Milton Shulman
Sue Lawley's castaway is writer and critic Milton Shulman.
The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is Milton Shulman. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about how he came to Britain from Toronto as an Intelligence Officer during the Second World War, after which he wrote a book called Defeat in the West, which was based on interviews he conducted with defeated German officers. It was this book which brought him to the attention of Lord Beaverbrook, leading to his promotion from humble diarist on the London Evening Standard to its film critic. He then went on to become the paper's chief theatre critic - a job he did for 38 years, during which time he reckons to have been to 5,500 first nights, but, to his mind, no great plays.
[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]
Favourite track: Capriccio Italien by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Book: The Cookery Book by Constance Spry
Luxury: Tennis racket and ball machine
Last on
Music Played
![]()
The Ink Spots
Java Jive
- Swing High, Swing Low.
- ASV.
![]()
Giuseppe Verdi
La donna è mobile (from Rigoletto)
Artist: Enrico Caruso
- Caruso Sings Verdi.
- RCA.
![]()
Richard Addinsell
Warsaw Concerto
Orchestra: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Moshe Atzmon
- Decca.
![]()
Stanley Holloway
Get Me to the Church on Time
- My Fair Lady.
- Columbia.
Castaway's Favourite
![]()
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Sleeping Beauty Capriccio Italien
Orchestra: The Concertgebouw Orchestra Conductor: Bernard Haitink
- Philips.
![]()
Ella Fitzgerald
Russian Lullaby
- The Irving Berlin Songbook.
- Verve.
![]()
Russ Columbo
You Call It Madness
- Ross Columbo.
- SAndy Hook Records.
![]()
Walter Huston
September Song
- Hollywood Sings Vol2 The Boys.
- Ace Of Hearts.
Book Choice
The Cookery Book - Constance Spry
Luxury Choice
Tennis racket and ball machine
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Sue Lawley |
| Interviewed Guest | Milton Shulman |
Broadcasts
- Sun 5 Jun 199412:15BBC Radio 4
- Fri 10 Jun 199409:05BBC Radio 4
Featured in...
![]()
Archive 1991-1996—Desert Island Discs
Guests are invited to choose the eight records they would take to a desert island
The Desert Island Discs podcast
Subscribe or download individual episodes.
Listen to over 2,000 programmes
Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.
Articles
Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.
Podcast
![]()
Desert Island Discs
Castaway guests share the soundtrack of their lives.
Related Content
