Disc Seen

By Diane Morgan

Due for release early next year is the film version of "Tommy," now in its final weeks of shooting at a London studio.

Although the rock opera already has been a bestseller twice in LP form — the Who's original version in 1969 and the subsequent full symphony production with guest stars — the soundtrack is bound to cause plenty of interest. For one thing, it will include three new songs and mark the recording debut of Jack Nicholson.

The cast is something of a mind-blower.

Roger Daltry was a natural for the title role, after Mick Jagger turned it down. The other stars include: Ann-Margaret as Tommy's mother, Robert Walker as his father, Oliver Reed as the lover, Eric Clapton as the preacher, Keith Moon as dirty Uncle Ernie, Tina Turner as the Acid Queen and Elton John (who else?) as the Pinball Wizard.

There has been one major change in the plot, reportedly supported whole-heartedly by composer Peter Townshend. Instead of the father killing his wife's lover, the movie version will have the lover killing the father in Tommy's presence. It was felt this had more plausibility and impact than the original version.