Where & When: Arclight Cinemas, Hollywood, CA. April 6, 2019 8:15 PM
"Amazing Grace", the transcendent and transformative visual document of the live recording of Aretha Franklin's first gospel album, has been unearthed, restored and finally released over forty-six years after it was initially made. The story behind why it had been shelved all this time is as fascinating as the film itself.
Ms Franklin, at this point at the age of twenty-nine, had become one of the biggest soul singers in the world and crossed over to find equal success in pop music while selling millions of records in the process. During this time, she had covered all genres of music but had never made an actual gospel record. As she had honed her skills as a vocalist since she was a child as part of the choir at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, MI. where her father, the Rev. C. L. Franklin was minister, it seemed like something well overdue.
With her long-time producers, Jerry Wexler and Arif Mardin, Franklin decided to record the album live at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. She had been interested in getting in to the movies and wanted to film the recording as an theatrical concert event for Warner Bros. Sydney Pollack, a rising director at the time who had been Oscar-nominated for his work in the 1969 depression-era drama, "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?", was selected to direct the project.
It's really incomprehensible how it could happen on a professional movie shoot yet none of the footage had been properly marked before filming so the sound and picture were not in sync. Unable to use anything that had been shot, there was no choice but to shelve the film where it sat tragically in a vault for years. Alan Elliott, a producer, had heard about this legendary Aretha Franklin film and desperately wanted to try and salvage it. Shortly before his death in 2008, Pollack gave the footage to Elliott and he worked on it for two years before finally being able to complete the documentary feature.
The original plan was for "Amazing Grace" to be released in 2011 but Ms Franklin strongly objected and sued to prevent the film from being shown. After Franklin's contract with Warner Bros. had been found, Elliott once again tried to release the film in 2015 where he had plans to have it first shown at the Telluride, Toronto, and Chicago International Film Festivals. However, Franklin lawyered-up again and was granted an emergency injunction which effectively cancelled the highly anticipated screenings.
Shortly after Ms Franklin's passing in August of last year, Elliott approached her family and was allowed to screen the film for them. They were thrilled with it and "Amazing Grace" finally premiered at the Doc NYC Fest on November 12, 2018. We will never know why Ms Franklin was so set against "Amazing Grace" being shown and I don't believe she ever saw the completed film but she had absolutely nothing to fear. This film beautifully captures the Queen of Soul at the peak of her astonishing power and Mr. Elliott really should be commended for seeing this wonderful project through despite all of the many obstacles he faced.
Shot over two days beginning on January 13, 1972, Franklin had her childhood friend, Rev. James Cleveland and the Southern California Community Choir participate on the album. The church is surprisingly sparsely filled on the first night but Rev. Cleveland gives instructions to the attendees to make sure they are seen and heard for this special recording before introducing the guest of honor. Ms Franklin emerges, regal in a sparkling white gown, and takes to the piano to perform Marvin Gaye's "Wholy Holy". This is just the beginning of several stirring songs of praise which is capped off by an soul-shaking rendition of the title hymn. While Mr. Pollack may have handled the filming of this recording incompetently, he did know where to place his cameras. He expertly captures all of the varied reactions from the choir and the audience, with many visibly moved, as Franklin performs throughout, particularly as she roars through "Amazing Grace".
I guess word must have spread about the first night because on the second evening, it was standing room only in the church. It even captured the attention of a couple of Rolling Stones as Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts are seen sitting among the faithful. Ms. Franklin's father, Rev. C.L. Franklin is also present along with the great gospel artist, Clara Ward who was a family friend and mentor to a young Aretha. Rev. Cleveland has her father offer a few words to the audience about his daughter where he expresses how proud he is and briefly shares stories of how he watched her develop her talent.
The structure of documentary feature films has been altered significantly since "Amazing Grace" was originally conceived. It's not really a documentary in the current sense of the word as there are no interviews, no dramatic arc trying to be formed and the only time Ms Franklin is heard throughout the film is when she is singing. And it's not actually a concert film as it's more in line with a church service than people going to a show to be entertained. But "Amazing Grace" perfectly captures a once-in-a-lifetime moment that appeared to be lost forever of a remarkable talent musically reconnecting to her spiritual roots while subtly blending this with the sounds of her secular success.
Throughout her entire career, Aretha Franklin never lost sight of who she was and where she came from and "Amazing Grace" reveals this in no uncertain terms. I have always been a huge fan of the Queen and this film made me love and miss her her even more. This cinematic treasure serves as a miraculous testament to her outstanding gift as a vocalist and innate ability to stimulate and excite an audience simply through the sheer power of her voice.
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