Tommy (1975)

☆ ☆ ☆

Tommy (1975) – K. Russell

I have to admit that I’m not overly familiar with The Who’s concept album, Tommy – but listening to it now, I have to declare that the band’s original versions of these songs are (for the most part) far superior to the movie’s remakes featuring Ann-Margret, Oliver Reed, Elton John, Jack Nicholson, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton, and even Roger Daltrey.  As expected, director Ken Russell (Women in Love, The Devils, Altered States), an apt choice, brings the excess.  Ann-Margret’s (Oscar-nominated!) performance as Tommy’s mother is particularly over-the-top.  The album/movie tells the story of a boy who witnesses the murder of his returning serviceman father by his mum/stepdad which leads him to become psychosomatically deaf, dumb, and blind.  Eventually he becomes a pinball superstar and then a messiah of sorts (after he is awakened).  I’ll admit that my attention wavered at times but the sounds and images were seemingly more important than the plot, at least to Russell.  The Who obviously fully sanctioned this version and appear as themselves or in character parts throughout the film; however, the music is often created by others, corrupting the band’s sound.  Nevertheless, Elton John’s version of Pinball Wizard was apparently a hit at the time and the staging for the movie is pretty bizarre.  Of course, the band smash their instruments at its conclusion.