Release Date: September 6, 2013 (Limited and VOD)
Director: Ryan White
MPAA Rating: PG
Film Pulse Score: 6/10
Though you may not know who she is, in many ways Freda Kelly proved to be the backbone of The Beatles, working for them from their humble beginnings to their tumultuous end. Working as their secretary and head of their fan club, Freda’s jobs were numerous, but she’s best known as something of a liaison between the band and their rabid fan base. Ryan White’s Good Ol’ Freda provides an intimate look at who Fred Kelly is, and acts as a memoir chronicling her time with one of the greatest rock bands in history.
Although many offers have been made, Freda always kept her time with The Beatles private, never writing a tell-all book, or selling her story to the media. After years of family and friends urging her to tell her story, she agreed, and the result is this film. Comprised of interviews, archival footage, and tons of never before seen photographs, we witness the era of Beatlemania first hand from the point of view of someone closest to them.
The humble and sweet persona of Freda is what initially draws the audience into the film. Her anecdotes are interesting and she proves to be a great storyteller, although she remains reserved when it comes to some of the more juicy bits of gossip. It would have been nice to hear some more scandalous tales, but that’s simply not who she is and what she did talk about was more than enough to hang on her every word.
One of the most interesting scenes in the film revolves around the filmmakers following Freda to her attic to uncover some of the remaining pieces of memorabilia she kept over the years. Each piece had a story to go along with it, and it was fascinating to see of the items she held on to.
While rights were given to use a number of Beatles songs in the film, interviews with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr were absent, which is unfortunate, as it would have been great to hear thoughts. In an interview with the director, he told me that due to scheduling conflicts it wasn’t possible, however they are still going to try to sit down with them and include it in the DVD release. Ringo also appears in the credits with a message for Freda so it’s clear they did what they could, but their perspective would have made everything feel more whole.
For Beatles fans, this is a must see, but Freda’s sweet demeanor and interesting stories will entertain even those like myself who didn’t get to experience the Beatles craze. Although the film revolves around the band, Freda is the centerpiece, which makes this story wholly unique and much more than a typical music doc.
Be sure to check out our interview with director Ryan White on the film Here.
