Film
Tommy
1975
8″ x 10″ (20 x 25.5 cm) – Single Sided – Black and White Still
UK / British
Near mint minus; originally flat / unfolded as issued
Ken Russell
Ann-Margret, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Jack Nicholson, John Entwistle, Keith Moon, Oliver Reed, Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, Tina Turner
“Ever since I was a young boy, I played the silver ball, From Soho down to Brighton, I must have played them all, But I ain’t seen nothin’ like him, In any amusement hall, That deaf, dumb and blind kid, Sure plays a mean pinball…”
Ken Russell’s rock opera “Tommy” tells the story of a psychosomatically blind, deaf, and mute boy (Roger Daltrey) becomes a master pinball player and, subsequently, the figurehead of a cult. With an all-star cast including Jack Nicholson, Oliver Reed, Ann Margret, Paul Nicholas and a who’s who of rock and roll –Eric Clapton, Elton John, Pete Townsend, Tina Turner, John Entwistle, Keith Moon etc it has a number of stand out scenes with probably the best famous being Elton John as The Pinball Wizard, Roger Daltrey, the titular ‘Tommy’, John Entwistle (Band) and Uncle Ernie, superbly played with real menace and madness by the enigmatic Keith Moon featured here performing ‘Pinball Wizard’ on this original black and white promotional British still from 1975 – a truly classic image. Originally flat and unfolded (as issued) this superb example presents to excellent effect and represents a amazing piece of highly desirable, collectable entertainment memorabilia.
Trivia: All of the movie was filmed to a recorded soundtrack, except for the Pinball Wizard sequence, in which The Who really did play in front of the theatre audience. (Sir Elton John‘s band, however, is featured on the soundtrack.) When the fans rush the stage at the end of the sequence, that wasn’t scripted, but caused by the excitement The Who’s live performance generated, particularly when Pete Townshend started to smash his guitar.
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“Nora Walker is told that her British bomber pilot husband is missing in action and presumed killed in World War II. On V.E. Day, Nora gives birth to their son and names him Tommy. When Tommy is an adolescent, Nora marries shifty camp-counselor Frank; shortly thereafter, Tommy suffers an emotionally traumatic experience associated with his father and stepfather which, based on things told to him at that time, results in him becoming deaf, mute, and blind, and several people exploit this situation for their own pleasure. As Nora tries several things to bring Tommy out of his psychosomatic disabilities, he, now a young man, discovers pinball. Playing by intuition he becomes a pinball master, which makes him–and Nora and Frank by association–rich and famous. Nora literally shatters Tommy to his awakening, which ultimately leads to both the family’s rise and downfall as people initially try to emulate Tommy’s path then rebel against it”
“Tommy” is all over the place Ken Russell penchant for garishness and bad taste runs rampant throughout the film, and the imagery consequently gives the film a very surrealistic feel (when it doesn’t simply just get too weird for its’ own good which it most definitely does indeed do at times). It should also be said that some of the casting is questionable to say the least. Jack Nicholson should never, ever have taken this role. His cameo is short, but rather painful to watch. Not to mention painful to listen to. And Oliver Reed? Think ham. He must have had a ball doing this movie, though. But in an odd sort of way, he fits in the role of Frank like a glove. Watch the movie, and you’ll see what I mean. Just don’t ask him to sing at your wedding. You’ll regret it. Deeply. And plot? Almost none here to be found. At least none that cannot be easily summarized in two or three pithy sentences. That being said, I know I didn’t go to see it in the seventies because I thought I was going to see Oscar caliber performances or a tight and thoughtful script. I went to see it because of the music. And it still holds up well to this day because of that. The music still carries the day. “Tommy”is one of The Who’s best and shining moments. And between the songs, some of the performances shine….. just enough to make this a worthwhile viewing. But God help you if you go into this expecting anything approaching serious cinema. You will be seriously and grievously disappointed. “Tommy”is mostly played off as camp and is meant to be that way.
Best performances…… Elton John as the pinball wizard, (who does so well in this that I think he decided afterwards to retire from making movies while he was still ahead) while Ann-Margret chews up the scenery much better than I had certainly expected, and Tina Turner as the Acid Queen gives a performance in a cameo that you have to see to believe. Paul Nicholas as Cousin Kevin also gives an energetic turn in a rare (for this movie) comedic moment.
