Music,Documentary
United States of America
Amazing Grace is a documentary film directed by Sydney Pollack and completed by producer Alan Elliott in 2018. It features footage of Aretha Franklin recording her live gospel album of the same name at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles in 1972. The film includes performance of songs like "Amazing Grace," "Mary, Don't You Weep," "Climbing Higher Mountains," and others.
The filming of the album was originally meant to be a concert movie, but the project was abandoned due to technical and legal issues. The footage stayed in the archives for decades until producer Alan Elliott acquired the rights and worked with Pollack's team to complete the film. The movie premiered at various film festivals in 2018, including the DOC NYC festival where it won the Audience Award.
Amazing Grace features appearances by the Reverend James Cleveland, Aretha Franklin's father, Reverend C.L. Franklin, and a choir led by Alexander Hamilton. The film captures the raw energy and emotion of the live performances and showcases Franklin's vocal prowess as she belts out powerful renditions of classic gospel songs. It offers a unique and intimate look at one of the greatest singers of all time and a seminal moment in music history.
