Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
A star of the theatre, known for her long career as a musical comedy actress and singer.
On the island
Eight records
The Walk to the Paradise Garden
London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir John Barbirolli
He knew I was mad about Delius.
His rendering of Claire de Loud is out of this world.
There Are Bad Times Just Around the CornerFavourite
I choose to take something of his to give me a laugh.
It wouldn't be complete my life out on that desert island if I didn't take his voice with me.
Concerto in F (third movement)
Its sharp attack on the piano and that jazz rhythm. That appeals to me. And the broad melody at the climax.
Speech: 'We shall fight on the beaches' (June 1940)
I only used to have to hear the voice of Sir Winston Churchill on the radio making one of his speeches? And somehow I thought it was a personal thing he was talking to me alone and nobody else.
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Herbert von Karajan
An evening which I have tucked away in my memory as one of the greatest I shall ever behold.
In conversation
Presenter asks
1:01Could you endure loneliness?
Oh, I don't know, Roy. I like to be alone part of the day. I think it's important to be. But to have unending loneliness. No, I don't think I'd be very good at that.
Presenter asks
1:22What was your plan in choosing your eight records for the Desert Island?
Well, it's so difficult, Roy. There's such an enormous collection of records that I have. Music has always affected me enormously. I think probably the plan I would like to uh choice is this one. I'd like to take records with me of my friends, people who have made records. So I'd kind of a way be taking them with me. And something that they have achieved and done.
Presenter asks
4:50Your parents were in the theatre, weren't they? Did they encourage you to go on the stage?
No, they didn't they. They did everything they could to possibly keep me away from it, but how could I keep away from it? I'd know nothing else. I used to dream and think of the theatre all the time I was in school. I mean, if I heard an interesting history lesson, I was always playing the part of whoever it was, Mary, Queen of Scots or whatever, you know.
The keepsakes
The book
Alice Bailey
I always keep it by my bed. It's a book on ancient wisdom, from which I get an enormous amount of help.
The luxury
You see, the older I get, the vainer I get. It's dreadful, isn't it? But I think a lady should always look her best.
Presenter asks
6:23You had an enormous success in New York in Bittersweet for the great Ziegfeld. What sort of man was he?
Well, it was rented. Charles B. Cochrane show, as well as Igfields, they were in in sort of combined management. Well, he always reminded me of an elephant. I don't know why. His nose did. He had periwinkle blue eyes and white hair, and he seemed to be always dressed in a in a grey suit. Uh he was a very kindly man. He had the art of making ladies look their very, very best. And he talked to me a very great deal about my soda and dress sense. I mean, he told me, for instance, I must never wear a large pattern. Well, I haven't. To this day, worn a large hat, and since he told me that, I know I can't. He told me I had a a very small face. and that uh if I put anything large on my body, it took away from my face. I must always be plainly dressed.
Presenter asks
14:10Do you think a lot of the glamour has gone out of the theatre?
Oh, boy, oh boy, and how it's gone out. I think it's such a mistake. I don't like all these realistic plays. I I get um I get shocked, you know. I'm a woman of the world. I'm not an old square really. But I get shocked when I go to the theatre now. I wish they wouldn't do it. I think glamour will come back. I think entertainment will come back. I want to go to the theatre to be entertained.
Presenter asks
18:47Would you try to escape?
I don't know. Would I try to escape? Well, it's a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea. I mean, literally the deep blue sea, isn't it? No, I think I'd stay where I was and wait, hopefully, for a passing ship to rescue me.
“My father, uh when I was, oh, just at a muttering age, put his face in my pram and said, What's your name, my little darling? and I said, Boo boo.”
“He suddenly turned round to the box and looked up at me and smiled. He knew I was mad about Delius.”
“I don't like all these realistic plays. I I get um I get shocked, you know. I'm a woman of the world. I'm not an old square really. But I get shocked when I go to the theatre now.”
“I only used to have to hear the voice of Sir Winston Churchill on the radio making one of his speeches? And somehow I thought it was a personal thing he was talking to me alone and nobody else.”
“I think I'd take an old coward, because I I can't live without a laugh, you see.”
“A large box of cosmetics, please. You see, the older I get, the vainer I get. It's dreadful, isn't it? But I think a lady should always look her best.”