Tommy (1975)

A psychosomatically impaired boy becomes a pinball champion and a messianic religious leader.

First release year

1975

Runtime (minutes)

108

Production countries

United Kingdom

Original languages

English

Directors

Ken Russell

Writers

Ken Russell · screenplay

Cast and characters

Oliver Reed · "Uncle" Frank Hobbs; Ann-Margret · Nora Walker; Roger Daltrey · Tommy Walker; Elton John · The Champ; Eric Clapton · The Preacher; Jack Nicholson · Dr A. Quackson; Robert Powell · Group Captain Walker; Tina Turner · The Acid Queen

Genres

musical; surrealist; fantasy; drama

Themes

messiah complex; dysfunctional family; commercial exploitation; spiritual journey

Tone and mood

erratic; propulsive; surrealist; grandiose

Premise and plot tags

rock opera; fantasy; musical; independent

Source material / true-story basis

The Who's 1969 rock opera album

Reception

The film was a box-office hit and received mixed but generally positive critical reviews, praised for its visual imagination and spectacle despite some critiques of its message and pacing.

Awards and nominations

Golden Globe Award · Best Actress · win; Academy Award · Best Actress · nomination; Rock Movie of the Year · First Annual Rock Music Awards · win

Production trivia

The film used a custom 'Quintaphonic Sound' system with five channels.; The 'baked beans' scene was a parody of real-life TV advertisements.; The pound-note suits were stitched together from novelty tea-towels.

Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.

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