Tommy

film by Russell [1975]

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July 16, 2026

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The film Tommy, released in 1975, was directed by Ken Russell and is based on the 1969 rock opera of the same name by the British rock group The Who. The film stars Roger Daltrey in the title role. Russell was known for his distinctive style, often incorporating shock and sensationalism into his films, which earned him both acclaim and criticism. While Tommy was a commercial success for Russell, other films like The Music Lovers and The Devils generated more controversy. The film adaptation of Tommy was one of several successful projects for Russell, who also directed Women in Love and Altered States.12

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Pete Townshend
The Who
…was the basis for the 1975 film Tommy and the musical stage production The Who’s Tommy, which premiered on Broadway in 1993.
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…was the basis for the 1975 film Tommy and the musical stage production The Who’s Tommy, which premiered on Broadway in 1993.
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Ken Russell
…achieved a commercial success with Tommy (1975), a film based on a rock opera. His later films include Lisztomania (1975), Altered States (1980), Crimes of Passion (1984), Whore (1991), and the musical horror-comedy The Fall of the Louse of Usher (2002).
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…achieved a commercial success with Tommy (1975), a film based on a rock opera. His later films include Lisztomania (1975), Altered States (1980), Crimes of Passion (1984), Whore (1991), and the musical horror-comedy The Fall of the Louse of Usher (2002).
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Jack Nicholson
Stardom: Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, and One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest
…a dead man’s identity, and Tommy (1975), director Ken Russell’s garish production of the Who’s rock opera, featuring Nicholson in a supporting singing role as the title character’s doctor.
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…a dead man’s identity, and Tommy (1975), director Ken Russell’s garish production of the Who’s rock opera, featuring Nicholson in a supporting singing role as the title character’s doctor.
Read More