Has anybody ever seen "Tommy?" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian · 03-16-2003, 12:15 AM

Synopsis: This film is a rock opera made in 1975. Roger Daltrey of the Who plays a man who turned psychosomatically deaf, blind, dumb, and mute after witnessing his father's murder by his stepfather as a kid. After a tough life and several attempts by his parents to cure his handicap, including drugs, cultism and medicine, he finds solace in playing pinball. Pretty soon, he defeats the Pinball Wizard (played by Elton John) and becomes the world champion pinball player. Soon after that, he is cured and becomes a religious cult figure as a result. Along with John, Tina Turner (the Acid Queen), Eric Clapton (the Preacher), and Jack Nicholson (the Specialist) star in small roles. Oliver Reed plays Tommy's stepfather and Ann-Margaret stars as his mother. Daltrey's fellow band members also appear in this film. John Entwistle and Pete Townshend appear as themselves and the late Keith Moon, the drummer, plays Tommy's wicked Uncle Ernie.

Review: Great film and probably one of the most bizarre one hour and 51 minutes I ever spent. There are no spoken lines in this film, every form of dialogue is sung. Great singing. Tina Turner and Elton John are highlights in this film. Ann-Margaret is excellent and her scene in which she hallucinates seeing soap, beans, and chocolate pour out of the television is a highlight as well. That one scene took three days to film, according to the IMDB. If you are a fan at any level of The Who, this film is a must-see. This one gets 3 stars from me.

Brian · 05-27-2003, 12:16 AM

Has anybody ever seen this? I saw it on DVD a few months ago and it is an awesome film. Now I'm a Who fan.

Penny Lane · 05-27-2003, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BJL
Has anybody ever seen this? I saw it on DVD a few months ago and it is an awesome film. Now I'm a Who fan.

Yes I've seen it a couple of times. You're right. It is bizarre! But all in all I kind of liked it. I like weird off the wall films sometimes for a change of pace.

webuster · 05-27-2003, 01:27 PM

They've played Tommy a few times on VH1 UK, but it always runs onto like 12:45 in the night, so I've never seen it. I wouldn't think a movie with no words just song would be understandable. Has anyone seen Pink Floyd: The Wall? It's another one of those films, but it combines art as well. I haven't seen it yet- is it any good .

Crimson and Clover · 05-29-2003, 08:41 PM

ive seen it. it took everything i had to watch the whole thing. i like Roger Daltrey and all of the other actors and actresses in the movie but i just didnt like the movie.

Liza · 05-31-2003, 09:37 PM

Sorry if I upset anyone, but TOMMY holds the record as the worst movie I've ever seen. I couldn't stand this film - it was a minor form of torture to sit through the entire thing (and I had to because my friend's fiance was my ride home). I love Ann-Margret, but this was awful. Come on, people! She was rolling around the set with beans all over her. I couldn't believe she was Oscar nominated for it!

Jeez, thank God she lost to ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST

TheLurkerKing · 07-24-2003, 06:52 PM

Yes. Of the director's films, my favorite next to his "Lair of the White Worm."
Ken Russell, an underrated director to my mind. Whose work somewhat approximates David Lynch; therefore, if one likes Lynch, one may like Russell.
His fans consider "The Devils" to be his best work, while critics consider "Women in Love" to be his best.
But, as I said, I enjoyed his "Lair of the White Worm" the most. Probably the most typical of his films, with "the boyscout in the bath"--a scene which has to be seen to be believed--the most typical of his scenes in the film.
As for the beans, chocolate, and soap suds, before he made films, he made commercials for television, and that scene was his homage to the days he spent in the land of television commercials.

dandelion wine · 07-24-2003, 10:16 PM

Love the Who, love Roger Daltrey and I love this movie. I've seen it several times, and I never get tired of it.

Elton John, Oliver Reed, Ann-Margaret, Roger Daltrey, Jack Nicholson, Eric Clapton and Tina Turner all in one movie - can't beat it!

Brian · 07-25-2003, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Liza
Sorry if I upset anyone, but TOMMY holds the record as the worst movie I've ever seen. I couldn't stand this film - it was a minor form of torture to sit through the entire thing (and I had to because my friend's fiance was my ride home). I love Ann-Margret, but this was awful. Come on, people! She was rolling around the set with beans all over her. I couldn't believe she was Oscar nominated for it! Jeez, thank God she lost to ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST

You upset me.

Janice · 07-25-2003, 01:14 AM

I saw it as a teen and don't remember much about it. I remember loving the music, and seem to recall liking the movie a lot.

Fleet · 03-09-2004, 11:57 PM

I also saw it as a teen. I am in the middle regarding the movie... I don't love or hate it. It was unusual, though.
On the other hand, the pinball machine "Wizard" is my all-time favorite. It was built in 1975. Great fun to play. I remember winning a lot of free games on it because of high scores. I sure would like to find some kind of "old arcade/pinball" place to play it again.

EricIdlefan · 03-10-2004, 12:49 AM

I saw bits and parts of it only for the music but the whole entire film is just too confusing and too "hazed and bedazzled!!"

