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"Amazing Grace," filmed in January 1972 when
the Queen of Soul was just 29 years old, follows Franklin over
two nights giving a concert at the New Missionary Baptist Church
in Los Angeles.
Belting out gospel songs like "What a Friend We Have in Jesus,"
"Climbing Higher Mountains" and an 11-minute version of "Amazing
Grace," Franklin brought churchgoers and guests (including
Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger) to their feet.
But Franklin herself stands still, saying little in the
90-minute film.
"It's a church service. It's basically just our aunt standing
there singing," Sabrina Owens, Franklin's niece and executor of
her estate, told Reuters Television.
"She doesn't have much conversation with anybody beyond some of
the technical crews that's around her. At some point she asked
about a key and other point she asked about water, but she’s
just basically standing there singing, giving her all, doing
what she does best," said Owens, who is also a producer on the
film.
The service was released as an album in 1972, becoming a
best-seller for Franklin. But the film languished for years over
problems with synchronizing the visuals and the audio. Advances
in technology made it possible to fix that issue and producer
Alan Elliott, who took over the project some 10 years ago, got
agreement from Franklin's estate following the singer's death in
August to finally release the film.
Owens said Elliott told her about the film some three years ago.
"I had never even heard about it and he sent me the link, and I
was like, 'Oh wow! This is really good'."
"Amazing Grace" got its world premiere in New York on Monday,
winning warm reviews, and will get a limited release in the city
and in Los Angeles in late November and early December, making
it eligible for Hollywood's awards season.
Britain's Guardian newspaper said the film is "a spine-tingling
sensation" while the Hollywood Reporter called it "somewhat
shapeless as a movie... But it does contain moments of bliss."
(Reporting by Alicia Powell; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
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