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IMDbPro

Amazing Grace

  • 20182018
  • GG
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
4.8K
YOUR RATING
Aretha Franklin in Amazing Grace (2018)
A documentary presenting Aretha Franklin with choir at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles in January 1972.
Play trailer2:10
1 Video
22 Photos
DocumentaryMusic
A documentary presenting Aretha Franklin with choir at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles in January 1972.A documentary presenting Aretha Franklin with choir at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles in January 1972.A documentary presenting Aretha Franklin with choir at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles in January 1972.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
4.8K
YOUR RATING
    • Alan Elliott(realized by)
    • Sydney Pollack(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Aretha Franklin(archive footage)
    • James Cleveland(archive footage)
    • Alexander Hamilton(archive footage)
    • Alan Elliott(realized by)
    • Sydney Pollack(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Aretha Franklin(archive footage)
    • James Cleveland(archive footage)
    • Alexander Hamilton(archive footage)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 41User reviews
    • 98Critic reviews
    • 94Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:10
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos22

    Benedict Cumberbatch at an event for Amazing Grace (2018)
    Amazing Grace (2018)
    Amazing Grace (2018)
    Amazing Grace (2018)
    Amazing Grace (2018)
    Aretha Franklin and C.L. Franklin in Amazing Grace (2018)
    Aretha Franklin in Amazing Grace (2018)
    Aretha Franklin in Amazing Grace (2018)
    Aretha Franklin in Amazing Grace (2018)
    Aretha Franklin in Amazing Grace (2018)
    Aretha Franklin in Amazing Grace (2018)
    Aretha Franklin in Amazing Grace (2018)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Aretha Franklin
    Aretha Franklin
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    James Cleveland
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Alexander Hamilton
    • Self - Choir Director
    • (archive footage)
    Cornell Dupree
    • Self - Guitar
    • (archive footage)
    Kenny Luper
    • Self - Organ
    • (archive footage)
    Poncho Morales
    • Self - Percussion
    • (archive footage)
    Bernard Pretty Purdie
    • Self - Drums
    • (archive footage)
    • (as Bernard Purdie)
    Chuck Rainey
    • Self - Bass
    • (archive footage)
    Christine Adams
    • Self - The Southern California Community Choir
    • (archive footage)
    Alonzo Atkins
    • Self - The Southern California Community Choir
    • (archive footage)
    Lucy Ayers
    • Self - The Southern California Community Choir
    • (archive footage)
    James A. Broomfield
    • Self - The Southern California Community Choir
    • (archive footage)
    Eugene Bryant
    • Self - The Southern California Community Choir
    • (archive footage)
    Syndrul Drahe
    • Themselves - The Southern California Community Choir
    • (archive footage)
    Mary Ann Hall
    • Self - The Southern California Community Choir
    • (archive footage)
    Margerie Luper
    • Self - The Southern California Community Choir
    • (archive footage)
    Charles May
    • Self - The Southern California Community Choir
    • (archive footage)
    Esther McIsaac
    • Self - The Southern California Community Choir
    • (archive footage)
      • Alan Elliott(realized by)
      • Sydney Pollack(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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.
    • Quotes

      Rev. Franklin: I went in the cleaners one day in Detroit to pick up some clothes, and Aretha had appeared on a recent television show. And she told me, "I saw your daughter Aretha last night." I said, "Yes? How did you like it?" She said, "It was all right. But I'll be glad when she comes back to the church." I said, "Listen baby, let me tell you something. If you want to know the truth, she has never left the church."

    • Crazy credits
      The film concludes with a 1972-era Warner Bros. ending card, even though WB technically no longer has any ties to the film, to suggest how it would have played out had the project been completed and released when initially intended.
    • Connections
      Featured in Mark Kermode's Secrets of Cinema: Pop Music Movies (2021)
    • Soundtracks
      Amazing Grace
      Traditional

      Sung by Aretha Franklin

    User reviews41

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    She's Still Our Queen
    This reviewer may be one of the biggest Aretha Franklin fans ever. It is unquestionable also that Franklin was the most important Female Artist of the 60's going into the 70''s. So naturally when it was announced that they would finally be releasing the concert film of " Amazing Grace" I was beyond excited. "Amazing Grace" documents the recording of her multi platinum album of the same name. It's not a secret that Aretha Franklin came from Gospel. It was the basis for everything she did. "Amazing Grace" to this day stands as the bestselling gospel album of all time and her bestselling album.

    Director Sidney Pollack was hired to document this recording. This film at times seems unfinished or one big revival but that's not why you should buy a a ticket. You're watching sheer talent at hand - raw, unadulterated talent given by God. Aretha in her element joined by the California Community Choir and The Reverend James Cleveland provide the audience a spiritual elevation. This movie isn't about cinematic perfection; it's about touching your soul. Some of my favorite moments are her rendition of "Mary Won't You Weep" and her mash-up of "Precious Lord, Take My Hand, and You've Got Friend" made famous by James Taylor. Only Aretha could turn a secular song and incorporate it into a gospel hymn.

    Aretha like most artists of her caliber was a perfectionist and didn't want the movie to be released while she was alive, but I'm glad that her family differed in her view. There is a whole generation that never got to experience this Aretha and now they can.

    You will get a chance to see her Father the Reverend C.L Franklin and the tight bond they shared. There are also other celebrities in the building such as Clara Ward, and if you pay close attention, an enthusiastic Mick Jagger is sitting in the back.

    This movie is a reverence to a time when black America was no longer defining itself by white standards but firmly standing in its blackness. Aretha was our queen and the church our foundation. She was our refuge our joy our Amazing Grace. All hail the Queen.

    Diversity: This movie gets a ten. It doesn't get any blacker than Aretha and gospel music.

    Scale: I highly recommend this movie not because Aretha was my favorite singer but because we could use a little spiritual revival during these dark times. A rousing 8 and Amen.
    helpful•10
    1
    • cupofsoulshow
    • Jul 11, 2019

    Details

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    • Release date
      • April 5, 2019 (United States)
      • United States
      • Official site
      • Official site (Japan)
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • New Temple Missionary Baptist Church, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks
      • Al's Records And Tapes
      • Rampant
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 29 minutes
      • Color

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