Tommy

1h 51m 1975

Brief Synopsis

A seemingly handicapped boy becomes a Pinball Wizard.

Cast & Crew

Read More

Ken Russell

Roger Daltrey

Oliver Reed

Jack Nicholson

Mylon Le Fevre

Robert Powell

Photos & Videos

View All

Tommy (1975) -- (Movie Clip) Bernie's Holiday Camp

Tommy (1975) -- (Movie Clip) A Film By Ken Russell

Tommy (1975) -- (Movie Clip) Christmas

Tommy (1975) -- (Movie Clip) Pinball Wizard

Tommy (1975) -- (Movie Clip) Amazing Journey

Film Details

Also Known As

Tommy by 'The Who'

MPAA Rating

Genre

Musical

Adaptation

Release Date

1975

Location

England, United Kingdom

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 51m

Sound

Quintaphonic (5 channel Dolby Stereo)

Color

Color (Metrocolor)

Theatrical Aspect Ratio

1.85 : 1

Synopsis

A seemingly handicapped boy becomes a Pinball Wizard.

Director

Ken Russell

Cast

Roger Daltrey

Oliver Reed

Jack Nicholson

Mylon Le Fevre

Robert Powell

Kit Trevor

Helen Shappell

Elton John

Gillian Mcintosh

Liza Strike

Jeff Roden

Alison Dowling

Eric Clapton

Tina Turner

Arthur Brown

Paul Nicholas

Paul Gurvitz

Vicki Brown

Margo Newman

Eddie Stacey

Marty Holland

Dick Allan

Billy Nicholls

Simon Townshend

Gary Rich

John Entwhistle

Peter Townshend

Keith Moon

Victoria Russell

Ben Aris

Barry Winch

Crew

Terry Ackland-snow

Assistant Art Director

Richard Bailey

Stuart Baird

Harry Benn

Associate Producer

Jonathan Benson

Assistant Director

George Blackler

Lee Bolon

Location Manager

Bob Bremner

Ian Bruce

Sound Recordist

Dick Bush

Cinematographer

Dick Bush

Dp/Cinematographer

Jack Carter

Construction Manager

Howie Casey

Phil Chen

Eric Clapton

John Clark

Nobby Clark

Special Effects

Dave Clinton

Eddie Collins

Camera Operator

John Comfort

Production Manager

Ray Cooper

Geoff Daley

Graham Deakin

Paul Dufficey

Bob Efford

John Entwhistle

John Entwistle

Martyn Ford

Ricky Green

Location Manager

Gillian Gregory

Christopher Hobbs

Nicky Hopkins

Joyce James

Elton John

Davey Johnstone

Kenney Jones

Kit Lambert

Robin Lehman

Kay Mander

Keith Moon

Dee Murray

Ron Nevison

Harry Newman

Property Master

Tony Newman

Nigel Olsson

Richard Pointing

Wardrobe Supervisor

Caleb Quaye

Mick Ralphs

Terry Rawlings

Peter Robb-king

Alan Ross

Ronnie Ross

Bill Rowe

Ken Russell

Ken Russell

Shirley Russell

Fuzzy Samuels

Gerald Shaw

Bryn Siddall

Chris Stainton

Christopher Stamp

Executive Producer

Robert Stigwood

Ron Taylor

Cinematographer

Ron Taylor

Dp/Cinematographer

Peter Townshend

Peter Townshend

Peter Townshend

Beryl Vertue

Executive Producer

Malcolm Vinson

Camera Focus Puller

Ian Whittaker

Ian Whittaker

Videos

Tommy (1975) -- (Movie Clip) A Film By Ken Russell Diretor Ken Russell’s prologue, one of the least remarked-upon scenes, shot partly in Borrowdale Valley, England’s far northwest Lake District, seen in other Russell films, with Robert Powell as doomed Captain Walker and Ann-Margret his wife, before the birth of the hero, in the famous adaptation of the rock opera by Pete Townshend and The Who, Tommy, 1975.

Tommy (1975) -- (Movie Clip) Amazing Journey In a song substantially expanded by composer Pete Townshend from the original 1969 recording by The Who, leading man Roger Daltrey’s vocal describes the now-traumatized hero (Barry Winch), with his mother (Ann-Margret) and Oliver Reed as her lover Frank, now a murderer, in director Ken Russell’s Tommy, 1975.

