MovieChat Forums > Tommy (1975) Discussion > Why was the father away for 5 YEARS?

Why was the father away for 5 YEARS?

posted 16 years ago by charlesadams1
23 replies | jump to latest

For someone who didn't have any serious injuries besides some cosmetic scars on his face (he looked to have both arms and legs and walking perfectly) why was Captain Walker away for 5 years? The War ended in 1945 but he didn't show up until 1951...then he just pops up in the MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. How ridiculous is that?

I'd have called or let my wife know I was still alive before I just showed up again. I mean if you are recuperating in hospital you'd have plenty of time to pick up a pen and paper and write a letter wouldn't you?

But besides those plot snafus what did they do with the body after the wife and her new husband killed him?

Townsend never dealt with any of those issues.

[–] tbell-enteract 9 years ago

Tommy had a nightmare.

If Frank really killed Capt. Walker, the former would go to jail. As would Nora for assisting the cover-up.

[–] CoriSCapnSkip (2247) 6 years ago

Wild guess, he went straight from the war to a mental institution due to trauma similar to that suffered by Tommy (catatonia or catatonic-like state). His wife knew about it but wrote him off as dead and was shocked and alarmed by his sudden return. Tommy may have been told he was dead and seeing him "killed" again was too much for his little senses to handle.