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The Pretenders’ influential legacy has long been documented through music history, but the band’s story is receiving its first comprehensive film treatment with “The Pretenders,” directed by Joss Crowley, premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival this Sunday. The documentary traces the formation of the iconic rock group, beginning with Chrissie Hynde’s journey from her hometown of Akron in the late 1970s to finding her musical collaborators in the United Kingdom, and follows the band through their legendary debut album released in January 1980 and the turbulent years that followed.
Convincing Hynde to participate in the project proved challenging, as the naturally camera-shy frontwoman had resisted similar efforts for over a decade. Director Crowley persisted in his pursuit for years before finally securing a meeting with the guitarist. After establishing certain conditions—including a focus on archival material and the band’s story rather than Hynde’s individual narrative—she agreed to participate, beginning formal interviews in late 2023.
Hynde’s decision to move forward with the documentary was partly motivated by concerns about unauthorized versions of her band’s history circulating. She also wanted to honor the legacy of guitarist James Honeyman-Scott, the original band member who died in 1981. Despite her reluctance toward personal publicity, Hynde recognized that documenting an accurate account of The Pretenders’ story was preferable to allowing unofficial narratives to take hold.
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Originally reported by Variety →
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