TOWNSHEND DIDN’T WANT REED FOR TOMMY
PETE TOWNSHEND was left "shamed" during the filming of his rock opera TOM MY - because he disagreed with director KEN RUSSELL handing a part to OLI VER REED.
The Who rocker’s famed story of a deaf, dumb and blind pinball genius w as adapted into a movie in 1975, and Russell suggested casting Reed, Jack Nicholson, and Ann-Margret in major roles.
Townshend was adamant he didn’t want "Hollywood stars" in the film - bu t admits he was proved wrong when the cameras started rolling and the thr ee famous actors showed their skills.
He tells the Los Angeles Times, "There is where I hang my head in shame .. I initially disagreed with all three of these choices. My arguments wer e with both Ken and (producer) Robert Stigwood. Robert was the most persu asive, explaining the Hollywood star system to me in words of one syllabl e: ‘We have to have them.’ "In the end, Oliver Reed did his comedic thing and it worked out extrao rdinarily well, with me coaching him line by torturous (sic) line in the studio, knocking back mugs of Remy Martin cognac. I was a little frighten ed of him at first but quickly realized he was a really wonderful man. Ja ck sang beautifully… Ann-Margret I knew nothing about and thought her v oice was too old-school, too music-theater for Tommy. But she too convinc ed me immediately as soon as we started to record." Townshend celebrated his 65th birthday on Wednesday (19May10). (ZN/LAT/
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