The Five Heartbeats (1991)
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- R
- 2h 1min
- Drama, Music
- 29 Mar 1991 (USA)
- Movie
The story of the rise and fall of an African American vocal group.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- 1 win & 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Robert Townsend | ... |
Duck
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| Michael Wright | ... |
Eddie
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| Leon | ... |
J.T.
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| Harry Lennix | ... |
Dresser
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Tico Wells | ... |
Choirboy
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| Diahann Carroll | ... |
Eleanor Potter
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| Harold Nicholas | ... |
Sarge
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| Tressa Thomas | ... |
Duck's Baby Sister
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John Canada Terrell | ... |
Michael 'Flash' Turner
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Chuck Patterson | ... |
Jimmy Potter
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| Hawthorne James | ... |
Big Red
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| Roy Fegan | ... |
Bird
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| Troy Byer | ... |
Baby Doll
(as Troy Beyer)
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Carla Brothers | ... |
Tanya Sawyer
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| Deborah Lacey | ... |
Rose
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| Theresa Randle | ... |
Brenda
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| John Witherspoon | ... |
Wild Rudy
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| Anne-Marie Johnson | ... |
Sydney Todd
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| Lisa Mende | ... |
Marcia Sayles
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| Bobby McGee | ... |
Leon
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Don Barnes | ... |
Lester
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| O.L. Duke | ... |
Monroe
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Lamont Johnson | ... |
Bobby Cassanova
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| Arnold Johnson | ... |
Mr. Matthews
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| Veronica Redd | ... |
Mrs. Matthews
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| David McKnight | ... |
Pastor Stone
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| Phyllis Applegate | ... |
Myra Stone
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| Paul Benjamin | ... |
Mr. King
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Marilyn Coleman | ... |
Mrs. King
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Norma Donaldson | ... |
Mrs. Sawyer
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| Harris Peet | ... |
Phil Shumway
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| Kasi Lemmons | ... |
Cookie
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| Monique Mannen | ... |
Sandra Tillman
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Suzanne Suter | ... |
The Crystals
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Gigi Bolden | ... |
The Crystals
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Kathleen Mitchell | ... |
The Crystals
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Ron Jaxon | ... |
The Ebony Sparks
(as Ron Jaxson)
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Recoe Walker | ... |
The Ebony Sparks
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| Wayne 'Crescendo' Ward | ... |
The Ebony Sparks
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Gregory 'Popeye' Alexander | ... |
The Midnight Falcons
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Bobby Mardis | ... |
The Midnight Falcons
(as Bob Mardis)
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Jimmy Woodard | ... |
The Midnight Falcons
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Brian Bradley | ... |
The Five Horsemen
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Michael Conn | ... |
The Five Horsemen
(as Mike Conn)
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| Barry Diamond | ... |
The Five Horsemen
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Carl Edwards | ... |
The Five Horsemen
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Joey Gaynor | ... |
The Five Horsemen
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| Roger Rose | ... |
The Five Horsemen
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James Anderson | ... |
Big Red's Guys
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Fred Asparagus | ... |
Big Red's Guys
(as Freddie Asparagus)
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Randy Harris | ... |
Big Red's Guys
(as Randy 'Roughhouse' Harris)
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Al Simon | ... |
Big Red's Guys
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| Tammy Townsend | ... |
Matthew's Kids
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Shannon Chambers | ... |
Matthew's Kids
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Devin C. Huff | ... |
Matthew's Kids
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Lakisha Luke | ... |
Matthew's Kids
