Begun as a concept album in 1969 and written primarily by The Who’s lead guitarist Pete Townsend - Tommy is an exploration of human emotions and failings. Tommy - a young man from post-WWI - is unable to speak, hear, or see… an infliction caused by childhood trauma and ongoing horrors. Those around him use and abuse him. Even when he becomes famous, the people who should love him simply milk him for everything. In the final act he is reborn as a messiah – yet this is not a happy ending. Back in 1969 the ending was bittersweet at best. There is a tone of sorrow and waste to Tommy’s life. Nearly 25 years later Townsend re-worked his masterpiece for a Broadway production, which ends on a positive note. I once heard an interview with Pete where he discussed how he had become more optimistic in his later years. The cynicism and despair he felt in the 1960s had dissipated by the 1990s. He wanted his revamp to reflect his personal growth.
No that I have digressed…significantly…back to the matter at hand, the 1975 Ken Russell movie. Now Ken is a unique director – like Kubrick or Fellini – and his audience was either inspired or reviled. His films were often controversial but yet you could not take your eyes off the screen (some times it was hard to believe what he got away with). So Russell takes Townsend’s creation, tweaks it a bit, flashes it up, and gives it an all-star A-1 cast. I cannot claim he cleaned it up for the masses, because he lays it all out, the traumatic death of a father, child abuse, pedophilia, drug use, prostitution, and more. This is not an easy story to watch, but Townsend wanted his audience to think, feel and experience Tommy’s life…exactly what Ken Russell then visualize on the screen. I do not recall when I first saw this movie. I am fairly certain my mother would not have taken me to it, but it is something my brother and I would have probably watched at a cheap show on base or on a Saturday afternoon on a cable-access station. I do remember being enthralled by the music and the images (remember this is also the same time period as Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar so the music and pageantry was very present in my life). Today, I would not recommend it for everyone – especially children. This movie is for those who enjoy the music, get the irony, or want to watch one of the original rock “operas” (similar to The Wall).
So you’ve decided to look past the nasty buts and delve into Tommy’s world. In this film you see an amazing group of musicians. The line-up of The Who are front-and-center: Roger Daltrey as Tommy grown up, the late Keith Moon (drummer) as Uncle Ernie, along with John Entwistle and Townsend. Eric Clapton joins his friends for the ride. The irrepressible Ann-Margret plays Tommy’s mom and hell-raiser (and hard drinker) Oliver Reed plays his stepfather. Elton John performs the massive hit Pinball Wizard and Tina Turner is freakish as the Acid-Queen. Rounding out this amazing cast is small but pivotal cameos by Jack Nicholson as a lecherous doctor and Robert Powell as Tommy’s murdered father. The irony of having Robert Powell as Tommy’s father is that two years later he takes on a messianic role as the title role in the epic miniseries Jesus of Nazareth.
As you watch the movie, there are many changes between the album and film. Russell brings the story up from WWI to WWII. Some song lyrics are adjusted, the order of scenes and performances changed, and characters are tweaked. But you still get the raw emotions and basic story. There are (now) iconic scenes and songs many of us who grew up in the 1970s recall well.
Pinball Wizard – Elton John wearing his infamous sparkling glasses and massive Doc Martin boots playing a giant pinball machine. Not only is the song still a hit, but Elton John’s rendition is sublime. Acid Queen – Tina Turner’s manic rendition as a leggy prostitute encouraging the deaf-dumb-blind Tommy to enjoy her needles…frightening is an understatement. I both love and loathe the scene where Ann-Margret in a fit of insanity (drugs?) is seen “swimming” in first foam, then beans, and finally chocolate – all pouring from her TV. It is creepy, gnarly and has an ick factor beyond belief. I also enjoy Oliver Reed’s jingly holiday camp song are catchy and Daltrey’s I’m Free.
The 1975 movie version of The Who’s Tommy is worth a look. Avoid if you dislike the 70’s, campy movies, Ken Russell or rock n roll. For everyone else (of age) give it a whirl.
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