(2 of 3)
The Twentieth Century (CBS, 6:30-7 p.m.). Part 1 of a smooth and calm two-section documentary on juvenile delinquency. Narrated by Walter Cronkite.
Ten Little Indians (NBC, 7-8 p.m.). Nina Foch and Barry Jones in Agatha Christie's stern and rockbound murder classic.
Mon., Jan. 19
Peter Gunn (NBC, 9-9:30 p.m.). Pete's Ivy League lapels and button-down eyelids are put to work defending Timothy, a trained seal with enemies.
High Adventure with Lowell Thomas (CBS, 10-11 p.m.). A tiny South Pacific island with a name like Puka Puka is just too much for a man with a name like Lowell Thomas to pass up, especially when there are IGY scientists all over the place, firing rockets and sighting in on a solar eclipse.
Tues., Jan. 20
Alcoa Presents (ABC, 10-10:30 p.m.). A new series dramatizing more-or-less documented cases of supernatural seizures, e.g., extrasensory perception, possession of one mind by another.
THEATER
On Broadway
J.B. A search for the meaning behind modern man's agony, conducted by Archibald MacLeish in a 20th century restatement of the Book of Job. Despite dramatic shortcomings, the verse play is an impressive and moving effort. With Christopher Plummer, Raymond Massey, Pat Hingle.
Flower Drum Song. A routine but opulent and attractive tour of San Francisco's Chinatown. The expert guides: Rodgers and Hammerstein. The sights most worth seeing: Miyoshi Umeki and Pat Suzuki.
The Pleasure of His Company. Cyril Ritchard plays a hilariously prodigal father who insists on being an altogether too cozy member of his daughter's wedding.
A Touch of the Poet. Eugene O'Neill's Early American alcoholic innkeeper may be more gabby than necessary, but an evening with the doomed dreamer (Eric Portman) adds up to fine theater. With Helen Hayes and Kim Stanley.
The Music Man. A bandstand musical about some wonderfully brassy lowans at the tuneful turn of the century.
My Fair Lady. Still an undiminished delight.
Two for the Seesaw. A kind of prose duet between a couple of Manhattan blues singers. Uneven but amusing and touching. With Anne Bancroft and Dana Andrews.
West Side Story. A bunch of slum kids in the best of all possible environments —dancing to Jerome Robbins' brilliant choreography and singing to Leonard Bernstein's razz-ma-jazz music.
On Tour
My Fair Lady and Two for the Seesaw in CHICAGO and The Music Man in DES
MOINES are satisfactory copies of the Broadway originals.
Twelfth Night, Hamlet and Henry V,
played with zestful art by London's Old Vic Company, are giving BOSTON a new slant on Shakespeare.
BOOKS
Best Reading
Lady L, by Remain Gary. A slim blade of a novel slicing surely at the solemn pretensions of those who love humanity more than they love their fellow men.
Manuel the Mexican, by Carlo Coccioli. A 20th century Passion play in which a young Mexican Indian takes the role not only of Christ but also of Tepozteco, the ancient Aztec deity, thus symbolizing the universality of God.
The Odyssey: A Modern Sequel by Nikos Kazantzakis. An epic arrow-flight of adventure, passion and soul-searching from the literary bow of Greece's late, famed man of letters.