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Jeannel Phillips White | ... |
Matthew's Kids
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Kamar Phillips White | ... |
Matthew's Kids
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Brandon Wright | ... |
Matthew's Kids
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Christopher Bradley | ... |
Theater Security
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Aaron J. Galang | ... |
Theater Security
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Harry Stanback | ... |
Speakeasy Guy
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Tiffanique Webb | ... |
Speakeasy Girl
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| Eugene Robert Glazer | ... |
David Green
(as Eugene Glazer)
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Timmie Rogers | ... |
Buddy Lewis
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| Sam Dobbins | ... |
Jimmy's Doorman
(as Craig Eisner)
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Tommy Redmond Hicks | ... |
Pastor Blake
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David Drummond | ... |
Policeman
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Griff Ruggles | ... |
Policeman
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| Joel Weiss | ... |
St. George Hotel Doorman
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Regina McLeod | ... |
Jackie
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Shanel Cason | ... |
J.T.'s Little Girl
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Jimmy Jackson | ... |
Little Duck
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Alexis Johnson | ... |
Little Girl
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| John Pittman | ... |
Hitman
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Vincent J. Isaac | ... |
Hitman
(as Vince Isaac)
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Ron Smith | ... |
Poker Player
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| Frank Fontaine | ... |
Poker Player
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| Donnie Simpson | ... |
Self
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Michelle Blackwell | ... |
Poster Girl (uncredited)
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Mayuto Correa | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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Robin Ray Eller | ... |
Heartbeat Dancer (uncredited)
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| Eddie Griffin | ... |
Ventriloquist (uncredited)
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| Reggie Luck | ... |
Passer By (uncredited)
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Michael Peters | ... |
(uncredited)
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| Lacy Darryl Phillips | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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| Gina Ravera | ... |
(uncredited)
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Coffee Wright | ... |
Mrs. king's friend (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Robert Townsend | ||
Written by
| Robert Townsend | ... | (written by) & |
| Keenen Ivory Wayans | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Kokayi Ampah | ... | associate producer |
| Loretha C. Jones | ... | producer |
| Christina Schmidlin | ... | associate producer |
| Robert Townsend | ... | producer |
Music by
| Stanley Clarke | ||
Cinematography by
| Bill Dill | ||
Editing by
| John Carter | ||
Editorial Department
| Glenn Bell | ... | post-production assistant |
| Mia Farrell | ... | post-production assistant |
| Joanne Higgins | ... | post-production assistant |
| Kevin Lindstrom | ... | assistant editor |
| Donald Rounds | ... | editorial production assistant |
| Rex Stewart | ... | assistant editor |
| Darrell Upshaw | ... | assistant editor |
Production Design by
| Wynn Thomas | ||
Art Direction by
| Don Diers | ||
Set Decoration by
| Susan Raney | ||
| Samara Schaffer | ||
Costume Design by
| Ruth E. Carter | ||
Makeup Department
| Susan A. Cabral | ... | makeup artist: Diahann Carroll |
| Frank Fontaine | ... | assistant hair stylist |
| Arthur Johns | ... | hair stylist for Diahann Carroll |
| June Josef | ... | assistant makeup artist |
| LaLette Littlejohn | ... | assistant makeup artist |
| Edna Sheen | ... | makeup artist (as Edna Mae Sheen) |
| Ronald W. Smith | ... | key hair stylist (as Ron Smith) |
| Laini Thompson | ... | key makeup artist |
Production Management
| Nancy Israel | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Sandra M. Middleton | ... | second assistant director |
| Joel Wang | ... | dga trainee |
| Richard A. Wells | ... | first assistant director |
Art Department
| Carl Aldana | ... | storyboard artist |
| Kai Blomberg | ... | set dresser (as Kai Blumberg) |
| Will Blount | ... | property master |
| Christopher Carlson | ... | key set dresser |
| Carol Lee Davis | ... | scenic artist |
| Jennifer Dawson | ... | on-set dresser |
| Leslie Sue Dicker | ... | scenic artist (as Leslie Dicker) |
| Robert Evangelisto | ... | set dresser: swing |
| Pat Garling | ... | assistant art director |
| Wendy Gayner | ... | scenic artist |
| Michael Gooch | ... | carpenter |
| James Hurd | ... | set dresser |
| Tim James | ... | set dresser: swing |
| Cindy Johnson | ... | buyer / set dresser |
| Anton Karprow | ... | carpenter |