Tommy (1975) -- (Movie Clip) Bernie's Holiday Camp In a new song composed by Pete Townshend for the Ken Russell film, Oliver Reed introduced as Frank, Barry Winch as the young hero and Ann-Margret his mother, shot near Portsmouth and inside the South Parade Pier ballroom, in Robert Stigwood’s production of the rock opera by The Who, Tommy, 1975.

Tommy (1975) -- (Movie Clip) Christmas Another song modified by Pete Townshend for narrative reasons from the original recording by The Who, Ann-Margret as mother Nora, Oliver Reed as her lover Frank, vocals by the principals though the voice of the hero (Barry Winch) is not credited, in Ken Russell’s film from the rock opera, Tommy, 1975.

Tommy (1975) -- (Movie Clip) Pinball Wizard Elton John’s hit single recording, appearing as the pinball champ, actually not the character from the song title, who is really Roger Daltrey, the title character, with composer Pete Townshend and the rest of The Who (John Entwistle, Keith Moon) as the backing band, in director Ken Russell’s Tommy, 1975.

Tommy (1975) -- (Movie Clip) Eyesight To The Blind First appearance of The Who's Roger Daltrey in the title role, Ann-Margret his near-desperate mother, at some sort of church where Eric Clapton leads worship of Marilyn Monroe, with a version of the Sonny Boy Williamson song, credited to him though wholly re-written by Pete Townshend, who appears with bandmate John Entwistle in the procession, in Ken Russell's adaption of Tommy, 1975.

Tommy - (Original Trailer) Tommy (1975), the deaf, dumb and blind kid who becomes a pinball wizard in Ken Russell's interpretation of The Who's rock opera.

Film Details

Also Known As

Tommy by 'The Who'

MPAA Rating

Genre

Musical

Adaptation

Release Date

1975

Location

England, United Kingdom

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 51m

Sound

Quintaphonic (5 channel Dolby Stereo)

Color

Color (Metrocolor)

Theatrical Aspect Ratio

1.85 : 1

Award Nominations

Best Actress

1975

Best Score

1975

Quotes

We're on our own, Cousin; all alone, Cousin. Let's think of a nice game to play while the grown-ups have all gone away. You won't be much fun, being blind, deaf 'n' dumb, but I've no one to play with today.
- Cousin Kevin

We're on our own, cousin. All alone, cousin. Let's think of a game to play Now the grownups have all gone away. You won't be much fun, Being blind, deaf and dumb, But I've no one to play with today.
- Cousin Kevin

See me, feel me. Touch me, heal me.
- Tommy

Today it rained Champagne! A son was born again! A genius untamed! A life of wealth and fame, wealth and fame! Champagne flowing down just like rain, Caviar breakfasts every day. Merchant banks and yachts at Cannes! Servants and cars and private sand...
- Nora Walker Hobbs

He seems to be completely unreceptive. The tests I gave him showed no sense at all. His eyes react to light; the dials detect it. He hears but cannot answer to your call.
- The Specialist

Trivia

All of the movie was filmed to a pre-recorded soundtrack except for the "Pinball Wizard" sequence in which The Who really did play in front of the theatre audience (Elton John's band, however, is featured on the soundtrack). When the fans rush the stage at the end of the sequence, that wasn't scripted but caused by the excitement The Who's live performance generated, particularly when Pete Townshend started to smash his guitar.

Ken Russell originally wanted 'Lee, Christopher' to play the Doctor. But he was in Bangkok, filming _Man With The Golden Gun, The (1974)_ . Luckily, Jack Nicholson was in London at the time, and he was brought in as a last minute replacement for Lee. His singing and his film part were filmed and recorded in 18 hours.

The original choice to play the Acid Queen was David Bowie.

Some of the scenes with Robert Powell (I) parallel his scenes in Mahler (1974), also directed by 'Russell, Ken' .

crawling out of the skeleton's pelvis.

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States Winter January 1, 1975

Re-released in United States on Video September 15, 1993

Released in United States March 1985

Released in United States March 1998

Released in United States 2012

Shown at Santa Barbara International Film Festival March 5-15, 1998.

Based upon Pete Townshend and The Who's top-selling rock opera of the same name, recorded and released in 1969.

Released in United States Winter January 1, 1975

Re-released in United States on Video September 15, 1993

Released in United States March 1985 (Shown at FILMEX: Los Angeles International Film Exposition (The Fabulous Fifty-Hour Filmex Fantasy Marathon) March 14-31, 1985.)

Released in United States March 1998 (Shown at Santa Barbara International Film Festival March 5-15, 1998.)

Released in United States 2012 (The Late Show)

By using this site, you agree to our updated Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use