The Five Heartbeats (1991)
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38% of critics liked it
(16 reviews) -
93% of users liked it
(18,624 ratings)
Loosely based on the life and times of several R&B artists (The Dells, The Temptations, Frankie Lymon, Sam Cooke and others) The Five Heartbeats traces the rise and fall of a popular African-American 1950s singing aggregation. The story is told from the point of view of one of the… More Loosely based on the life and times of several R&B artists (The Dells, The Temptations, Frankie Lymon, Sam Cooke and others) The Five Heartbeats traces the rise and fall of a popular African-American 1950s singing aggregation. The story is told from the point of view of one of the "Heartbeats," played by Robert Townsend (who also co-produced, directed and co-wrote the script with Keenan Ivory Waynans). The film is an amalgam of anecdotes drawn from real-life experiences: the long struggle upward, the first rush of success, the dishonest record-company executives, the hard-nosed but nurturing managers, the sex, the drugs, the isolation and the precipitous downward slide. The film begins and ends in the 1990s, as the middle-aged "Duck" (Townsend) ruminates on the past and makes the best of the present. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Robert Townsend
- Written By
- Keenen Ivory Wayans, Robert Townsend
- Genres
- Musical & Performing Arts, Drama
- In Theaters
- Mar 29, 1991 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Renee Schonfeld, Common Sense Media
The rise and fall of a flashy, fictional 1960s rock group.
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Scott Weinberg, DVDTalk.com
The charitable might be tempted to describe The Five Heartbeats as wholesome and well-intentioned -- but so is a 6-year-old who just crayon-scrawled "I love cookies" on the living room wall.
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Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
An underrated drama about the ups and downs of a Temptations-like r&b group with solid acting and fine music. If you haven't seen it, rent it. It's worth it.
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Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
A once or future 'VH1 movie that rocks.'
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Robert Townsend
as Duck
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Michael Wright
as Eddie
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Leon
as J.T.
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Harry J. Lennix
as Dresser
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Tico Wells
as Choirboy
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Chuck Patterson
as Jimmy Potter
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Diahann Carroll
as Eleanor Potter
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The Nicholas Brothers
as Ernest 'Sarge' Johnson
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Hawthorne James
as Big Red
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Harold Nicholas
as Sarge
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Phyllis Applegate
as Myra Stone
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Fred Asparagus
as Big Red's Guy
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Don Barnes
as Lester
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Paul Benjamin
as Mr. King
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Troy Beyer
as Baby Doll
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Gigi Bolden
as Crystal
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Brian Bradley
as Five Horseman
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Carla Brothers
as Tanya Sawyer
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Shanel Cason
as J.T.'s Little Girl
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Shannon Chambers
as Matthew's Kid
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Marilyn Coleman
as Mrs. King
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Mike Conn
as Five Horseman
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Barry Diamond
as Five Horseman
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Norma Donaldson
as Mrs. Sawyer
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David Drummond
as Policeman
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O.L. Duke
as Monroe
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Craig Eisner
as Jimmy's Doorman
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Roy Fegan
as Bird
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Aaron J. Galang
as Theatre Security Man
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Joey Gaynor
as Five Horseman
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Eugene Robert Glazer
as David Green
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Randy Harris
as Big Red's Guy
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Tommy Redmond Hicks
as Pastor Blake
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Devin C. Huff
as Matthew's Kid
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Jimmy Jackson
as Little Duck
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Ron Jaxson
as Ebony Sparks
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Alexis Johnson
as Little Girl
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Anne-Marie Johnson
as Sydney Todd
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Arnold Johnson
as Mr. Matthews
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Deborah Lacey
as Rose
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Kasi Lemmons
as Cookie
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Lakisha Luke
as Matthew's Kid
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Monique Mannen
as Sandra Tillman
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Bob Mardis
as Midnight Falcon
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Bobby McGee
as Leon
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David McKnight
as Pastor Stone
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Regina McLeod
as Jackie
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Lisa Mende
as Marcia Sayles
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Kathleen Mitchell
as Crystal
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Harris Peet
as Phil Shumway
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John Pittman
as Hitman
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Theresa Randle
as Brenda
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Veronica Redd
as Mrs. Matthews
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Timmie Rogers
as Buddy Lewis
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Roger Rose
as The Midnight Falcon
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Griff Ruggles
as Policeman
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Al Simon
as Big Red's Guy
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Donnie Simpson
as Himself
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Ron Smith
as Poker Player
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Harry Stanback
as Speakeasy Guy
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Suzanne Suter
as Crystal
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Tressa Thomas
as Duck's Baby Sister
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Tommy Townsend
as Matthew's Kid
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Recoe Walker
as Ebony Sparks
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Tiffanique Webb
as Speakeasy Girl
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Joel Weiss
as St. George Hotel Doorman
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Jeannel Phillips White
as Matthew's Kid
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Kamar Phillips White
as Matthew's Kid
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John Witherspoon
as Wild Rudy
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Jimmy Woodard
as Midnight Falcon
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Brandon Wright
as Matthew's Kid
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Gregory "Popeye" Alexander
as Midnight Falcon
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Christopher Bradley
as Theatre Security Man
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Lamont Johnson
as Bobby Cassanova
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Wayne "Crescendo" Ward
as Ebony Sparks
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Vincent J. Isaac
as Hitman
- Jaki Brown-Karman
- Virginia Watson
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John Canada Terrell
as Michael "Flash" Turner
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James Anderson
as Big Red's Guy
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Frank Fontaine
as Poker Player
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Carl Edwards
as Five Horseman