03-16-2003, 12:15 AM	#1
Brian Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jun 23, 2001 Posts: 20,451	Tommy Synopsis: This film is a rock opera made in 1975. Roger Daltrey of the Who plays a man who turned psychosomatically deaf, blind, dumb, and mute after witnessing his father's murder by his stepfather as a kid. After a tough life and several attempts by his parents to cure his handicap, including drugs, cultism and medicine, he finds solace in playing pinball. Pretty soon, he defeats the Pinball Wizard (played by Elton John) and becomes the world champion pinball player. Soon after that, he is cured and becomes a religious cult figure as a result. Along with John, Tina Turner (the Acid Queen), Eric Clapton (the Preacher), and Jack Nicholson (the Specialist) star in small roles. Oliver Reed plays Tommy's stepfather and Ann-Margaret stars as his mother. Daltrey's fellow band members also appear in this film. John Entwistle and Pete Townshend appear as themselves and the late Keith Moon, the drummer, plays Tommy's wicked Uncle Ernie. Review: Great film and probably one of the most bizarre one hour and 51 minutes I ever spent. There are no spoken lines in this film, every form of dialogue is sung. Great singing. Tina Turner and Elton John are highlights in this film. Ann-Margaret is excellent and her scene in which she hallucinates seeing soap, beans, and chocolate pour out of the television is a highlight as well. That one scene took three days to film, according to the IMDB. If you are a fan at any level of The Who, this film is a must-see. This one gets 3 stars from me.

05-27-2003, 01:27 PM	#4
webuster Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 26, 2002 Posts: 2,150	no They've played Tommy a few times on VH1 UK, but it always runs onto like 12:45 in the night, so I've never seen it. I wouldn't think a movie with no words just song would be understandable. Has anyone seen Pink Floyd: The Wall? It's another one of those films, but it combines art as well. I haven't seen it yet- is it any good .

05-29-2003, 08:41 PM	#5
Crimson and Clover Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 09, 2002 Location: NC Posts: 17,345	ive seen it. it took everything i had to watch the whole thing. i like Roger Daltrey and all of the other actors and actresses in the movie but i just didnt like the movie.
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07-24-2003, 06:52 PM	#7
TheLurkerKing Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 29, 2001 Location: Fort Worth, Texas, United States Posts: 114	Re: Has Anybody Ever Seen "Tommy" Yes. Of the director's films, my favorite next to his "Lair of the White Worm." Ken Russell, an underrated director to my mind. Whose work somewhat approximates David Lynch; therefore, if one likes Lynch, one may like Russell. His fans consider "The Devils" to be his best work, while critics consider "Women in Love" to be his best. But, as I said, I enjoyed his "Lair of the White Worm" the most. Probably the most typical of his films, with "the boyscout in the bath"--a scene which has to be seen to be believed--the most typical of his scenes in the film. As for the beans, chocolate, and soap suds, before he made films, he made commercials for television, and that scene was his homage to the days he spent in the land of television commercials.

07-24-2003, 10:16 PM	#8
dandelion wine ~ Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 20, 2003 Location: Behind the Couch Posts: 34,967	Love the Who, love Roger Daltrey and I love this movie. I've seen it several times, and I never get tired of it. Elton John, Oliver Reed, Ann-Margaret, Roger Daltrey, Jack Nicholson, Eric Clapton and Tina Turner all in one movie - can't beat it!
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05-27-2003, 12:16 AM	#2
Brian Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jun 23, 2001 Posts: 20,451	Has anybody ever seen this? I saw it on DVD a few months ago and it is an awesome film. Now I'm a Who fan.

05-31-2003, 09:37 PM	#6
Liza BestYearsofOurLives Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 24, 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 6,537	Sorry if I upset anyone, but TOMMY holds the record as the worst movie I've ever seen. I couldn't stand this film - it was a minor form of torture to sit through the entire thing (and I had to because my friend's fiance was my ride home). I love Ann-Margret, but this was awful. Come on, people! She was rolling around the set with beans all over her. I couldn't believe she was Oscar nominated for it! Jeez, thank God she lost to ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST

07-25-2003, 01:14 AM	#10
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I saw it as a teen and don't remember much about it. I remember loving the music, and seem to recall liking the movie a lot.

03-09-2004, 11:57 PM	#11
Fleet Mansions, limousines & H-ween Forum Star Join Date: Jan 06, 2002 Location: Northridge/Porter Ranch, California Posts: 15,625	I also saw it as a teen. I am in the middle regarding the movie... I don't love or hate it. It was unusual, though. On the other hand, the pinball machine "Wizard" is my all-time favorite. It was built in 1975. Great fun to play. I remember winning a lot of free games on it because of high scores. I sure would like to find some kind of "old arcade/pinball" place to play it again.

03-10-2004, 12:49 AM	#12
EricIdlefan USA 250th! Forum Addict Join Date: Oct 12, 2003 Location: East TN Posts: 68,236	I saw bits and parts of it only for the music but the whole entire film is just too confusing and too "hazed and bedazzled!!"
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