Details
The lost treasure of Sydney Pollack’s observational footage from 1972 has finally surfaced; witness the sonic brilliance of Aretha Franklin as she recorded her bestselling album Amazing Grace in an L.A. Baptist Church.
Aretha Franklin recorded her bestselling album Amazing Grace during two days of gospel performances at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles.
Sydney Pollack and his crew captured the incredible footage, but the project was shelved. 47 years later, the recordings have been brought out and the film completed – as Pollack’s wishes before his death in 2008.
Backed by the Southern California Community Choir, the legendary Atlantic records rhythm backing, and with her mentor Reverend James Cleveland by her side and father in the audience, the atmosphere is electric.
The music in Amazing Grace is phenomenal, and the observational footage of Aretha Franklin moving her audiences and making history is a divine experience.