The Five Heartbeats

1991 2h 1m EN

👍

7.3

SOLID

★7.3TMDB · 75

DramaMusic

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

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 improves, turns pro, and rises to become a top flight music sensation. Along the way, however, the guys learn many hard lessons about the reality of the music industry.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Robert Townsend
Duck
Michael Wright
Eddie
Leon
J.T.
Harry Lennix
Dresser
Tico Wells
Choirboy
Diahann Carroll
Eleanor Potter
Harold Nicholas
Sarge
John Canada Terrell
Michael 'Flash' Turner

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Robert Townsend
Writers: Keenen Ivory Wayans, Robert Townsend
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

ERA

Did you know

35 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Robert Townsend, shot by Bill Dill. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Stanley Clarke. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

CAST

Did you know

Robert Townsend and Michael Wright and Leon carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0101891 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

Only 75 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Robert Townsend directs. Bill Dill behind the camera. Stanley Clarke scores. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

135 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Robert Townsend, shot by Bill Dill. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Stanley Clarke. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Robert Townsend and Michael Wright and Leon carry the top of the cast.
5IMDB entry: tt0101891 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
6Only 75 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.