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.