Ken Russel's (1975) film grew out of Pete Townshend's songs which were first performed by 'The Who' from 1967 onwards.
A surreal musical set in the 50's and 60's, it traces the life of disabled child Tommy Walker (Barry Winch / Roger Daltrey) as his perverse family struggle to make sense of his obvious limitations and unexpected talents. Mother Nora (Ann-Margaret Olsson) takes up with ambivalent step-father Frank (Oliver Reed) whom she meets at a holiday camp where he is on the staff.
As Tommy gets to know his unsettling extended family, including Uncle Ernie (Keith Moon) and cousin Kevin (Paul Nicholas) his precocious talent for playing pinball emerges. This leads him further into a wonderland of seemingly grotesque figures including The Pinball Wizard (Elton John), The Acid Queen (Tina Turner) and various religious fanatics including The Preacher (Eric Clapton).
Despite a consultation with a medical expert (Jack Nicholson) there is apparently no help that mainstream medicine can give the boy. Paradoxically, the abuse he receives from his weird and disquieting family does not seem to have the expected effect.
Haunted by the ghost of his dead father Captain Walker (Robert Powell), still in RAF uniform, Tommy's condition improves and his miraculous recovery sets the scene for his transformation into a religious guru, attracting a widespread following that brings him sudden fame and fortune.
But it's an unfulfilling fame and fortune, that seems bitter-sweet. Almost like the wildly successful and much beloved comedian, who spends their time when not performing in a state of lonely and anxious isolation.
This is a troubling film with a nightmarish quality about it, but despite everything that befalls young Tommy, he seems to have an innate capacity to weather the exceptional challenges that life throws at him and come to some kind of resolution of his uncomfortable lot towards the end.
A film that is screaming to be heard.
A surreal musical set in the 50's and 60's, it traces the life of disabled child Tommy Walker (Barry Winch / Roger Daltrey) as his perverse family struggle to make sense of his obvious limitations and unexpected talents. Mother Nora (Ann-Margaret Olsson) takes up with ambivalent step-father Frank (Oliver Reed) whom she meets at a holiday camp where he is on the staff.
As Tommy gets to know his unsettling extended family, including Uncle Ernie (Keith Moon) and cousin Kevin (Paul Nicholas) his precocious talent for playing pinball emerges. This leads him further into a wonderland of seemingly grotesque figures including The Pinball Wizard (Elton John), The Acid Queen (Tina Turner) and various religious fanatics including The Preacher (Eric Clapton).
Despite a consultation with a medical expert (Jack Nicholson) there is apparently no help that mainstream medicine can give the boy. Paradoxically, the abuse he receives from his weird and disquieting family does not seem to have the expected effect.
Haunted by the ghost of his dead father Captain Walker (Robert Powell), still in RAF uniform, Tommy's condition improves and his miraculous recovery sets the scene for his transformation into a religious guru, attracting a widespread following that brings him sudden fame and fortune.
But it's an unfulfilling fame and fortune, that seems bitter-sweet. Almost like the wildly successful and much beloved comedian, who spends their time when not performing in a state of lonely and anxious isolation.
This is a troubling film with a nightmarish quality about it, but despite everything that befalls young Tommy, he seems to have an innate capacity to weather the exceptional challenges that life throws at him and come to some kind of resolution of his uncomfortable lot towards the end.
A film that is screaming to be heard.