| Erik Knight | ... | art department coordinator |
| Jeffrey Kushon | ... | lead person (as Jeff Kushon) |
| Stacy Lande | ... | scenic artist (as Stacey Lande) |
| Glenn Matayoshi | ... | property assistant |
| Roger Nall | ... | scenic artist |
| Brian Polk | ... | set dresser: extra swing |
| Michael Reinhart | ... | construction coordinator |
| Chris Santini | ... | carpenter |
| Karen Sorum | ... | scenic artist |
| Michael P. Sweeney | ... | set dresser (as Michael Sweeney) |
| Judith Wyle | ... | draftsperson |
| Kevin Taylor | ... | scenic painter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Sara Bolder | ... | dialogue editor |
| Lynn Bopeley | ... | boom operator |
| David Brownlow | ... | production sound mixer |
| Tom Caton | ... | boom operator (as Huckleberry Caton) |
| Dan Engstrom | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Frank E. Eulner | ... | assistant sound editor (as Frank Eulner) |
| Ken Fischer | ... | sound effects editor |
| Rob Fruchtman | ... | dialogue editor |
| J.R. Grubbs | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Jane Hudson | ... | adr typist |
| Richard Hymns | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Donna Jaffe | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Tom Johnson | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Mary Helen Leasman | ... | foley editor |
| Brad Marshall | ... | sound: video crew |
| Brad Marshland | ... | sound: video crew (as Brad Marshall) |
| Marnie Moore | ... | foley artist |
| Tom Myers | ... | foley recordist |
| Michael Silvers | ... | dialogue editor |
| Gary Summers | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Dennie Thorpe | ... | foley artist (as Dennis Thorpe) |
| Christina Tucker | ... | adr mixer (as Chris Tucker) |
| James Allen | ... | re-recordist (uncredited) |
| Tom Myers | ... | foley mixer (uncredited) |
Stunts
| John Branagan | ... | stunts |
| Alonzo Brown Jr. | ... | stunts |
| Harold Burns | ... | stunts |
| Bob K. Cummings | ... | stunts |
| Gregg Dandridge | ... | stunts |
| Mike De Luna | ... | stunts |
| Greg Wayne Elam | ... | additional stunt coordinator |
| Ousaun Elam | ... | stunts |
| Jimmy Lewis Jr. | ... | stunts |
| Irving E. Lewis | ... | stunts |
| Rusty McClennon | ... | stunts |
| Mark Orrison | ... | stunts |
| Rick Seaman | ... | stunts |
| John Sherrod | ... | stunt coordinator |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Art Adams | ... | additional second assistant camera |
| Brian Adams | ... | additional second assistant camera |
| Dasal Banks | ... | camera operator: video crew |
| Huston Beaumont | ... | grip |
| Brian Bernstein | ... | additional first assistant camera |
| Findlay Bunting | ... | additional first assistant camera |
| Joseph Calloway | ... | camera operator (as Joseph W. Calloway) |
| Philippe Carr-Forster | ... | additional camera operator |
| Richard Clarkson | ... | first assistant camera |
| Michelle Colbert | ... | electrician |
| Ken Fisher | ... | assistant steadicam operator |
| Warren Fox | ... | electrician |
| Aaron J. Galang | ... | grip |
| Vincent Galindez | ... | additional first assistant camera |
| Kirk R. Gardner | ... | steadicam operator |
| Alan Gitlin | ... | additional first assistant camera |
| Mark Gutterud | ... | additional first assistant camera |
| Emil Hampton | ... | assistant steadicam operator |
| Elisha Harris | ... | gaffer |
| Wendell Harris | ... | swing electrician |
| Chris Hayes | ... | additional camera operator |
| Franklyn B. James | ... | electrician (as Frank James) / rigging gaffer (as Frank James) |
| Stephanie F. Johnson | ... | electrician |
| Stan Keitt | ... | second assistant camera |
| Bob Leitelt | ... | grip |
| Cliff Lipson | ... | additional still photographer |
| Willie Mann | ... | best boy grip |
| Mike Moad | ... | dolly grip |
| Donald O'Hare | ... | video assist operator |
| Marie Pedersen | ... | first assistant camera |
| Les Percy | ... | key grip |
| Brian T. Pitts | ... | additional second assistant camera |
| Mark Rappaport | ... | grip |
| Eli Reed | ... | unit photographer |
| John Simmons | ... | additional camera operator |
| Adam Milo Smalley | ... | playback operator (as Adam Smalley) |
| Charles Smith | ... | grip |
| Kathina Szeto | ... | additional second assistant camera |
| Suzanne Tenner | ... | additional still photographer |
| Anthony Troy | ... | swing electrician |
| Joe Viles | ... | additional still photographer |
| O'Shana Walker | ... | best boy electric (as Oshanna Walker) |
| Riccardo Walker | ... | swing electrician |
| Philip Alan Waters | ... | additional camera operator (as Phil Waters) |
| Bob Witkowski | ... | additional still photographer |
| Thomas Yatsko | ... | additional first assistant camera (as Tom Yatsko) |
| Elizabeth Ziegler | ... | Steadicam operator |
Casting Department
| Michael G. Abrams | ... | casting associate: New York |
| Chemin Sylvia Bernard | ... | casting associate |
| Darin D. Brown | ... | casting assistant |
| Victor David | ... | extras casting assistant |
| C. Josetta Evans | ... | extras casting assistant |
| Sarah Hyde Hamlet | ... | additional casting associate: New York (as Sarah Hyde-Hamlet) |
| Dwayne Hargray | ... | extras casting assistant |
| Barbara Harris | ... | adr voice casting |
| Sharon D. King | ... | casting assistant |
| Robyn M. Mitchell | ... | casting assistant |
