evens out, it must be rather a tricky market to aim at.
Anatole de Grunwald
I don't find it so. I think there's an enormous and
Anatole de Grunwald
Most attractive.
Anatole de Grunwald
market throughout the world. I mean some of my films nowadays are seen by hundreds of millions of people.
Presenter
Yeah.
Anatole de Grunwald
And of
Anatole de Grunwald
I see no great problem. Is there much change in the audience? Is it younger than it used to be?
Anatole de Grunwald
I think they probably are.
Anatole de Grunwald
But um I think that
Anatole de Grunwald
I personally don't worry whether people I don't aim at any specific age audience. If a film is a good film, I think it's enjoyed by young and old. Is it more knowledgeable, more sophisticated? I think audiences are more knowledgeable and sophisticated, but I've got great respect for audiences, and I think there's never been a good film.
Anatole de Grunwald
That hasn't had the support of the public.
Presenter
You mentioned your films being shown all over the world. There are few completely British films these days. Most of them are.
Presenter
Co-productions with sometimes foreign capital, sometimes foreign stars, isn't it a pity that films should lose national identity?
Anatole de Grunwald
I don't really think so film is an international medium.
Anatole de Grunwald
And uh the world anyhow is becoming a very small place.
Presenter asks
Is the audience younger than it used to be? And is it more knowledgeable, more sophisticated?
I think they probably are. But I personally don't worry whether people I don't worry about it. I don't aim at any specific age audience.
Presenter asks
Most films these days are co-productions with sometimes foreign capital, sometimes foreign stars. Isn't it a pity that films should lose national identity?
I don't really think so. Film is an international medium, and the world anyhow is becoming a very small place.
“I'm not ashamed of that. I think it's our first duty to entertain.”
“I don't read very many books in looking for film material. I do a great deal of reading, but for enjoyment.”
“Most of my films have been either original stories or plays.”