Amazing Grace

The 1972 live album Amazing Grace is indisputably one of the highlights of Aretha Franklin’s oeuvre. It was recorded in a Baptist church in Los Angeles, with the best gospel musicians of the day, including a huge gospel choir. Director Sydney Pollack, who went on to make box office hits such as Tootsie and Out of Africa, was there to film the event.

But due to a technical blunder, it wasn’t possible to synchronize the picture and sound, and the raw footage remained in a vault for more than 30 years. The problem wasn’t solved until Alan Elliott took over the project in 2007.

It’s a thrill to see the best-selling gospel album of all time come to life in a packed church filled with devoted worshippers and fans, including Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts. James Cleveland, one of Franklin’s mentors, leads the service, and her father, Reverend C.L. Franklin, also addresses the congregation. The informal atmosphere, dynamic camerawork, and interaction with the audience make the footage feel organic and spontaneous. The sheer concentration of talent and devotion in one room is palpable.

This film is part of Snapshots in Concert, this year’s summer program presenting five legendary artists captured at defining moments in their careers. Supported by the Brook Foundation.