User Reviews

There probably isn't much to know about the Beatles that hasn't already been revealed in the forty-odd years since they disbanded, and if there were, their former secretary Freda Kelly probably wouldn't tell you. There is some nice information on the Beatles' early career, most notably on their days at the Cavern Club, but this is not so much a documentary about the Beatles as a documentary about what it's like to run a fan club for a cultural phenomenon.

What makes the movie so enjoyable is Freda herself. The distinctly unglamorous woman is wonderfully likable, and it is charming to hear her talk about the pains she took to make sure fans got what they wanted (she continually emphasizes that she was a fan herself). She also tells a little of the Beatles' relatives and varying incidents such as one in which George drunkenly fires her.

But the heart of the movie is Freda, whose loyalty and caring make her surprisingly compelling.

There are a lot of sources for information on the Beatles; this movie is less an insider's view of them than a look at the experience of being an insider. And that turns out to be very interesting.

Wow, this is a gift to Beatles fans everywhere! I just had the pleasure of seeing the NYC premiere of this film at the Museum of the Moving Image, with Freda there in person along with the film's director, Ryan White. Freda intimately witnessed the Beatles saga from the beginning to the end, as the Beatles' secretary for her day job, and as head of their fan club during the rest of the day. Of course the beginning is the best part – in the Cavern Club with Pete Best, before Brian Epstein even came onto the scene. The Cavern Club photos are amazing! Freda's earnest devotion to the Beatles and their fans is truly inspiring. If a girl sent the Beatles Fan Club a pillowcase and said "Please have Ringo sleep on this and send it back to me," Freda would take the pillowcase to Ringo's mom and tell her to please make sure her son slept on it. If a fan asked for a lock of hair, Freda made sure it was truly Beatles hair. This film will make you relive the wonder of the explosion of Beatlemania through Freda's eyes. It also provides a wonderful glimpse into Brian Epstein's role in the Beatles' success ("Eppie" to Freda and the Beatles). I loved how Freda was totally unaware of Brian's homosexuality, until the day John told her that if she was ever stranded with Brian on a desert island, she would have nothing to worry about.

Thank you Ringo, Paul and Apple for assisting with this film. Thank you Freda.

As a lifelong Beatles fan, it was both interesting and enjoyable to learn the story of the Beatles secretary and fan club organiser Freda Kelly, who amazingly, we learn got the job at age only 17.

A Liverpudlian like the group members, she started off as just a fan, regularly attending the group's Cavern gigs, thus falling into the orbit of not only the group, but their manager Brian Epstein who offered her the job a million Beatles fan would have craved. This simple, uncomplicated documentary tells her insider story. Don't expect any major revelations, now, as then Freda is the soul of discretion, even when hinting that she went out with one of the boys, but there are plenty of nice insights into the gathering maelstrom of their massive success and her special relationship not only with John Paul George and Ringo but also their families.

Related in the form of interconnected interviews with her, her daughter and other Liverpool contemporaries, interspersed with archive footage and a contemporary soundtrack mixing Beatles tracks with original versions of some of the band's early cover versions, she comes across as honest, faithful, discreet, hard-working and loyal. She seems to have benefited not a whit financially from the experience, although I bet her attic full of mementos is worth a few bob.

Of course it would have been nice if both of the surviving Beatles, Paul or Ringo, had actively contributed to the story, but Starr does at least pay her a glowing tribute over the end credits.

After the fan club disbanded in 1972, with Paul pointedly not wanting to be referred to as a Beatle anymore, she quietly resigned her position in a meeting attended by Ringo and George. Of the stories she tells, George seems to be the friendliest.

A pleasant low-key documentary then, sure to be of interest to Beatles fans around the world.

Can't understand for as close as she was to 'the lads' and Paul's stepmom in particular, why Paul couldn't record a complimentary piece to be inserted in the movie like Ringo did.

If you're a fan, you won't be disappointed in this fun flashback flick. Freda is a breath of fresh air in this day and age. She could have been like a kid in a candy store...and to some extent she was. Talk about being in the right place at the right time!

While she had fun early on, she was also a responsible young lady of 17 years old with a marvelous work ethic that is sorely lacking in the workforce today.

Blessings Freda. Peace <><

The moment that I saw Good Ol' Freda listed in the Hot Docs program, without reading the description, I knew exactly who this doc was about. That's good ol' Freda Kelly, once called the luckiest girl in the world by newspapers and teen rags, because she was the secretary to a little band called The Beatles. The title comes from the 1963 Christmas message recorded by the Fab Four for their fan club, which Kelly also ran, in which they specifically mention "good ol' Freda." Early in the film, Kelly looks at the camera and says, "Who wants to hear the secretary's story?"

The answer of course is – We do, we do! All these years later, the world is still hungry for any piece of the story of The Beatles that has been left untold. And Freda Kelly is our last best hope. She has remained mum for years – she's never sold her story; rarely gives interviews; didn't cash in the treasure trove of Beatles memorabilia in her attic, instead passing it directly to fans or donating to charity. Good Ol' Freda is less a tale of The Beatles and more a tale of one woman's – a girl's actually, being only 17 when she was hired – fierce loyalty and protector of a trust given her by the four most famous men in the world.

