Dos hombres y un armario

"Wardrobe" has two meanings for most people: 1 - A wardrobe (sometimes called an "armoire") is a standing closet, sometimes called an "armoire" used for storing clothes. Sometimes it is in the form of a big trunk. 2 - a collection of wearing apparel; a collection of stage costumes and accessories I know it as the second definition but in this movie, an early Roman Polanski film, it is a big "dresser, a large piece of furniture to store clothes and has a mirror in the middle of it. It looks big and tough for even two people to carry.

So....imagine the absurdity of the opening scene: two men appearing out of the ocean, walking to shore carrying this "wardrobe!" That scenes sets up this strange 14-minute film, the first one of Polanski's to get public viewing. Polanski made films in Poland for the first five years of his career. I wonder what people there thought of this strange tale.

This movie starts out strictly as a comedy, almost like an old silent film one because there is no dialog so all the humor is physical. However, it then delves into some other odd areas, such as animal abuse, some unexplained and non-eventful and very routine scenes with a girl, some fistfights. You just never know what will happen, all the while the two guys are carrying this huge wardrobe around. I left out mentioning a bunch of strange things so as not to spoil it.

Like most of Polanski's early works, this is unusual stuff. My opinion is that many people would see this in many ways, and have a wide wide of likes and dislikes about it. One thing for sure: it's different. You can see this early Polanski effort on disc number 2 of the "Knife In The Water" DVD.

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.

Despite the English title sounding a lot like a recent sitcom, it is a short, very early film by the master of early film making, Roman Polanski. I saw this on a documentary on Polanski late last year (1998), and i thought it was kinda funny, in a queer way. It is, of-course in Polish, so i don't know what happened exactly on the movie, but i can talk about the style on the feel of the movie.

It looks as if it was made when film was just starting to get it right, (even though it was 1958!). It probably cost a fortune for him to make, since he was still a nobody at this time. The movie starts with these two guys on a beach, and they are struggling to carry this enormous wardrobe. The scenery and the props as i just mentioned don't seem to go together, and the result is pretty funny. Watching these guys trip in the sand carrying a huge wardrobe is like watching someone push a shopping trolley down the isle of a movie theatre, you watch it and just sorta... laugh!

The two guys eventually meet some other people, and then dialogue became involved so i got lost again. So what i'm trying to say is that if you're a die-hard fan of Roman Polanski, you still probably won't like this short, black and white movie...

But i've seen something you haven't, I've seen something you haven't, i've seen something you haven't...

Two Men and a Wardrobe (1958)

*** (out of 4)

As the title suggests, two men carry a large wardrobe around the city getting in all sorts of trouble. Polanski shows good timing in the comic moments and his cameo as the gang leader reminded me of a certain scene in Chinatown.

Break Up the Party (1957)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Somewhat amusing short from Polanski has a more interesting history than what's exactly on screen. Polanski threw a party at his school and invited a gang to break it up half way through. That's what we see here.

Teeth Smile (1957)

*** (out of 4)

Another short from Polanski, this one dealing with a peeping tom. Once again the young director shows he would become quite capable of building some nice atmosphere.

Murder (1957)

*** (out of 4)

Roman Polanski's first short film quickly shows a murder taking place. For such a short film (running time wise), the director does a very good job at showing atmosphere and the murder is quite effective as well.

One of his earliest films, at 25 years old, Polanski is still exploring the best way to shock the audience, engross the audience, AND serve them a feast of the unconventional. Perceptive, witty and occasionally downright nasty (see the theatrical 'murder' in the river as the two heroes blithely carry the wardrobe along the bank), Polanski's trademark weirdness is still embryonic but ultimately satisfies. An oddity, yes, and a must see for anyone who cherishes dreams of film school.