"See the film, please don't buy the LP". Yes I know, I take the contrary of most of comments about this film. In fact I think all depends on what people see or hear in first.
In 1975, I hated Rock Music. For me, this music was just an horrible din made by hairy yelling junkies. A friend pushed me very hardly to watch "Tommy". AND THIS FILM MADE ME LOVE ROCK MUSIC.. Not only the musical movie score, but all the Rock Music (Clapton, Turner, Who, Stones, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, even the Sex Pistols because they looked like Cousin Kevin). And all that because Ken Russell succeeded to melt the old music (the Symphonic Opera) and the new one (Rock) together. He used a very clever crescendo to not hurt those who don't like Rock Music :
1 : the beginning is like a normal movie music with no voices, but a hard tempo.
2 : the first voice (which announce the bad new) is off, and the electric guitars start, but briefly.
3 : the first singing scene "it's a boy" looks like an old musical show (Like "the sound of music", very reassuring for a guy who hate Rock Music).
4 : "Bernie's Holiday Camp" and "1951" look like songs for TV commercials. (Silly and fun, but not shocking)
5 : "What about the boy" looks like a classical opera with a great voice work made by Ann Margret. In fact, from the beginning, I was waiting for the return of the "normal speaking" like every musical movie does. I suddenly understood that "Tommy" was a true opera. I thought : "Wow ! They had guts to try such a thing !".
6 : After this raging scene Ken Russel knew he has pushed the dramatic climax far enough to launch a big Rock missile : "Amazing Journey". For the first time of my life (I was 13) my legs jumped and twisted on a Rock Music. Russel trapped me ! He pushed the pressure with a classical way and to liberate all this energy he gave me .. ROCK ! I was totally upset ! I realized I was facing a great film with a great music. And this slow musical progression brought me to accept and to love hysterical scenes like "Acid Queen" or "Pinball Wizard". Without Ken Russel, I'd probably still hate Rock Music. Thanks Ken !
Because I was crazy about this film (I saw it about 400 times since 75) I bought the original album, but I don't like it. The orchestration is poor, the overture is just a mixed of the main themes, some songs don't exist (Champagne, Mother and Son, Welcome, TV Studio), and my favorite songs (Acid Queen, Pinball Wizard, I'm Free) are really too slow and too short. Of course, I realize if I have such an opinion, it's because I saw the film in first, and I understand those who have listen to the original in first will be disappointed by the film. I still think the bonus brought by Ronnie Wood (The Rolling Stones) for "Acid Queen", Elton John for "Pinball Wizard" and of course the genius work of Pete Townshend have made a real opera from what I call a "good rough". And that's a real creation ! If we compare with "QUADREPHONIA" or "PINK FLOYD - THE WALL", in these films, directors just put the original recording on pictures. Where is the creation ? If the composers were dead, these films could be made exactly as they are ! But "TOMMY" no ! "TOMMY - THE MOVIE" is really a new creation made by the original composer, the greatest musicians of the decade and a very experienced director. For me, THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER : 10/10.
In 1975, I hated Rock Music. For me, this music was just an horrible din made by hairy yelling junkies. A friend pushed me very hardly to watch "Tommy". AND THIS FILM MADE ME LOVE ROCK MUSIC.. Not only the musical movie score, but all the Rock Music (Clapton, Turner, Who, Stones, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, even the Sex Pistols because they looked like Cousin Kevin). And all that because Ken Russell succeeded to melt the old music (the Symphonic Opera) and the new one (Rock) together. He used a very clever crescendo to not hurt those who don't like Rock Music :
1 : the beginning is like a normal movie music with no voices, but a hard tempo.
2 : the first voice (which announce the bad new) is off, and the electric guitars start, but briefly.
3 : the first singing scene "it's a boy" looks like an old musical show (Like "the sound of music", very reassuring for a guy who hate Rock Music).
4 : "Bernie's Holiday Camp" and "1951" look like songs for TV commercials. (Silly and fun, but not shocking)
5 : "What about the boy" looks like a classical opera with a great voice work made by Ann Margret. In fact, from the beginning, I was waiting for the return of the "normal speaking" like every musical movie does. I suddenly understood that "Tommy" was a true opera. I thought : "Wow ! They had guts to try such a thing !".
6 : After this raging scene Ken Russel knew he has pushed the dramatic climax far enough to launch a big Rock missile : "Amazing Journey". For the first time of my life (I was 13) my legs jumped and twisted on a Rock Music. Russel trapped me ! He pushed the pressure with a classical way and to liberate all this energy he gave me .. ROCK ! I was totally upset ! I realized I was facing a great film with a great music. And this slow musical progression brought me to accept and to love hysterical scenes like "Acid Queen" or "Pinball Wizard". Without Ken Russel, I'd probably still hate Rock Music. Thanks Ken !
Because I was crazy about this film (I saw it about 400 times since 75) I bought the original album, but I don't like it. The orchestration is poor, the overture is just a mixed of the main themes, some songs don't exist (Champagne, Mother and Son, Welcome, TV Studio), and my favorite songs (Acid Queen, Pinball Wizard, I'm Free) are really too slow and too short. Of course, I realize if I have such an opinion, it's because I saw the film in first, and I understand those who have listen to the original in first will be disappointed by the film. I still think the bonus brought by Ronnie Wood (The Rolling Stones) for "Acid Queen", Elton John for "Pinball Wizard" and of course the genius work of Pete Townshend have made a real opera from what I call a "good rough". And that's a real creation ! If we compare with "QUADREPHONIA" or "PINK FLOYD - THE WALL", in these films, directors just put the original recording on pictures. Where is the creation ? If the composers were dead, these films could be made exactly as they are ! But "TOMMY" no ! "TOMMY - THE MOVIE" is really a new creation made by the original composer, the greatest musicians of the decade and a very experienced director. For me, THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER : 10/10.