Some Nice Geology in Tommy the Movie

Heh. Curiosity got the better of me, and I took a gallop through YouTube looking for clips from the movie Tommy. This was just before some of you started sending clips my way, and yes, I agree, “Pinball Wizard” is zany madness that the theatre doesn’t top. I don’t think anything staged post-70s can.

I found this an interesting surprise. Roger Daltrey was (and still is) hawt. So is some of the geological scenery:

I’d climb that mountain. Day-am. Any readers here know where and what that is?

Special bonus video, for those poor souls who’ve never seen the Highlander episode “Til Death,” allow me to present Roger Daltrey as Fitzcairn:

A much longer sequence can be found here. I love the interplay between Daltrey and Adrian Paul. The two of them were magic.

The Who’s Tommy runs at Burien Little Theatre through March 25th. Yes, I know, it’s not the movie – but it’s awesome and if you’re in the Seattle area, you should go see it. No geology in the stage production, I’m afraid, but still well worth your time.

{advertisement}
Some Nice Geology in Tommy the Movie
{advertisement}

10 thoughts on “Some Nice Geology in Tommy the Movie

  1. 1

    Where? Don’t know for sure, but I’m betting Cumbrian Mountains, The Lake District, UK — and see credits at c. 5:10 in this clip for possible confirmation.

  2. 2

    Went fishing to see if I could find anything to support my guess. Yes, see The Wikipedia entry for Lake District and toward the end under arts: “Film director Ken Russell lived in the Keswick/Borrowdale area until 2007[12] and used it in films such as Tommy and Mahler.”

    Also look at Google Images for Lake District and/or Cumbrian Mountains. Can’t exactly match the scenes but the topography is similar.

  3. 4

    It’s the Lake District, my old climbing grounds.
    I think there is more than one mountain edited into one in this scene.
    I think the lake when he is on the crag is Buttermere with Crummock Water behind.

  4. 6

    Apparently, the air is very dry in the Lake District. He’s soaking wet at the bottom of the mountain, but bone dry by the time he reaches the top.

    Oh, wait, it’s Ken Russell, isn’t it? If it made sense it would be all wrong…

  5. F
    7

    Yes, that is some awesome geology. I recall that bit of the film. I’d love to go there. Climb around, maybe with a hammer if allowed…

  6. 9

    It looks like’s he’s climbing Haystacks with Buttermere and Crummock water in the background.

    When he emerges onto the summit, that’s Walla Crag (or close by there) looking out over Derwent Water, with Cat Bell’s in the foreground on the far side of the lake. The skyline is Grasmoor and Grisedale Pike……I think.

    My old stomping ground. I live in New Zealand now and the Lakes are what I miss most about England.

Comments are closed.