Season 1: Episode 22 - BOOK TO SCREEN: The Who's Tommy (1975)

Tommy (1975)

 

The first official Rock Opera, Tommy started life as a concept album written by Pete Townsend.  Inspired by the teachings of Meher Baba, a spiritual master in India also known as The Avatar.  The story centres around a blind, deaf and dumb boy who finds enlightenment playing pinball. 

 

Several of the songs such as ‘Sally Simpson’ were inspired by The Doors concert which ended in violence and John Entswistle would cover the darker themes of bullying and sexual abuse.  The album was a smashed though it did not have a clear narrative. 

 

In 1972, a concert production went into production as a one off with the London Symphony Orchestra and which would include the vocal talents of Rod Stewart, Graham Bell, Maggie Bell, Sandy Denny, Steve Winwood, Richard Harris, Richie Havens, Merry Clayton and the Who. 

 

In 1975, Ken Russell would bring the rock opera to screen which would include Jack Nicholson, Oliver Reed, Elton John, Ann Margaret, Tina Turner, Robert Powell and a host of others would form the main characters.  The film would move around and add plot points to add a more cohesive structure to the original concept album. 

 

The film would become a box office smash.  Ann Margaret would go on to earn an Academy Award nomination for her role as Tommy’s mother. 

 

Opening Credits (.20); Introduction (4.43); Forming the Plot (8.29); Prologue (12.52); Page to Page (15.10); Commercial Break (24.51); Film Trailer (25.27); Commercial Break (27.25); Lights, Camera, Action (27.59); Epilogue (1:15.35); End Credits (1:20.11); Closing Credits (1:21.08)

 

Opening Credits – It’s A Boy/1921 – by The London Symphony Orchestra with feature vocalist Sandy Denny, Maggie Bell and Steve Winwood from the album The Who’s Tommy.

 

Closing Credits – Pinball Wizard – by Elton John from The motion Picture Soundtrack Tommy

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