Four-Star Films : ‘8 1/2’

In Federico Fellini’s captivating 1963 film, a famous screen director, suffering massive creative blocks on his latest production, tumbles through a vortex of dreams, memories and nightmares as he tries to sort out the toils of life and art. This quintessential Fellini film--with Marcello Mastroianni (pictured) as a thinly disguised prototype of the director--also features Claudia Cardinale, Anouk Aimee and Sandra Milo among the director’s harem. It also boasts a lilting score by Fellini regular Nino Rota (TMC Sunday at 7:30 a.m. and 6:40 p.m.).

Other selected four-star films airing this week:

How Green Was My Valley / AMC, Sunday, 3 p.m. and Monday, midnight.

On the Waterfront / TNT, Sunday, 9:30 p.m.

Sullivan’s Travels / Disney, Monday, 2 a.m.

The Grapes of Wrath / Bravo, Wednesday, 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.

A Tree Grows on Brooklyn / AMC, Thursday, 1 p.m.

The Heiress / AMC, Friday, 11:30 a.m. and 11:05 p.m.