We look at Ryan White's 2013 documentary about Freda Kelly, employed by Brian Epstein and The Beatles from 1962 to 1972, and president of their fan club. How influential was she in what became Beatlemania? We discuss her obvious empathy with and yet professional distance from the Beatles' female fans, and her instinctive understanding that a personal connection with fans strengthens the relationship. Also, this small film made with Kickstarter funding secured the rights to use four Beatles songs: how?

• Watch the film on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucoGodRvzX8
• The interview with Freda and Ryan White for the iTunes launch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvMticJSYqM
• New Zealand's performance in the 2010 World Cup, as tweeted by Ed and retweeted by Russell Crowe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup#Group_F
• Other Ryan White films and series mentioned are Good Night Oppy: https://share.google/f55I0xmygF4ttj6UJ
• The Case Against 8: https://share.google/3RPhWLFhVPEmRVcHV
• Assassins: https://share.google/pR0CNS8MuXJ9rnsrX
• Pamela: A Love Story: https://www.netflix.com/title/81590934
• The Keepers: https://www.netflix.com/title/80122179
• When we recorded this we discussed Freda's cameo in Backbeat, playing George Harrison's mother giving him scones before they sail to Hamburg. Then when we watched it we weren't convinced it was her. A bit of digging revealed it's a Liverpudlian actor called Frieda Kelly, who was active in the 80s and 90s. IMDb incorrectly adds Freda, not Frieda, to the cast list. Justice for Frieda! https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0446394

Meet the Beatles Films Podcast

The Beatles Films Podcast is hosted by Matt Looker and Ed Williamson. We're both film writers and Beatles fans. Between us we've written for TheShiznit.co.uk, Total Film, Den of Geek and Virgin Media.

But tomorrow may rain, so you'll follow us on:

• Instagram https://instagram.com/beatlesfilmspod
• Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/beatlesfilmspod.bsky.social
• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@BeatlesFilmsPodcast
• Threads https://www.threads.net/@beatlesfilmspod
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/304654901827622

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