However, the film version is very weird, badly acted, overly symbolic, and just bad. Roger Daltry is extremely creepy in the film, and there's a lot that was changed in the movie from the album.
But Eric Clapton's scene is very well done, and I consider it the best part of the movie.
"During this performance, please feel free to let your cell phones and pagers ring willy-nilly. However, do remember that there are heavily-armed knights on stage and you might well be dragged up and impaled."
(Pre-curtain announcement at the new Broadway musical Monty Python's Spamalot)
I've heard bits on BWW Radio, and I've liked what I've heard- esp. in "Sally Simpson" where they have Sally sing in it. However, my main exposure has only been the original concept album, which my little sister LOST the first CD of...grr...
"During this performance, please feel free to let your cell phones and pagers ring willy-nilly. However, do remember that there are heavily-armed knights on stage and you might well be dragged up and impaled."
(Pre-curtain announcement at the new Broadway musical Monty Python's Spamalot)
If you've ever seen a Ken Russell movie, you'll be ready for the excessive visuals, the psychadelic images that often seem to have nothing to do with the material. Don't expect a clean cut rendition of the show by any means. It's an experience.
I love the original album and any live album (Join Together 1989 tour is excellent) of "Tommy". The Broadway cast recording is very good, but it's not rock. The movie was weird but worth seeing if you like The Who, Elton John and Eric Clapton.
"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"
Oliver reed and Ann-Margaret are not only bad casting choices, they really destroy the score.
The only thing in that movie worth watching is Tina Turner.
Other than that, prepare to fall asleep.
"Do you know what pledge time is, Andrew"? said the PBS Executive.
"Yes", Lloyd Webber replied. "My 50th birthday special must be one program that gets done a lot."
"No", mused the man from PBS heedlessy. "Not so much. Our Stephen Sondheim Carnegie Hall concert. That's a big one."
Spoons, forks and knives seemed suddenly to suspend their motion in horror, all around the table.
I bought the movie soundtrack last year and hated it and completely wrote off Tommy as a bad show too. But then I happened to find the OBC online for like $3 and I couldn't resist. I like the OBC a tonne more than the movie so you should buy the OBC if you like the movie at all. IMO, it's better.
"Jane, I've been dealt a blow - I've been dealt a blow, Jane."
The film was something of a happening, when it was released in theaters in louder than loud "Quintaphonic Sound". I thought Ann-Margret and Oliver Reed were excellent in it.
Ann-Margaret was nominated for an Oscar for that? OMG! Maybe the nominating committee had taken drugs (really good drugs) before seeing it. Or maybe 1975 was a really bad year for movies:)