#The pinball wizard movie

There is an unscripted moment when at the end of the song, the fans rush the stage. Elton told the crew that he would feel more comfortable with a keyboard in front of him.Īll of the music used for the filmed was pre-recorded, except for 'Pinball Wizard.' In which The Who really did play in front of that giant theatre audience (Even though Elton John's band, is featured on the soundtrack). Actually the crew had to install a keybaord to Elton's pinball machine to help take Elton's mind off of being up on the boots. In the 'Pinball Wizard' scene, Elton John wasn't originally supposed to be playing the piano keyboard. Which he did keep the huge boots until 1988. Elton enjoyed the film experience and asked to keep the outrageous boots from his costume. Elton had to wear these giant Doc Marten boots attached by callipers, which allowed him to move as if he were on stilts (photo of the boots furnished below). The boots themselves were molded fiberglass created by an English company, and put together by the props department of Columbia Pictures.

#The pinball wizard movie

With everything that was going on in the movie it seemed everyone was talking about Elton John and these boots that were modeled after 'cherry red' Dr.

Elton in these sky-high boots, towers above his kingdom as the ruler of all he surveys essentially making this scene the classic battle as Tommy is David to Local Lad's Goliath. The first thing that grabs your attention is John's seemingly 20-foot high boots. Elton played the campy pinball champ (screenname Local Lad) that must compete against the pinball wizard (Tommy played by The Who's Roger Daltrey) to keep his pinball crown. Elton John did and still does a blazing cover of The Who's 'Pinball Wizard.' a scence stealing moment that was the featured in 'Tommy', The Who's classic 1975 film adaptation of their classic rock opera.