Too flawed to be a classic, but definitely a solid piece of work overall. You may never look at another body pillow without pork and beans and Ann Margret springing immediately to mind ever again.
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Mint
A poster that has never been used or displayed and may show the most minor signs of age and wear. The poster should have no holes or tears.
Near Mint
A generally unused poster with fresh, saturated colors. May have minimal tears at folds. Has no significant holes, no paper loss, may have minor tears along edges, may have fine pin holes.
Very Fine
A poster with bright colour and crisp overall appearance. It may have very general signs of use including slight fold separation and fold wear. It may have pin holes or very minor tears. This is the highest grade allowed for a poster that has been restored either on linen or on paper.
Fine
A poster with good colors and overall clean appearance. It may have minor tears small paper loss and minor stains. It may have some fold seperation.
Good
An average poster with overall fresh color. May have tears, minor paper loss, minor hazing. Paper may be brittle due to age, may have minor stains. May have a small amount of writing in an unobtrusive place. May have medium or major restoration.
Fair
A poster with faded colors and brittle paper, showing significant signs of use. May have tears and paper loss. May have tape, writing, stains in image area. In need of restoration or had major restoration.
Poor
A poster that is worn, torn, and/or damaged. May have staining, cracking, dry rot, and/or large tears. May be heavily soiled, may have pieces missing. In need of major restoration.
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LOBBY CARD
11 x 14″ printed on heavy stock paper. Used as display in theatre lobbies. Originally made in sets of eight. Some sets have a title card, which contains credits and artwork, essentially a mini-poster. The remaining seven cards are coloured photographic credits and poster artwork showing different scenes from the movie.
WINDOW CARD
14 x 22″ printed on heavy stock paper with the top 4-6 inches usually left blank for the local cinema owner to fill in the cinema and the date it was due to play. Largely discontinued during the 1970’s.
HALF SHEET
22 x 28″ printed on heavy stock paper. The image displayed is normally a smaller version of the main poster, although some do have different artworks and sometimes come in two versions.
INSERT
14 x 36″ printed on heavy stock paper. Inserts usually have the same artwork as a one sheet. Popular with collectors since they are smaller and easier to frame. Normally come tri folded or rolled.
STYLE Y/FORTY BY SIXTY
40 x 60″ printed on heavy stock paper. Rare since they were primarily used for major motion pictures only. Designed to be used outside the theatre, on an easel, normally at a drive-in movie theatre.
ONE-SHEET
27 x 41″ printed on paper. This is the most common size of poster, intended to be displayed in a glass “marquee” case. It is the most sought after size by collectors. Since the 1980’s most posters are sent to the theatre rolled and maybe slightly smaller measuring 27″ by 40″ and with the advent of backlit light boxes a growing number of modern movie posters are available double-sided and the more traditional single-sided.
THREE-SHEET
41 x 81″ printed on paper. These were printed on two or three separate sheets designed to overlap, few survive. Used for larger advertising spaces, normally posted on walls, perfect for huge movie theatres the drive-in, where people could see them from a distance. From the 1970’s on, three-sheets were sometimes printed in one piece and issued as “international” versions to be used abroad.
BRITISH QUAD
30 x 40″ Most common poster size used in the UK. British Quads are horizontal and may have different artwork to the US one sheet. Like a US one sheet they normally come in two versions. Like a US one sheet they are usually supplied single-sided or more commonly now as a double sided poster.
BRITISH ONE-SHEET
27 X 40″, printed on paper. Very rarely used size.
ITALIAN LOCANDINA
13 x 28″ six inches shorter than the US insert, very nice size to frame. Italian poster illustrators are some of the best in the industry.
ITALIAN PHOTOBUSTA
18 x 26″ Glossy, high quality, used as lobby cards in Italy. Size may vary, either vertical or horizontal format. There are also double Photobusta or mini Photobusta.
2-FOGLIO (DUE)
(DUE): 39 x 55″ This is the standard poster size used in Italy. Italian poster illustrators are some of the best in the industry.
4-FOGLIO
(QUATTRO) 55 x 79″ Very large Italian poster printed in two pieces, often contains very beautiful artwork.
FRENCH
47 x 63″ (GRANDE) or 24 x 33″ (PETITE) French movie posters normally come with different artwork to either the US or the UK. Like the Italian’s some of the artwork is extrememly beautiful.
