The Five Heartbeats (1991)

The story of the rise and fall of an African American vocal group.

Director:

Robert Townsend

Writers:

Robert Townsend, Keenen Ivory Wayans

Stars:

Robert Townsend, Michael Wright, Leon

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Townsend	...	Duck
Michael Wright	...	Eddie
Leon	...	J.T.
Harry Lennix	...	Dresser
Tico Wells	...	Choirboy
Diahann Carroll	...	Eleanor Potter
Harold Nicholas	...	Sarge
Tressa Thomas	...	Duck's Baby Sister
John Canada Terrell	...	Michael 'Flash' Turner
Chuck Patterson	...	Jimmy Potter
Hawthorne James	...	Big Red
Roy Fegan	...	Bird
Troy Byer	...	Baby Doll (as Troy Beyer)
Carla Brothers	...	Tanya Sawyer
Deborah Lacey	...	Rose

Storyline

In the early 1960's, a quintet of hopeful young African American men form an amateur vocal group called The Five Heartbeats. After an initially rocky start, the group improve, turn pro, and rise to become a top flight music sensation. Along the way however, the guys learn many hard lessons about the reality of the music industry with it's casual racism and greed while the personal weaknesses of the members threaten to destroy the integrity of the band.

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Plot Keywords:

african american | rise and fall | 1960s | brother | drugs | 

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 March 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Los Heartbeats

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$8,750,400 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene where Big Red beats up and dangles a singer out of a window over royalties is alleged to have actually happened to Jackie Wilson.

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Goofs

In a concert scene dated 1972, Duck appears onstage playing a keytar (a portable combination of a keyboard and guitar). The keytar was first commercially introduced in 1980.

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Quotes

Eddie: Can't nobody sang like Eddie King Jr!

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Connections

References New American Bandstand 1965 (1952)

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Soundtracks

"Shake Me Wake Me (When It's Over)"
Written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier & Eddie Holland (as Edward Holland)
Performed by The Four Tops
Courtesy of Motown Record Company, L.P.

User Reviews

Popular but still BLACK!!! RE: July 2004

Only someone foolish or not of the African-American persuasion would say that black artists did not experience racism in the 60's, when black artist still experience racism today. And, the attempt to masquerade white artists while using black voices is not so outlandish. The recording industry, the music industry, and the marketing industry are three completely different animals. Music, recording, and marketing can be combined to create a synergy that is altogether real or on the other hand you have Milli-Vanilli. If it was done in the 90's I am quite sure it was practiced in earlier years. Everyone that is in business is in business to make money and while there is making music and recording music, it all boils down to money. Marketing - optimizing profits by directing sales toward the market that has the potential to generate the highest earnings. The ideal of a sell out was popularized with the advent of the Hip-hop culture, before that time it was about money and money only, not being accepted into a culture that lauded "KEEPING IT REAL".