Tommy (1975)

Director:

Ken Russell

Writers:

Pete Townshend (album)
Pete Townshend (story)
(more)

Release Date:

26 March 1975 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Musical

Tagline:

Your senses will never be the same

Plot:

A psychosomatically deaf, dumb and blind boy becomes a master pinball player and the object of a religious cult because of that.

Plot Keywords:

Pinball | Murder | Holiday Camp | Based On Rock Opera | Visually Impaired Person

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Oliver Reed	...	Frank Hobbs
Ann-Margret	...	Nora Walker
Roger Daltrey	...	Tommy Walker
Elton John	...	Local Lad
Eric Clapton	...	The Preacher
John Entwistle	...	Himself
Keith Moon	...	Uncle Ernie
Paul Nicholas	...	Cousin Kevin
Jack Nicholson	...	The Specialist
Robert Powell	...	Captain Walker
Pete Townshend	...	Himself
Tina Turner	...	The Acid Queen
Arthur Brown	...	The Priest
Victoria Russell	...	Sally Simpson
Ben Aris	...	Reverend Simpson
Mary Holland	...	Mrs. Simpson
Gary Rich	...	Rock Musician
Dick Allan	...	President Black Angels
Barry Winch	...	Young Tommy
Eddie Stacey	...	Bovver Boy
Liza Strike	...	Vocal Chorus (voice)
Gillian McIntosh	...	Vocal Chorus (voice)
Simon Townshend	...	Vocal Chorus / Newsboy (voice)
Vicki Brown	...	Vocal Chorus / Nurse #2 (voice)
Mylon LeFevre	...	Vocal Chorus (voice)
Kit Trevor	...	Vocal Chorus (voice)
Billy Nicholls	...	Vocal Chorus (voice)
Helen Shappel	...	Vocal Chorus (voice)
Jeff Roden	...	Vocal Chorus (voice)
Paul Gurvitz	...	Vocal Chorus (voice)
Margo Newman	...	Vocal Chorus / Nurse #1 (voice)
Alison Dowling	...	Vocal Chorus / Young Tommy (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jennifer Baker	...	Nurse #1 (uncredited)
Susan Baker	...	Nurse #2 (uncredited)
Imogen Claire	...	Nurse at the Specialist's Practice (uncredited)
Christine Hewett	...	Lady in Black Beauty Chocolate Commercial (uncredited)
Gillian King	...	Handmaiden to the Acid Queen (uncredited)
Juliet King	...	Handmaiden to the Acid Queen (uncredited)
Steven Longhurst	...	Tommy accolyte (uncredited)
James Payne	...	Man in Strip Club Collecting a Program (uncredited)
Alex 'Alien' Russell	...	(uncredited)
Ken Russell	...	Cripple (uncredited)

Directed by
Ken Russell

Writing credits
Pete Townshend		(album)
Pete Townshend		(story)
Ken Russell		(screenplay)

Produced by
Harry Benn	....	associate producer
Ken Russell	....	producer
Christopher Stamp	....	executive producer
Robert Stigwood	....	producer
Beryl Vertue	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Dick Bush
Robin Lehman		(special material)
Ronnie Taylor

Film Editing by
Stuart Baird

Art Direction by
John Clark

Costume Design by
Shirley Russell

Makeup Department
George Blackler	....	makeup artist
Joyce James	....	hair stylist
Peter Robb-King	....	makeup artist

Production Management
John Comfort	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jonathan Benson	....	assistant director
Gareth Tandy	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Terry Ackland-Snow	....	assistant art director
Jack Carter	....	construction manager
Paul Dufficey	....	set designer
Christopher Hobbs	....	sculptor
Tim Hutchinson	....	set designer
Harry Newman	....	property master
Bryn Siddall	....	buyer
Ian Whittaker	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Iain Bruce	....	sound recordist
Dushko Indjic	....	playback operator
Charlie McFadden	....	boom operator
John Mosely	....	quintophonic sound developer
Bill Rowe	....	dubbing mixer

Special Effects by
Colin Chilvers	....	special effects supervisor
Chris Corbould	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Malcolm Bubb	....	special optical effects
Sheldon Elbourne	....	special optical effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Bremner	....	gaffer
Eddie Collins	....	camera operator
Dickie Lee	....	key grip
Robin Lehman	....	camera operator: special material
Brian Smith	....	best boy
Malcolm Vinson	....	focus puller

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Richard Pointing	....	wardrobe supervisor
Leonard Pollack	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
David Bernstein	....	colorist (digitally restored version)
Sati Tooray	....	colorist

