Ann-Margret in Tommy (1975) Original Columbia Pictures Press Photo

Description

Ann-Margret as Nora Walker in Ken Russell’s gloriously excessive 1975 adaptation of The Who’s Tommy. Russell took Pete Townshend’s rock opera and turned it into one of the strangest major-studio films of the decade, surrounding Roger Daltrey with Ann-Margret, Oliver Reed, Tina Turner, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Keith Moon and Jack Nicholson. Ann-Margret’s performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

And this is a terrific image from the film: Ann-Margret thrown backward in the metallic crochet costume associated with Nora’s delirious bedroom sequence, where television, consumerism and Ken Russell lunacy collide in an eruption of soap suds, baked beans and chocolate. The costume itself has become recognizable Tommy memorabilia, making this much more interesting than a standard Ann-Margret glamour still—and a particularly nice piece for a collector of The Who.

A striking original 1975 Columbia Pictures press photograph connecting Ann-Margret, Ken Russell and one of The Who’s most enduring works.