Four-Star Films : ‘Fanny and Alexander’
This is the shorter version of Ingmar Bergman’s 1983 cinematic swan song (as a director), in which two children tumble from paradise (the lavishly detailed Edwardian mansion of their theater-manager father) to hell (the cold, repressed bishopric of their tyrannical stepfather). A great film, with miraculous photography by Sven Nykvist and a glorious ensemble cast, including Ewa Frolig, Jan Malsmjo, Bertil Guve (left), Pernilla Allwin (right), Allan Edwall, Erland Josephson, Harriett Andersson, Gunn Walgren and Gunnar Bjornstrand. In its full, six-hour form, this is Bergman’s career summation and testament--and probably his masterpiece (Bravo Monday at 5 and 11:05 p.m.).
Other four-star films airing this week:
The Day the Earth Stood Still / Cinemax, Sunday, noon.
The Lavender Hill Mob / KCET, Sunday, 4:30 p.m.
Bringing Up Baby / AMC, Monday, 5 a.m. and 12:45 a.m.
Under the Volcano / A&E;, early Wednesday, 2 a.m.
Patton / Showtime, Wednesday, 3:30 p.m.
Destry Rides Again / AMC, Saturday, 2 and 8:30 p.m.
Only good movies
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