In January 1972, Aretha Franklin recorded her Amazing Grace album at New Bethel Baptist Church in the Watts district of Los Angeles. The footage of that recording has not been released until now, and the resulting, eponymous concert film is by all regards, something to see. Find the trailer below.
Sydney Pollack oversaw the direction of the original film, but since he died in 2008, producer Alan Elliott is the man backing the movie today. Franklin hadn't allowed the footage released, but following her own passing last year, Elliott and producer Tirrell Whittley showed the finished film to her family, who were delighted by how it captured her power and emotion.
The album itself has sold more than two million copies in the States and is the singer's best-selling release and the biggest-selling gospel album in music history. Now the film version promises to add another angle to it.
Amazing Grace hits US screens on limited release on 5 April before it expands to more screens in the following weeks. Studiocanal will bring the film to the UK on 10 May.
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