Aretha film still a go after injunction threat, producers say

A spokesman for Aretha Franklin said the singer planned to seek an injunction today to stop the release of a much-touted gospel film, but producers say the movie is still a go.

After decades of tie-ups, the 1972 film "Amazing Grace" is set to premiere at this weekend's prestigious Telluride Film Festival in Colorado before playing the Toronto International Film Festival next week.

A nationwide search of court records by the Free Press this evening turned up no filings today by Franklin.

Franklin contends that the film's producers do not have rights to her name and likeness. Her publicist, Clarence Waldron, said she has retained the law firm Dykema Gossett in Detroit. (Franklin was most recently represented in the matter by attorney Arnold Reed.)

The Detroit star told the Free Press last month that "I love the film itself," but warned that "if those problems are not cleared up, you could very well see an injunction."

Producers of "Amazing Grace" — who worked with footage shot in '72 by late director Sydney Pollack — say they are in the clear.

"We are operating under the existing contract between Aretha Franklin and Warner Bros., which has governed the use of footage from this session in the past," said co-producer Joe Boyd. Some footage from Pollack's 1972 gospel shoot was used in a 1988 "American Masters" documentary sanctioned by Franklin.

"I love and respect Ms. Franklin, and it's been an honor to work on this project," said co-producer Alan Elliott. "For eight years we’ve tried to get her to be a part of it. A few weeks ago her attorney was provided all the documentation, including her Warner contract, and we really hope she’ll come and be part of it."

Boyd and Elliott were scheduled to fly Thursday afternoon to Colorado for Friday's Telluride screening.

Buzz has been building about the film, with gushing raves from many of those who have seen it. Roots band leader Questlove posted to Instagram over the weekend describing "Amazing Grace" as "EASILY Oscar documentary material."