Painting: Stair to Heaven

During the Roman spring and summer, 3,000 visitors a day file through the Sistine Chapel, staring, as long as their necks can stand the crane, at Michelangelo's great swirling frescoes on the vaulted ceiling. This week millions of television viewers can have a closer and more relaxed look at Michelangelo's rich creations in a new color movie, shot in many cases from only a few feet away — the closest filming of the ceiling ever permitted. Careful tuning of the TV set is obviously required, but The Secret of Michelangelo: Every Man's Dream (ABC-TV, Dec. 5, 9:3010:30 p.m. E.S.T.) is...

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