One, Two, Three. A sort of Mack Sennett investigation of the situation in Berlin, conducted with a wham-bam abandon by Director Billy Wilder.
Throne of Blood. Director Akira (Rashomon) Kurosawa's grand, barbaric Japanization of Macbeth is probably the most original and vital attempt ever made to translate Shakespeare to the screen.
The Five-Day Lover. A hilarious bou-Dior farce in a sly French style that mingles lowlife and haute couture, but at the end Director Philippe de Broca does not find lovers in the closets—he finds skeletons.
A Summer to Remember. A Soviet film whose reels contain honest celluloid—the fresh, warm, funny story of a little boy's life with father in Russia today—instead of the usual party line.
The Kitchen. British Playwright Arnold Wesker flings capitalism in the soup and serves it piping hot.
West Side Story. This big, slick cine-musical, like the Broadway show it is based on, decorates its hoods with haloes and its cops with badges of dishonor, but its dances still seem (mostly) fresh and its Romeo and Juliet story still seems (mostly) sweet.
Loss of Innocence. Rumer Godden's novel The Greengage Summer becomes a charming thriller of sensibility, in which Susannah York provides a memorable impression of what Eve was like when the serpent first began to whisper.
The Hustler. A morality play in a poolroom, brilliantly directed by Robert Rossen, vigorously played by Paul Newman, Piper Laurie, Jackie Gleason.
TELEVISION
Wed., Dec. 20
Project 20 (NBC, 8:30-9 p.m.).* "The Coming of Christ," narrated by Alexander Scourby, illustrated by details from hundreds of paintings. Color.
The Bob Newhart Show (NBC, 10-10:30 p.m.). Bob as a button-down Santa, abetted by the Four Freshmen, male quartet. Color.
Thurs., Dec. 21
CBS Reports (CBS, 10-10:30 p.m.). Walter Lippmann comments candidly on issues and personalities of the past year's news, interviewed by Walter Cronkite.
Fri., Dec. 22
The Enchanted Nutcracker (ABC, 7:30-8:30 p.m.). Carol Lawrence and Robert Goulet star in this "free adaptation" of the Tchaikovsky ballet classic.
International Showtime (NBC, 7:30-8:30 p.m.). Don Ameche plays host at "Christmas at the Paris Circus," taped at the Cirque d'Hiver in Paris.
Bell Telephone Hour (NBC, 9:30-10:30 p.m.). A potpourri called "A Trip to Christmas," narrated by Jane Wyatt and starring the Lennon Sisters, Violette Verdy and Edward Villella of the New York City Ballet, and the Schola Cantorum. Color.
Sat., Dec. 23
Accent (CBS, 1:30-2 p.m.). Poet John Ciardi visits a third-grade schoolroom to read his own poetry and some traditional Christmas verses.
Sun., Dec. 24
Amahl and the Night Visitors (NBC, 4-5 p.m.). The NBC Opera Co. in the eleventh annual presentation of Gian Carlo Menotti's Christmas opera.
The Ed Sullivan Show (CBS, 8-9 p.m.). For the kiddies, Ed presents puppets, acrobats, aerialists and animal acts.
Tues., Dec. 26
The Red Skelton Show (CBS, 9-9:30 p.m.). Red. as George Appleby, is hypnotized at an office party, runs afoul of Wife Clara, played by Marilyn Maxwell.