Aretha Franklin Trying to Stop Documentary Release

August 26, 2011 11:20 AM

Aretha Franklin performs at the DTE Energy Theater

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The Queen of Soul’s 1972 live album, Amazing Grace, was documented by the now-deceased filmmaker Sydney Pollack. The never-before-seen footage of [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Aretha Franklin[/lastfm] in action is set to be released under director Alan Elliot, who may have acquired the video illegally.

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Franklin has hired lawyer Arnold Reed, who plans to appeal to the Californian Federal Courts and have the release of the film stopped dead in its tracks.

Elliot claims to have legally acquired the footage legally from Warner Bros.

Franklin’s lawyer will argue that Alan Elliot is violating an agreement in place with Warner Bros. and that Aretha must grant him permission to release the documentary.

Obviously, “permission” will entail some sort of monetary compensation, in which Aretha is said to be open to in the future.

Aretha Franklin live in 1970, “I Say A Little Prayer”