Freda Kelly was a nice Liverpudlian girl who found herself in extraordinary circumstances. She coped with those circumstances with more grace than one can imagine and has continued to do so for years. Kelly took her job very seriously, but… she was a fan first and foremost, and she still counts herself as one today. Turns out, that "luckiest girl in the world" appellation was exactly how she felt – and still does. Kelly notes that she agreed to do this doc, with some reservation, because she wants her grandson to know that she did some fun and cool stuff in the '60s. Good Ol' Freda will definitely make that possible.

After the Sunday afternoon screening at TIFF Bell Lightbox, director Ryan White and producer Kathy McCabe came out on stage. The crowd applauded. The Freda Kelly came up. The audience – a packed house – leapt to its feet for a lusty round of ovation. That's the kind of affection Freda Kelly inspires and her story as told in Good Ol' Freda inspires. This doc is a must see, now at Hot Docs or anywhere else you can catch it.

This is not a tell-all movie. It's about Freda, from Freda herself, who thought herself the luckiest girl in the world.

When you think you've seen every documentary about the Beatles or Beatles phenomenon, along comes this absolutely charming film about the member of their organization almost solely responsible for the unbridled love their fans felt for them on a global scale.

Freda clearly loved them as family, and never stopped loving them. It's as if she's speaking of her brothers. As she tells her story, you'll be transported back in time, and you'll feel that excitement you felt when you first discovered the Beatles. Freda's loyalty never waned, and the joy and glow she felt in her job and relationship with the boys just radiates off the screen.

I suppose people my age in the UK know Freda Kelly. She certainly seems to have received a lot of publicity as "the luckiest girl in the world" when she not only headed The Beatles Fan Club but worked for Brian Epstein.

Why Epstein chose her during the time she was hanging out at the Cavern listening to the group, she has no idea. But given his belief in the talent of the Beatles, I think he just had good intuition. I don't think he could have found anyone as discreet or as loyal as Freda.

Freda not only became friends with John, Paul, George, and Ringo, but also with their families and became a member of the Beatles family herself. They would come in for meetings with Brian Epstein and while they sat talking with him, Freda would come in with photos and autograph books for them to sign. She said none of them ever complained about any of it.

She was young and cute, so the interviewer (who was only heard once or twice) asked her if she had a more than friendly relationship with any of the guys. She wouldn't answer. "That's personal," she said. In fact she has never written a book or sold her story to a tabloid. She made this documentary for her grandson, Niall. For so many years, as a secretary, wife, and mother, she never told anyone about her past life. With her son now passed away, she says she would like little Niall to be proud of her and to know she had done something exciting.

It's not everyday that a girl from Liverpool had Paul McCartney walking her to the bus, George Harrison driving her home, was able to attend formal events, and could refer to Ringo as "Ritchie". Quite a whirlwind - plus the fan club. Friends would come over to visit and she'd give them a pile of fan letters to work on. She once fired a bunch of young women she had helping her with fan mail when one of them put her own hair in an envelope when a fan requested Paul's hair. "I can't trust any of you now," she announced. As a fan herself, she wanted to be honest with anyone who wrote to them.

She stayed with the Beatles until they broke up, working with them for a total of 10 years. At the end of the documentary, Ringo Starr spoke to and about Freda to the camera.

Interspersed with Freda's interview are interviews with her daughter, as well as Angie McCartney, author Tony Barrow, Billy Hatton, and others.

I have had the privilege of working with well-known people. And it is strange. To you, they're just people, and it can be a shock to have someone groveling at your feet because you know them.

Freda had no idea how big the Beatles would be, but she always knew they would be famous. I don't suppose she could have imagined what that experience would bring to her life. It sounds like it was a thrilling time for a teenager. Or anyone else.

Oi, Freda Kelly. I feel lucky to have been alive enough to realize the truly important and exciting pivotal time it was for Liverpool and to experience The Beatles from the Cavern Club to the Magical Mystery Tour bus through Freda's generous and sincere recollections. This documentary is truly moving, funny, and exciting. Freda was a busy working girl, and loyal to the bone, entrusted to steer fans away from the band, fans of whom she does not once speak ill about (there had to be some crazies). The Beatle newsletter maintained and written by her captured not only Beatlemania (the new age of a fan base) but the culture of work for women (not real different to today). Really nice clip of Ringo today. Don't be shy anymore, Freda. THANK YOU!

This is a useless and stupid documentary that provides next to no insight into the Beatles.

She actually didnt really work for them either. She worked for Brian Epstein.

If you are a crazy Beatles fan I'm sure you will love this. I'm reviewing it on it's merits which is null.

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.

I urge all Beatles' lovers who enjoyed Freda Kelly's story to try and see "Arena: produced by George Martin";it completes this one which features a very interesting portrayal of Brian Epstein Freda Kelly referred to as "Eppie".

It's a wonderful magical mystery tour through the past,as Freda opens her archives in her attic (she gave away most of her items to fans in the first half of the seventies when the fan club closed down .considering the large amount of letters (which grew exponentially over the years ) and other stuff she could have sold,she could be a millionaire today ,as she says; just take a look at the prices on ebay.

