Synopsis
A psychosomatically deaf, dumb and blind boy becomes a master pinball player and the object of a religious cult.
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Cast
- Oliver ReedFrank
- Ann-MargretNora
- Roger DaltreyTommy
- Elton JohnThe Pinball Wizard
- Eric ClaptonThe Preacher
- John EntwistleHimself
- Keith MoonUncle Ernie
- Paul NicholasCousin Kevin
- Jack NicholsonThe Specialist
- Robert PowellCaptain Walker
Recommendations
- 90
Variety
Ken Russell's filmization of Tommy is spectacular in nearly every way. The enormous appeal of the original 1969 record album by The Who has been complemented in a superbly added visual dimension. - 90
Newsweek
Russell has created what is surely the loudest, most assaultive movie musical ever made and stretched the genre into a new realm - the phantasmagorical nightmare. [24 Mar 1975, p.24] - 83
The A.V. Club
For all that Tommy bungles or overdoes, it’s still a powerful experience, musically and visually. - 80
Time
There has never been a movie musical quite like Tommy, a weird, crazy, wonderfully excessive version of The Who's rock opera. - 75
Chicago Sun-Times
Russell doesn't give a damn about the material he started with, greatest art work of the century or not, and he just goes ahead and gives us one glorious excess after another. He is aided by his performers, especially Ann-Margret, who is simply great as Tommy's mother. - 70
The New York Times
Mr. Russell's Tommy virtually explodes with excitement on the screen. A lot of it is not quite the profound social commentary it pretends to be, but that's beside the point of the fun. - 70
Village Voice
Tommy is turning out to be the kind of movie most people probably like more than they care to admit. Modest charm and unpretentiousness are hardly the qualities that I ever thought I would associate with Ken Russell, but there you are, and there Tommy is. [31 Mar 1975, p.68] - 50
Chicago Reader
This 1975 film's inventiveness begins to flag about halfway through, but by then it's a relief.
