Amazing Grace (2018)

A documentary presenting Aretha Franklin with choir at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles in January 1972.

Directors:

Alan Elliott, Sydney Pollack

Stars:

Aretha Franklin, Reverand James Cleveland, C.L. Franklin

3 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Aretha Franklin	...	Herself (archive footage)
Reverand James Cleveland	...	Himself (archive footage) (as James Cleveland)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
C.L. Franklin	...	Himself (archive footage)
Alexander Hamilton	...	Himself (archive footage)
Bernard Pretty Purdie	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Bernard Purdie)
Chuck Rainey	...	Himself (archive footage)
Clara Ward	...	Herself (archive footage)

Storyline

A documentary presenting Aretha Franklin with choir at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles in January 1972.

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 April 2019 (USA)

Filming Locations:

New Temple Missionary Baptist Church, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, Al's Records And Tapes, Rampant

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Sydney Pollack was totally inexperienced in shooting music documentary and shot without clapper boards snapping shut at the beginning of each take to help synchronize sound and picture in post-production. As a result of this mistake, even after months of work by experts, the 20 hours of footage couldn't be synchronized with the audio tracks. The choir director from the Watts recordings was brought in to try to lip-read the reels, but after months of work, only about 150 minutes of footage had been matched with sound, none of it adding up to a complete, useable song. Deadlines passed as the "Amazing Grace" album came out in June 1972, selling millions with no synergy. In August, Warner Bros. officially wrote off and shelved the movie. Pollack never gave up on the project, but constantly had other commitments. In 2007, dying of cancer, Pollack finally handed the documentary project over to producer and music enthusiast Alan Elliott.

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Soundtracks

Mary Don,t You Weep
Sung by Aretha Franklin

User Reviews

The miracle of Aretha Franklin in her prime filmed by Sidney Pollack

I saw this film at its world premiere in NY at the NYDoc Fest. The Rev Al Sharpton gave the invocation. And the Great Rev. James Barber further illuminated all of us about the meaning of Arentha's worrying a note. In between was one of the most remarkable, moving, inspiring evenings I have ever spent in any kind of theater ever. Of course, I'm a fan, I do work in the industry, but I'm first a fan of young Aretha's. There was nothing but grace on the screen and the loving community of church. One is blessed to see this film. Period. I just want to add - I would love to know who the absolute genius was that thought of sending Sidney to film this live recording. He or she should receive an Oscar all his or her own.