Excellent, a Must See

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

It is not only a funny movie, but it allows a great amount of joy for anyone who watches it.

Blistering performances.

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.

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.

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 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.