Music Department
Richard Bailey	....	musician: drums
Howie Casey	....	musician
Phil Chen	....	musician: bass
Eric Clapton	....	musician: guitar
Dave Clinton	....	musician
Ray Cooper	....	musician
Geoff Daley	....	musician
Graham Deakin	....	musician: drums
Bob Efford	....	musician
John Entwistle	....	musician: bass, brass
Martyn Ford	....	music arranger
Nicky Hopkins	....	music arranger
Nicky Hopkins	....	musician: piano
Elton John	....	musician: piano
Davey Johnstone	....	musician: guitar
Kenney Jones	....	musician: drums
Mike Kelly	....	musician: drums
Keith Moon	....	musician: drums
Dee Murray	....	musician: bass
Ron Nevison	....	music recordist
Tony Newman	....	musician: drums
Nigel Olsson	....	musician: drums
Caleb Quaye	....	musician: guitar, lead guitar
Mick Ralphs	....	musician: guitar
Terry Rawlings	....	music editor
Alan Ross	....	musician: acoustic guitar
Ronnie Ross	....	musician
Fuzzy Samuels	....	musician: bass
Gerald Shaw	....	musician: theatre organ
Chris Stainton	....	musician: organ and acoustic guitar
Tony Stevens	....	musician: bass
Ray Thomas	....	musician: drums
Pete Townshend	....	musical director
Pete Townshend	....	musician: arp synthesizer, guitar, keyboards, piano
Dave Wintour	....	musician: bass
Ron Wood	....	musician: guitar

Other crew
Lee Bolon	....	location manager
Ricky Green	....	location manager
Gillian Gregory	....	choreographer
Kit Lambert	....	original album producer
Kay Mander	....	continuity
Ken Messenger	....	flyer
James Payne	....	utility stand-in
Dave Raymond	....	flyer
Pete Townshend	....	synthesizer programmer
Michael Anderson	....	runner (uncredited)

Thanks
Bill Curbishley	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Robert Stigwood Organization (RSO)
• Hemdale Film

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1975) (USA) (theatrical)
• Hemdale Film Distribution (1975) (UK) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Film & Teater (1975) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Seven Keys (1975) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Valio-Filmi (1977) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• DNC Home Entertainment (2005) (Italy) (DVD)
• EuroVideo (West Germany) (VHS)
• Future Film (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1997) (Finland) (TV)
• PolyGram Video (19??) (UK) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD) (Bluray)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2001) (Finland) (VHS)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1988) (Finland) (TV)

Special Effects

• Effects Associates
• Nobby Clarke Camera Effects

Other Companies

• Birdman Sports Promotion, Limited  our thanks to
• Bluesell Railway Preservation Society  our thanks to
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Polydor  soundtrack
• The City of Portsmouth  our thanks to
• The National Trust, Lake District  our thanks to

Also Known As:

"Tommy by 'The Who'" - USA (complete title)
"Tommy: The Movie" - USA (promotional title)

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Quintaphonic (5 channel Dolby Stereo) | Dolby

Certification:

Italy:T | Japan:PG-12 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:L | Canada:G (Quebec) | Finland:K-15 (uncut) (2001) | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Denmark:15 (DVD rating) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1977) | Sweden:15 | USA:PG (Approved No. 24081) | UK:15 | Singapore:PG | Ireland:15 | UK:AA (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Cumbria, England, UK

Company:

Robert Stigwood Organization (RSO)

Trivia:

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

Goofs:

Continuity: In the "Pinball Wizard" scene, the Who's John Entwistle starts the scene playing a Gibson Flying V bass, and ends it playing a Gibson Thunderbird with a Fender Precision neck (a "Fender-bird"). He also starts the scene with long sideburns, and seems to finish it with a fully-grown beard.

Quotes:

The Specialist: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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

Acid Queen

A Film Way Ahead of its Time

My older brother bought an LP The Who's "Tommy" in the 60's. I was very young but I liked it. It was a project ahead of its time. In the 70's I had a fantastic music teacher who played music soundtracks of several rock artists for my class, included was The Who's Tommy which I remembered immediately. Three years later, this movie came out directed by Ken Russell. I didn't get it at all. I loved the new soundtrack, still do. I loved the performances in the movie by Elton John and Tina Turner. But as a young teen, the movie I didn't get. Well, 20 years went by and on cable I saw Tommy again. This time, I got it. I understood what Ken Russell's vision was and for 1975 it was WAY ahead of its time. It is, in fact, a brilliant masterpiece of 20th Century pop culture: a brave, warped and cartoon mixture of sex, violence, war, religion and celebrity worship with the backdrop of one heck of a rock opera and story by The Who but focusing on the burning questions...what IS the central focus in our lives? Do we choose to look up to the right thing in our lives? And what do they look up to? Do they understand the power they have? Do we? Tommy is an experience in film, not for everyone. Its "out there" but a vision in its tale.