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Queen Of Soul Suing Over Documentary Footage

DETROIT (WWJ) - A lawsuit over an unreleased film featuring a recording of an Aretha Franklin concert will move forward. Franklin is suing the makers of a documentary that uses footage from her 1972 live recording of her album Amazing Grace.

Franklin's attorney, Farmington Hills-based Arnold Reed, told WWJ Newsradio 950 the makers of the movie had been holding private screenings for investors and charging them to get in.

"They had investors ready to invest in the making and producing and making sure this movie reached this final stage," said Reed. "They had actually gone that far. They hadn't offered Miss. Franklin any money or any kind of compensation for using her name, using her likeness."

"What he [the producer] is attempting to do is turn this documentary into a final cut without Miss. Franklin's permission," Reed said.

Reed said producer Allen Eliot purchased the once lost footage from Warner Brothers.

The concert footage includes scenes with Academy Award winning director Sydney Pollack, Mick Jagger and reverends James Cleveland and C.L. Franklin.

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