| Marti Reese | ... | extras casting assistant |
| Ima Sumac Rosario | ... | extras casting |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Darlene Jackson | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
| Darryle Johnson | ... | costumer |
| John Lemons | ... | costumer (as John K. Lemons) |
| Sharlene Williams | ... | costumer |
| Ceci | ... | assistant costume designer (uncredited) |
| April Hunter | ... | costumer (uncredited) |
Location Management
| Kokayi Ampah | ... | location manager |
| Kojo Lewis | ... | co-location manager |
| Pamela Poitier | ... | assistant location manager |
| Carlos Ramírez | ... | location assistant |
| Earl West | ... | assistant location manager |
| Martine White | ... | assistant location manager |
Music Department
| Terry Coffey | ... | composer: additional music |
| Jeff Marsh | ... | orchestrator |
| David Slusser | ... | music editor |
| Adam Milo Smalley | ... | music editor (as Adam Smalley) |
| Brad Gilderman | ... | music mixer (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Benita Brazier | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Ted Basso | ... | production van driver |
| Greg Bauer | ... | driver |
| Louise Del Araujo | ... | driver |
| D.J. Gardiner | ... | driver |
| Krister C. Johnson | ... | driver |
| Chaz Merriam | ... | driver |
| Griff Ruggles | ... | transportation coordinator |
| Danny Westerberg | ... | driver |
| Craig Williams | ... | driver |
| Terry York | ... | driver: honeywagon |
| Jason Belsky | ... | transportation captain (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| David L. Aaron | ... | title designer |
| Matthew R. Altman | ... | production assistant |
| Chris Bradley | ... | stand-in |
| Effie Brown | ... | intern |
| Yule Caise | ... | betacam director |
| Frank Claridge | ... | police |
| Marsha Cole | ... | production assistant |
| Cleo Conder-Smith | ... | executive assistant to Ms. Jones |
| The Dells | ... | technical advisors |
| Rodney Dennis | ... | craft service |
| Wanda Earl | ... | executive assistant to Mr. Townsend |
| Antonio Franchi | ... | fueler / mechanic |
| Beverlyn Fray | ... | production assistant |
| Edgar Godineaux | ... | assistant choreographer |
| Diane Gutterud | ... | production office coordinator |
| Lota Hairston-Hadley | ... | production assistant |
| Robert Heine | ... | stand-in |
| Cliff Howard | ... | stand-in |
| Carol Hunt | ... | production assistant |
| Graig Hutchison | ... | production auditor |
| Terry Jackson | ... | intern |
| Judy Johnson | ... | craft service |
| Neil Kundworth | ... | production assistant |
| Lucy Kwak | ... | intern |
| Jonas C. Matz | ... | medic |
| Regina McLeod | ... | production assistant |
| Sharon Park | ... | intern |
| Mathew Pearson | ... | intern |
| Brian Peterson | ... | graphics assistant |
| John Pitman | ... | stand-in |
| Harry Stanback | ... | security officer |
| Allison Stovall | ... | intern |
| Suzanne Suter | ... | director: vhs video |
| Dennis E. Tindall | ... | police |
| Lili Ungar | ... | publicist |
| Robert Wayne Vaupel | ... | assistant production office coordinator |
| Recoe Walker | ... | production assistant |
| Dee Watkins | ... | stand-in |
Thanks
| Solomon J. LeFlore | ... | special thanks |
| John Sherrod | ... | this film is dedicated in loving memory of |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Twentieth Century Fox (1991) (United States) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century Fox Film Company (1991) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- CBS/Fox Home Video (1991) (Australia) (video)
- Fox Video (Germany) (VHS)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (United States) (DVD)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- Alpha Video Distributors (2004) (United States) (DVD)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (United States) (DVD) (15th Anniversary Edition)
- Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- CBS/Fox (United States) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Elizabeth Bardsley & Associates (research)
- Skywalker Sound (POST PRODUCTION SOUND SERVICES PROVIDED BY)
- THX Sound System Theatre (RE-RECORDED IN A)
- Truck Brokers (logistics management)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
In the early 1960s, 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 its casual racism and greed, while the personal weaknesses of the members threaten to destroy the integrity of the band.
Written by Kenneth Chisholm |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $9,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The lives of several performing R&B groups and artists inspired this film: The Dells, The Temptations, Frankie Lymon and Sam Cooke according to Robert Townsend in a Mademe Noir Interview. Townsend says the crux of the story was based on the breakup of the Temptations which was an event he took personally. See more » |
| Goofs | When Eddie is being chased from the alley he jumps out into the main road in front of a 1969 Firebird when the film is set in 1965. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Marrying Man/Career Opportunities/The Five Heartbeats/The Object of Beauty/Daddy Nostalgia (1991). See more » |
| Soundtracks | I've Never Felt This Good See more » |
| Quotes |
Sarge:
Hold my cane. Step outside & I'll kick both of ya's ass like you stole something! See more » |