The Who's original album Tommy is a masterpiece.
Then somebody decided it would make a great movie, but let's improve on the album by having Oliver Reed and Jack Nicholson SING! And let's make Elton John the Pinball Wizard!
Whenever the subject of Tommy comes up, I always advise to buy the album by The Who, and run, Forrest, run, from the movie soundtrack or DVD of the movie.
I think the album sucks, but then again I don't like the Who. Every single song in the movie is done better than on the original album, most notably The Acid Queen, Pinball Wizard, and Sally Simpson. I'm sorry you didn't like Reed or Nicholson's voices, but Ann-Margaret tears it up the whole film, giving emotion, life, and depth to an album that was way too esoteric and confused to even be understood.
Also Ken Russell is a genius, one of the greatest directors of all time. The images he creates in Tommy are original and unforgettable. All of you whiners about Russell's style need to get over yourselves and show some respect. This film is incredible, it's an experience, a journey. Your senses will never be the same.
You know nothing about film. I'd bet you're no older than 18. Telling you to go watch some other of Ken Russel's films would be like telling you to go without your phone for 20 minutes. The casting in this film is amazing. Tina Turner, Jack Nicholson, Eric Clapton, do you even know who Ann Margret is? Oliver Reed cannot sing but that makes his character even more of a caricature. The dual distance cinematography and the over accentuated lighting and extreme costumed characters random throughout this film make it dreamy and extremely memorable. I would say it's a cult classic but it was so popular in its release that it doesn't qualify. I can't send you back in a time machine so maybe you don't think it holds up but I will keep this in my movie staple repertoire to the day I am no longer conscious.
Did you tell LUKE..? Is THAT who you could tell??
You'd lose that bet. I'm 53. And I know something about film you apparently don't: it's subjective. You thought it was great? Wonderful for you. I thought it was crap, and judging from the other comments here and in media back in 1975, I'm one of legions who thought this move sucked. I'm quite familiar w Ken Russell's work, and the only weaker film he did than this was Whore.
shareJust stumbled on this film at Christmas on TV and gave it a whirl.
Watched to the end but out of duty not real enjoyment.
As a child of 1950 I recall rushing out to buy the double album, on vinyl as no other option, and I still have it. A very favourite album that I do not tire of hearing.
Unfortunately I was not impressed with either the film or the vast majority of the singing performances apart from Roger Daltrey.
I can see why the pairing of the album with Ken Russell was an exciting project and the outcome was what I would have expected, but not just to my liking. My imagination does not match with that of Ken Russell.
Quadrophenia - love the film much more that album.
Strange is it not?
I watched this back in the mid-70s when it first came out. It was two hours of torture and I couldn't wait to get out of the theater (I was with a school group and couldn't just get up and leave). I still can't pick any one movie that I like the best, but I can very easily choose this one as the worst. By far. Obviously not my cup of tea.
shareI'm one of the biggest Who fans in the world, and while I agree the original Tommy album is better than the soundtrack, there are a few songs on the ST that are actually better. Two for sure are I'm Free and Sally Simpson which rock ten times more than on the original album, primarily because Eric Clapton is lead guitarist for those tracks and tears them up.
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