Hired at 17 by Epstein,Freda was her secretary,and we get a fly-on- the-wall account of the Beatle mania years; Freda always stayed in the shadow,it was her friend who demanded her wage should be raised .But her anecdotes are a treat to hear:Ringo's nine letters ,Lennon 's metaphor of the desert island where Freda would be safe with "Eppie",the devoted Harrison family always here to give a helping hand,the Moody Blues episode where she was almost "fired" .

When she left the greatest musical phenomenon of the sixties,Freda had to continue to earn her living ;she never complained ,although she got a raw deal :her son Timothy prematurely died and she deeply moves us when she says that she did not tell him much about her past (which almost every English girl envy);the birth of a grandson makes her change her mind and spawn this absorbing documentary.

She never wrote a book ,but this movie will replace it for Beatles' fans .Although she was bruised by her son's death ,she does mention all these people ,part of the legend ,who died well before their time: Epstein,Lennon and Harrison,Moe Cox and Linda McCartney, Derek Taylor....

Let her take you down and you 're going to memory lane,where everything is real.

Liverpool resident Freda Kelly had a job that any girl in the '60s would have loved to have: she was president of the Beatles' fan club. The documentary "Good Ol' Freda" features an interview with her. In addition to her memories of getting to work with the Fab Four, there's the ubiquitous music, some Beatles and some non-Beatles. This combo of interviews and music adds up to a great look at an era that will almost certainly not have an equivalent in our lifetimes, even though I was born long after it was over. This is one fine documentary. Of course, anything relating to the music of that era reminds us what real music is. I totally recommend this movie!

This is a story about a secretary and her impact on a band that impacted society and changed the fabric of our world. Freda Kelly was taken into the hearts of the Beatle's family - she was a sister, confessor, wet nurse, and the rainbow bridge to the fans. Undoubtedly, this is the best documentary ever done on the Beatles due to the organic honesty and unvarnished recollections of a woman who avoided cashing in.

I was a puddle of tears at the end. The movie impacted me on so many levels. My mother was a secretary, and with each personal victory that Freda achieved (she was 'sacked' by John Lennon, and within minutes he was on his knees begging her to come back) I was reminded of my own life, and my own mother's struggles during this same time. God bless Freda Kelly, she weathered her own personal tragedies and lived to tell this gripping tale.

Watching this film brought me right back to the 60's when I was a teenager. I remember so many things from that time, the air raid sirens, the bay of pigs, the JFK assassination and then the Beatles. They were a breath of fresh air for a troubled world. Their songs were simple but beautiful. People went wild over their music, yes there was a future and it was fantastic. They stood for something really important. I looked at the faces in the film, filled with hope. Everyone looked so skinny and healthy! I loved the shots of the cavern club and everyone answering letters in the small office over the record shop. I liked the viewpoint of someone from behind the scenes. But of course I don't think for one minute that hiring Freda was an accident. Brian Epstein obviously had a totally uncanny ability of hiring the right person for the job. The Beatles were advanced beings and obviously so is Freda. Wonderful film, really put tears in my eyes. After the film was over (Bloor HotDocs Toronto) the director Ryan White gave a Q/A over Skype. This was an unexpected bonus and really added dimension to how the film came together.

I kept catching this film at different parts of the movie via channel surfing, and just saw this today from the beginning. This is more than a doc on the Beatles, this is an example of honor and dignity. What a treasure Freda is...and it is refreshing to see a portrayal about honesty, honor and what it means to be a decent person.

Just finished watching "Good Ol' Freda" and if you have not seen it yet, I highly recommend it.

Freda was Brian Epstein's personal secretary and head of the official Beatles Fan Club for 11 years. The documentary is her story and is not a tell all which was refreshing. There are a lot of still images of the Beatles from the Cavern days as well as some video and interviews. The film follows Freda from the Cavern, where she went to see the Beatles during their lunchtime shows through to the year after their break up. There is also a good mix of music playing in the background, some Beatles tunes as well as songs they covered, performed by the original artists.

If you enjoy(ed) the Beatles, I believe you will find this film both interesting and entertaining.

Cheers!!

No guess work, no fabrications or exaggerations, no smutty gossip, no favouritism... and no juvenile 'wot oi fink' criticism of the music. 'Good Ol' Freda is the plain unvarnished truth about Freda Kelly's time as head of The Beatles official UK fan club. Freda is that rarity in the mass of Beatle media produced in the last 50 odd years... the real thing.

She is also honest and honourable about her work in both NEMS and Apple. Her shyness about being forced by Paul McCartney to move up to the front of the coach in Magical Mystery Tour, is typical of Freda. She doesn't shy from the fact that she was first and foremost (no pun intended) a fan having the time of her life... and if you have even the vaguest interest in the band and the time they were active... then this account is one of the most accurate and endearing you will ever find.

I have had the misfortune to have read mountains of utter garbage written about The Beatles from the 1960's to the present day., This film is a breath of fresh air compared to the lies,half truths and regurgitated theories and rumours that have flooded this market for decades.

Good Ol' Freda, like the lady herself... is an absolute treat.