Good Ol' Freda (2013)

A documentary in which Freda Kelly looks back at her career as lifelong secretary for The Beatles.

Director:

Ryan White

Writers:

Jessica Hargrave (as Jessica Lawson), Ryan White

Stars:

Freda Kelly, Paul McCartney, John Lennon

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Freda Kelly	...	Self
John Lennon	...	Self (archive footage)
Paul McCartney	...	Self (archive footage)
Ringo Starr	...	Self
George Harrison	...	Self (archive footage)
Angie McCartney	...	Self
Billy Kinsley	...	Self
Tony Barrow	...	Self
Pete Best	...	Self (archive footage)
Billy Hatton	...	Self
Rachel Norris	...	Self - Freda Kelly's daughter
Elsie Starkey	...	Self - Ringo Starr's mother (archive footage)
Joey Bower	...	Self
Linda McCartney	...	Self (archive footage)
June Underwood	...	Self

Storyline

'Good Ol' Freda' tells the story of Freda Kelly, a shy Liverpudlian teenager asked to work for a young local band hoping to make it big: the Beatles. As the Beatles' fame multiplies, Freda bears witness to music and cultural history but never exploits her insider access. Their loyal secretary from beginning to end, Freda finally tells her tales for the first time in 50 years.

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Plot Keywords:

the beatles | secretary | band | female protagonist | england | 

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Taglines:

Behind a great band, there was a great woman.

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | History | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some thematic material and smoking

Did You Know?

Trivia

"It's well known that Beatles music is not in many films, and so we knew that was going to be our largest hurdle from the very beginning. I'd never made a Beatles film before, but when you start talking to people who have, you hear about how it's a nightmare to deal with licenses and it's never gonna happen. So it's a total testament to Freda that we got that far, and that we have four Beatles songs in our film, which I think is almost unheard of. It's very clear, when you start talking to Apple - that's the umbrella organization for The Beatles - that there's still a lot of respect for her in that building... and so I think I'm a very lucky filmmaker, in that I could go to the Beatles organizations, and all the circles that are involved in signing off on Beatles music, and pitch my film as a film about a woman named Freda Kelly, who never sold out The Beatles." - Ryan White from a special features interview on the DVD

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Quotes

Freda Kelly: I know Mama Cass tried to gate-crash, and she didn't get in.
[in reference to a small, inner-circle party that followed the premiere of "How I Won the War"; from one of the deleted scenes on the DVD]

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Crazy Credits

A personal video message from Ringo Starr plays over the credits.

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Soundtracks

Anna (Go To Him)
Written and Performed by Arthur Alexander
Courtesy of Geffen Records under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Doc Offers a Unique Look Behind the Scenes

We've probably all seen numerous films and documentaries on the 1960's and the Beatles. However, I thought this documentary, directed by Ryan White, offered a unique behind the scenes look focusing on Freda Kelly, the Beatles long time secretary and Fan Club President.

At just 17 years of age, Freda was plucked out of an office typing pool by Brian Epstein (the Beatles manager), to become his and the band's secretary. Freda was already known to them, being a loyal fan and attending most of the Beatles performances in The Cavern, the local Liverpool club.

Even at that young age, Freda was demonstrating her remarkable personal characteristics of attention to detail, loyalty, and integrity, while strictly maintaining the band member's privacy. Since she was a fan herself, Freda would go to great lengths to try and satisfy the requests of Beatles' fans around the world. Of course, those were the days before social media, cellphones etc., so most requests and replies were done by mail.

During Freda's 11 year tenure as the Beatles' secretary, she really became a member of the family and was a coveted member of their inner circle, till the group members decided to finally go their own way.

The film is filled with wonderful film clips and photos, especially of the very early Beatles days, which I found rather fascinating, being a Beatles fan myself.

Overall, the documentary is very well presented with the unassuming Freda leading us along the way. I thought the movie gave me a real unique and intimate glimpse into the personalities and world of the Beatles, and those around them.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 September 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Good Ol' Freda: Behind a Great Band, There Was a Great Woman

Filming Locations:

Empire Theatre, Liverpool, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,798, 8 September 2013

Gross USA:

$138,811

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$138,811

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tripod Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1