Tommy **** (1975, Roger Daltrey, Ann-Margret, Oliver Reed, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Jack Nicholson, Robert Powell, Paul Nicholas, Tina Turner, Keith Moon) – Classic Movie Review 5,054

Ken Russell’s incredibly boisterous 1975 film adaptation of The Who’s rock opera Tommy features Roger Daltrey as the catatonic Tommy Walker. Tina Turner as The Acid Queen, Jack Nicholson as a slimy doctor, and Ann-Margret as Tommy’s mum.

‘Your senses will never be the same.’ Director Ken Russell’s incredibly boisterous 1975 film adaptation of The Who’s rock opera Tommy features Roger Daltrey (as the adult Tommy Walker, the psychosomatic ‘deaf, dumb and blind kid who sure plays a mean pinball’), rousing Seventies music and an impressive visual style that consistently amuses and entertains, and sometimes shocks. It is all very Ken Russell, the ideal interpreter for this The Who masterwork, based on their 1969 studio album, with six new songs, all written by Pete Townshend.

The film’s highlights include Elton John in massive platform boots singing ‘Pinball Wizard’, Tina Turner as a vivacious hypodermic-happy ‘Acid Queen’, Roger Daltrey performing ‘I’m Free’ (written by Pete Townshend), Jack Nicholson as a slimy but seductive doctor, The Specialist, and Ann-Margret as Tommy’s mum Nora getting closely involved with soap suds, chocolate sauce and baked beans. Unexpectedly, Ann-Margret is the star of the show, with most to do, and the most real acting. She is tremendous, and won a Golden Globe and was Oscar nominated as Best Actress. But Roger Daltrey and Oliver Reed are terrific too in their showy star roles.

Less appealing than Ann-Margret and Daltrey, though no less memorable, are Oliver Reed as Tommy’s sleazy step-father Frank, a shifty holiday camp counsellor, Paul Nicholas as Tommy’s sadomasochist biker punk Cousin Kevin, and Keith Moon as Tommy’s perverted Uncle Ernie, all examples of male oppression and abuse, adding a very dark, uncomfortable tone to the rock opera musical.

Robert Powell plays Tommy’s flier father Captain Walker, who is badly burnt in the Second World War. Tommy’s mum Nora then gets closely involved with Frank, who murders the boy’s father when he unexpectedly returns, traumatising the boy Tommy, who is left psychosomatically unable to see, speak or hear. Having become a master pinball player, playing by intuition, the adult Tommy finds himself the messiah-type figurehead object of a religious cult.

A full-on, non stop head-banging blast, Tommy is witty, irreverent and fun, and filled with entertaining black humour. A huge success as a movie and a box-office sensation ($5 million cost, $32 million US gross), this is one of Russell’s most accessible and enjoyable cinematic ventures. He said: ‘It is the most commercial film I’ve ever made’.

Also in the movie are Elton John as The Pinball Wizard, Eric Clapton as The Preacher, Jack Nicholson as The Specialist/ Dr A Quackson, Robert Powell as Group Captain Walker, Paul Nicholas as Cousin Kevin, Tina Turner as The Acid Queen, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, Arthur Brown as The Priest, Victoria Russell as Sally Simpson, and Ben Aris as the as Rev A Simpson VC, Mary Holland as Mrs Simpson, Jennifer Baker as nurse, Susan Baker as nurse, Imogen Claire as Specialist’s nurse, Juliet King as the Acid Queen’s handmaiden, and Gillian King as the Acid Queen’s handmaiden.

Ken Russell has an uncredited cameo in a wheelchair as one of Marilyn’s followers and eventually one of Tommy’s followers.

Tommy is made on location in Portsmouth and Southesa, and at Lee International Studios, Kensal Town, London.

It was released on 19 March 1975 (US) and 26 March 1975 (UK).

Tommy is directed by Ken Russell, runs 108 minute, is made by The Robert Stigwood Organisation and Hemdale Film Corporation, is released by Columbia Pictures, is written by Ken Russell, is photographed by Dick Bush, Ronnie Taylor and Robin Lehman, is produced by Robert Stigwood and Ken Russell, is scored by Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle and Keith Moon, is choreographed by Gillian Gregory, and is designed by John Clark.

Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939 – May 24, 2023) was known as the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll. She is also memorable as the villainous Aunty Entity in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5,054

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