Tommy (Superbit Collection) |  | Director: Ken Russell
Actors: Roger Daltrey, Ann-Margret, Oliver Reed, Elton John, Eric Clapton
Studio: Sony Pictures
Category: DVD
List Price: $26.95
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Rating:  158 reviews
Sales Rank: 27795
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 99
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 111 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: COLD10015D
ISBN: 1404905278
UPC: 004339610015
EAN: 9781404905276
ASIN: B000070IXS
Theatrical Release Date: 1975
Release Date: December 17, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com
If you've ever wanted to hear Jack Nicholson sing (or try to) or marvel at the sight of Ann-Margret drunkenly cavorting in a cascade of baked beans, Tommy is the movie you've been waiting for. As it turns out, the Who's brilliant rock opera is sublimely matched to director Ken Russell's penchant for cinematic excess, and this 1975 production finds Russell at the peak of his filmmaking audacity. It's a fever-dream of musical bombast, custom-fit to the thematic ambition of Pete Townshend's epic rock drama, revolving around the titular "deaf, dumb, and blind kid" (played by Who vocalist Roger Daltrey) who survives the childhood trauma that stole his senses to become a Pinball Wizard messiah in Townshend's grandiose attack on the hypocrisy of organized religion. The story is remarkably coherent considering the hypnotic dream-state induced by Russell's visuals. Tommy's odyssey is rendered through wall-to-wall music, each song representing a pivotal chapter in Tommy's chronology, from the bloodstream shock of "The Acid Queen" (performed to the hilt by Tina Turner) to Nicholson's turn as a well-intentioned physician, Elton John's towering rendition of "Pinball Wizard," and Daltrey's epiphanous rendition of "I'm Free." Other performers include Eric Clapton and (most outrageously) the Who's drummer Keith Moon, and through it all Russell is almost religiously faithful to Townshend's artistic vision. Although it divided critics when first released, Tommy now looks likes a minor classic of gonzo cinema, worthy of the musical genius that fueled its creation. --Jeff Shannon
Product Description
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 12/17/2002 Run time: 111 minutes Rating: Pg
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 158
 WEIRD MUSICAL March 12, 2010
Deedia (BONNEY LAKE, WA, US)
During this year's Superbowl, the guys were talking about which songs THE WHO would and did sing. Tommy was one of the songs they did and the movie was brought up. My husband said he never saw it, so I bought it for him. Weirdest, stupidist thing I have ever sat through. Horrible acting, dumb story line, WOW! What else can I say. Unless you possess and use MASSIVE amounts of drugs and alcohol.... I would not recommend it. Not rated, but NOT for children or minors! If you are still interested in wasting your money on this movie, please take mine (very cheap)!
 A Good Timepiece for the 1970's February 21, 2010
Atreides (Pittsburgh,Pa)
I first saw this movie when it premiered on the BIG screen. I liked it then though
I admit it was and still is an "anti-musical". It's not a FEEL GOOD musical.
Oliver Reed is a great Uncle Frank, but not a good singer. Ann-Margaret is Beautiful, and a good choice for "Nora". and Tina Turner, Elton John, Eric Clapton, and the Who, do GREAT WORK performing the music. This is not a movie you can take too seriously. It's obvious from the beginnng that it is "not". If you listen to the songs purely to critique the voices of Jack Nicholson, Ann Margaret or Oliver Reed then you will Hate it. I'm a little biased. I had a huge crush on Ann Margaret
when this movie was released, way back in 1975. Watching it again, I do understand "why".
I'm very nostalgic. I like to revisit my youth, and this movie takes me back to those "days". "Tommy" came out shortly after my FAVORITE rock musical of the era
"Jesus Christ Superstar". JCS no doubt is a "much better" movie. Rock musicals did not end with this movie...we had Hair and SGT Pepper. Both also good period movies
from a time that personalities and egos ruled more "obviously". All are FUN to watch. Its nice to look "Back" once in awhile.
 Your Flashbacks Will Never Be The Same! February 14, 2010
S. A DUNN (Chehalis, WA United States)
Once upon a time there was an era called the late '60's. Those were years of flower power, Owsley acid and Woodstock. One of the creatures born in that era was the Rock Opera, Tommy. Teens of my generation listened to it over and over, imagining that we were in Tommy's shoes, that we became deaf dumb and blind to the Establishment, Vietnam, LBJ and Nixon. Yet we did it to ourselves by tuning in, turning on and dropping out. Manson's escapades brought a screeching halt to Flower Power.
Then came the 70's. Our drug experiences and experimentation blossomed into full fledged addiction. Flower Power sold out to the Corporate Culture. And our favorite Rock Opera also morphed into a grizzly extravaganza of a bad trip flashback.
Although I admire Ken Russel for his attempt to bring Tommy to the screen, I have a feeling that the most quoted line off-screen had to be "Where's the coke?"
It is obvious that this movie was directed by an acid head. Sacrilegious spectacles of a church that worshiped Marylin Monroe and offered speed and Johnny Walker Red as the substitute of the wafer and wine. Oliver Reed has played in many sleazy movies, but this one takes the cake! He has as much grace as a frog! And Ann Margaret ruins her songs with that annoying vibrato! She oozes kinky sex as she rolls in pork and beans, chocolate and excrement in a disturbing drunken guilt trip!
Roger Daltrey perorms in a way to make every gay teenage boy have a crush on him. Eric Clapton is totally burnt out in this film.
Now for the bad part.
If you are in recovery circles these days from surviving the 60's and 70's, then avoid seeing this movie. The visuals in it could trigger a relapse!
One of the worst things I have ever seen. December 17, 2009
J. B. Johnston (Washington, DC United States)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
It's just not good. I love the Who, but I am not familiar with the Tommy album, and this may keep me from ever giving it a good listening. I just won't be able to listen without picturing Roger's "stare" (that is shown repeatedly throughout the movie). I loathe musicals, but I love concept albums. This seemed more like Andrew Lloyd Weber than a rock record. I do not recommend this to anyone.
 A Gold Plated Turd November 11, 2009
S. Owens
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
Now allow me to preface this review with the simple statement that, although I like The Who and Tommy, I am in no way obsessed with either. I ENJOY them but I don't revere them. However, watching this film as someone who listened to the album is downright painful. The actors all make the most of their screen time and I thoroughly enjoyed Elton John, Tina Turner and David Bowie(despite his purpose in to the story being downright perplexing). Roger Daltrey also does quite well with his part but considering he spends a large chunk of the film blindly stumbling about in an almost vaudevillian way it doesn't strike me as much of a cinematic impact.
The film, on a positive note is an absolute visual spectacle to behold and the symbolism from the album is goregously displayed but the singing as a whole was poor for one major reason. Most of the cast couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, especially Jack Nicholson, surprisingly. I felt I was watching an hour and change long fan made music video, and the changes from the original piece are pointless and disturbing. In fact, as a whole this film is resplendent with f***ed up images, like a grown woman bathing in baked beans and champagne. All in all, this film is more like a bunch of buddies got together than a true cinematic work. There is visible effort put forth but the story is advanced verbatim by musical numbers so it feels like the cast was trying but the director and screenwriter were out to lunch. I did not enjoy watching this film but I am not everyone. Either you like it or you don't, and I personally do not
Showing reviews 1-5 of 158
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