moemoul

I was 15 when I first saw this movie, back in 1973. I was studying GCE Film at a boarding school in Essex, when our tutor screened 'Don't deliver us' for our mock O Level paper. The theme was censorship and immediately it became obvious that the censors were in for a tough time. Notwithstanding the sexual content of the film and the depraved way in which the two girls flout there vulnerability to the innocent village idiot, the film really ran into trouble with it's anti-Catholic theme which is prominent throughout. This aside the film has plenty to say and with the advancement in our tolerance of the shocking and with more acceptance of criticism of the church, I feel it is time to give this film an airing and test it's ability to deliver a message.

Having studied the films of Roman Polanski thoroughly in the early 70's while taking a ground breaking GCSE O'Level in Film Study, I was lucky enough to take in the early works including Two Men and a Wardrobe. The film starts with the arrival of the two men from the sea as if joining a closed community from the outside world. Along with them they carry their burden, the wardrobe. The film documents their inability to be accepted into a society who's prejudices come to the fore as they are turned away from cafes and shops and eventually leave the society that shuns them. The wardrobe is symbolic of all societies shortcomings, whether it's sexism, homophobia, racism or plain class distinction. This is Polanski's first film and sets his stall out for a career which never hides from controversy, which includes the mock horror of Dance of the Vampires to Repulsion and the brilliant Cul de Sac. His crossing of genres take him past Shakespeare's Macbeth and Hardy's Tess, but most ardent fans return to the earlier work. Any one who enjoys Two men and a wardrobe should search out Knife In The Water before they return to his Hollywood days.