Tommy-1975

Director Ken Russell

Starring Roger Daltrey, Ann-Margret

Top 250 Films #140

Scott’s Review #617

Reviewed February 15, 2017

Grade: B+

The film version of Tommy (1975) is a musical fantasy, a rock opera based on The Who’s famous 1969 album.

Composed and adapted by Pete Townsend of The Who, the film tells the story of a deaf, dumb, blonde kid named Tommy.

Featuring a star-studded cast of actors and singers performing musical numbers, the film is an over-the-top treat and quite campy late-night fare. The stage version is usually a bit more serious and sedate than the film.

I enjoy the film, but it pales in comparison to the stage versions- which I was fortunate enough to see at my local community theater recently.

Ken Russell directs the film.

Set in the 1940s and told mainly through song, we see a montage of Captain Walker (Robert Powell) and his wife, Nora (Ann-Margaret), on their honeymoon, followed by Walker being sent off to war, leaving a pregnant Nora behind.

When his fighter plane is shot down and he is presumed dead, the montage skips ahead five years, and Nora is now involved in a relationship with Frank (Oliver Reed).

Tommy is five years old and is visited by his father, who is very much alive. After a struggle with Frank and Nora, Powell is killed, and a traumatized Tommy is unable to speak, see, or hear (except within his mind) as Frank and Nora are desperate to make sure he keeps quiet.

As Tommy grows into a young man, he becomes a “Pinball Wizard”, a prodigy at pinball, creating great wealth for Nora and Frank. Still unable to speak or see, he is first abused by his Uncle and cousin, but then championed as they are all able to get rich off of his abilities.

Through the years, Nora and Frank attempt to “cure” Tommy of his ailments via a preacher (Clapton) leading a Marilyn Monroe cult and a prostitute (Turner).

The joy in Tommy (the film) is seeing the star-studded cast- Elton John, Tina Turner, and Eric Clapton, as well as Roger Daltrey- bring a sense of wonderment to the film. Who doesn’t like to see rock stars perform?

Famous actors Jack Nicholson, Ann-Margret, and Reed are featured.

The musical numbers are the splendid part of the film, and one must be prepared to escape into a world of fantasy. Musical highlights for me include “Acid Queen”, “It’s A Boy”, and “We’re Not Gonna Take It”.

My most recent viewing of the film Tommy disappointed me slightly, and this may be because I recently saw the stage version, which I find far superior.

Ann-Margret, while superb and believable as Tommy’s mum, is not the character that Townsend had in mind.

Sultry and sexy, she is cast to bring some sex appeal- nothing wrong with this, but the stage character is more of a working-class woman and more in line with the rest of the cast.

The film also seems a bit too over-the-top, almost silly at times. But Tommy is an escapist film, based on the album, which is more serious.

I wonder if Russell was going for a more late-night, Rocky Horror Show- or Little Shop of Horrors-type feel.

Tommy (1975) has its place, certainly, but I would first recommend the stage or album version as a starting point, then move to the film as escapist fare.

Oscar Nominations: Best Actress-Ann-Margret, Best Scoring: Original Song Score and Adaptation or Scoring: Adaptation