MovieChat Forums > Tommy (1975) Discussion > How does it end?

How does it end?

posted 13 years ago by rmontro
2 replies | jump to latest

SPOILER SPACE, I guess.

I've read that the original Who album ends with Tommy withdrawing back into his deaf, dumb, and blind world. There IS some suggestion of this because after his followers reject him, the "See me, feel me, touch me, HEAL me" and "Listening to You" bits are reprised from earlier in the story when he is still blind. Would you agree or disagree that the album ends this way?

But what about the movie? I've heard it ends the same way, but he certainly appears to have no trouble seeing as he leaves the camp and climbs the mountain. Maybe he goes blind as he stares into the sun? Or does he keep his senses? And if so, what is he singing about?

Finally, there is the stage version, which I haven't seen. But I've heard he renounces his messiahship, tells his followers to live their own lives, and they still reject him. Not sure if he loses his senses in this version or not, I've heard it has a happier ending. I'd be curious to hear a description of how it ends, if anyone has seen it.

[–] techalex-418-622302 12 years ago

None of the versions end up with him losing his senses again.

And, in the stage musical, basically whay happens is, after tommy is rejected, he accepts it and embraces his family while singing "Listening to you".

[–] StarskyandChinaHutch 11 years ago

With the movie, "when does it end" is the more pressing concern...