History YMMV / Tommy

*** The movie version of "Cousin Kevin" is pretty intense, too. Amidst dizzying camera angles and bizarre music, Kevin puts Tommy through a number of torments, including drying his clothes by ironing them ''while he's still wearing them.''

* SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments: Is there anyone who ''doesn't'' get choked up listening to "Listening To You"?

** Uncle Ernie, if you can believe it, has [[DracoInLeatherPants a whole host of fans]].
*** If you go see the stage production, you can count on Uncle Ernie getting the most laughs, despite being the CreepyUncle.

%%* EpicRiff

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: The washing machine scene in the movie, although the spectacle of Ann-Margret covering herself in foam, baked beans and chocolate is pure {{Fanservice}} for those who like that kind of thing (presumably including Creator/KenRussell.)

** Also, Tommy's actual father in the film is played by Robert Powell, who played the title character in Creator/KenRussell's previous film ''Mahler'' -- one of the director's outrageous interpretations of the lives of classical composers. His next film ''Lisztomania'' is another...in which Roger Daltrey plays Franz Liszt. It's especially noticeable as the three movies were shot one after the other and released over twelve-and-a-half months (less than that in the United States).

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Could very well be part of why a lot of people in Music/TheWho fandom loathe the Music/EltonJohn version of "Pinball Wizard" with an immense passion. (That, and/or perhaps because at one point [[ItsPopularNowItSucks his version got almost as popular as the original]].) [[FridgeLogic Even though it was]] '''[[Music/TheWho Pete Townshend]]''' [[FridgeLogic who made most of the real changes]].
* WTHCastingAgency: For TheMovie, you have Roger Daltrey, Ann-Margret, Music/EltonJohn, Music/TinaTurner, Music/EricClapton, Keith Moon, [[CreatorCameo John Entwistle, Pete Townshend]], and Creator/JackNicholson.

* TastesLikeDiabetes: The ending to the Broadway version.

* WTHCastingAgency: For TheMovie, you have Roger Daltrey, Ann-Margret, Music/EltonJohn, Music/TinaTurner, Music/EricClapton, Keith Moon, [[CreatorCameo John Entwistle, Pete Townshend]], and Creator/JackNicholson. [[SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct Jack does a pretty good job, for not being a singer.]]

** "Fiddle About" has Tommy's [[CreepyUncle Uncle]] {{E|vilUncle}}rnie molesting him. Arguably, it's turned into a very dark SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment|s}} by [[CrazyAwesome Keith Moon]], the band's drummer, in TheMovie.

** Made ''so much worse'' in the London Symphony Orchestra recording. Whose idea was it to cast [[Music/RingoStarr the Beatle who sang all the cute kid's songs]] as Uncle Ernie? You may never be able to listen to [[Music/TheWhiteAlbum "Good Night"]] ever again. And it becomes a '''even worse''' if you're one of those ''WesternAnimation/ThomasTheTankEngine'' fans who [[CantUnhearIt imagines every sentence he says ending with "...said the Fat Controller."]]

** Despite the circumanstances Frank really did love Tommy and was a father to him.

* WTHCastingAgency: For TheMovie, you have Roger Daltrey, Ann-Margret, Music/EltonJohn, Music/TinaTurner, Music/EricClapton, Keith Moon, [[CreatorCameo John Entwistle, Pete Townshend]], and Creator/JackNicholson. [[HeReallyCanAct Jack does a pretty good job, for not being a singer.]]

* WTHCastingAgency: For TheMovie, you have Roger Daltrey, Ann-Margret, Music/EltonJohn, Music/TinaTurner, Music/EricClapton, Keith Moon, [[CreatorCameo John Entwistle, Pete Townshend]]...[[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers and]] Creator/JackNicholson. [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools He does a pretty good job, for not being a singer.]]
* TheWoobie: Tommy might be the most epic example of this trope in music.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: The washing machine scene in the movie, although the spectacle of Ann-Margret covering herself in foam, baked beans and chocolate is pure {{Fanservice}} for those who like that kind of thing (presumably including Ken Russell.)

* FauxSymbolism: In the film, it's quite apparent that director Ken Russell has never met a piece of symbolism he couldn't beat his viewers over the head with.

** Another movie example: When Rod Stewart asked Music/EltonJohn if he should take the part of the Local Lad, Elton told him "don't touch it with a barge pole."