Cinema, Television, Theater, Books: may 31, 1963

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CINEMA

Winter Light. Ingmar Bergman probes deeper into religious philosophy in this relentlessly somber and icily beautiful film about an afternoon in the life of a Swedish pastor who finds himself unable to help or love others because he fears that he himself is beyond the help or love of God.

Heavens Above! Peter Sellers again, this time as a vicar who becomes the first Bishop of Outer Space. Sellers seems to be still all right, but, Jack, something has gone wrong with his vehicles.

The Idiot and Sanjuro. These two films by Japan's Akira Kurosawa are not in a class with his Rashomon or Yojimbo. But Kurosawa's genius can make a miss almost as good as a masterpiece.

Two Daughters. In this gentle and witty two-part film, the camera of India's Satyajit Ray speaks a universal language. The Postmaster tells of the touching relationship between a backwoods postmaster and a ten-year-old girl who is his servant; The Conclusion is a comedy about a reluctant bride, ardent groom and spoiled mother.

The Third Lover. Claude Chabrol has made a chilling psychological thriller about the sin of envy. Jacques Charrier is the baby-faced rat who wrecks a marriage and causes a murder because others' happiness makes him angry.

Landru. Another Chabrol film, with a script by Francoise Sagan, this one is a kind of comedy of murders, based on the story of the French Bluebeard who killed off ten women during World War 1. Two of the victims: Danielle Darrieux and Michele Morgan.

Lazarillo. The hero is a 16th-century Huckleberry Finn who pits wits and wiles against a world of unscrupulous adults.

Mondo Cane. The bite of this documentary of depravity is even worse than its bark: the thesis that the world has gone to the dogs.

TELEVISION

Wednesday, May 29 CBS Reports (CBS, 7:30-8:30 p.m.).*Tonight's subject: birth control.

Friday, May 31

International Showtime (NBC, 7:30-8:30 p.m.). The Circus Schumann of Copenhagen. Repeat.

Eyewitness (CBS, 10:30-11 p.m.). The top news story of the week.

Saturday, June 1

Wide World of Sports (ABC, 5-6:30 p.m.). The Indianapolis 500-mile auto race, and the European soccer championship—Portugal v. Italy—from Wembley Stadium in London.

Hootenanny (ABC, 8:30-9 p.m.). Taped at Penn State University, this show includes Martha Schlamme, Ian and Sylvia, Richard and Jim, and The Limeliters.

Saturday Night at the Movies (NBC, 9-11 p.m.). Marilyn Monroe and Robert Mitchum in River of No Return.

Sunday, June 2

Directions '63 (ABC, 2-2:30 p.m.). "The Wisdom of Maimonides," the 12th century Jewish philosopher analyzed through dramatic readings. Repeat.

Meet the Press (NBC, 6-6:30 p.m.). Guest: Alabama Governor George C. Wallace.

The Twentieth Century (CBS, 6-6:30 p.m.). Okinawa—where 100,000 Japanese died in the last major battle of World War II. Some 12,000 Americans also lost their lives in a nightmare of kamikazes and engulfing typhoons. Repeat.

Sunday Night Movie (ABC, 8-10 p.m.). Subway in the Sky, with Van Johnson and Hildegarde Neff.

The Voice of Firestone (ABC, 10-10:30 p.m.). Guests: Dancer Rudolf Nureyev and Tenor Franco Corelli, Conductor Wilfred Pelletier.

Monday, June 3