The Five Heartbeats

1991
R
2h 1m

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

YOUR RATING

Harry Lennix, Leon, Robert Townsend, Tico Wells, and Michael Wright in The Five Heartbeats (1991)

Play trailer1:26

2 Videos

20 Photos

Drama Music

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

Director
- Robert Townsend
Writers
- Robert Townsend
- Keenen Ivory Wayans
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

YOUR RATING

Director
- Robert Townsend
Writers
- Robert Townsend
- Keenen Ivory Wayans
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination total

Videos2

Trailer 1:26

The Five Heartbeats

Clip 1:14

Essential Black Films of the 1990s

Clip 1:14

Essential Black Films of the 1990s

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Storyline

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Did you know

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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.

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.

Quotes
Sarge: Hold my cane. Step outside & I'll kick both of ya's ass like you stole something!

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Marrying Man/Career Opportunities/The Five Heartbeats/The Object of Beauty/Daddy Nostalgia (1991)

Soundtracks
I've Never Felt This Good
Written and Produced by Tena Clark
Lead Vocals by Kim Kassira

Greatest African American i've seen!

I have the DVD of this movie and it is moving. It shows all races black and white that if you want something to keep working toward it and never give up. This movie really touched me and gave me a new outlook on my life and the things that i do. Where are the great writers like the ones who wrote this story? We need to be giving them all of the credit and praise because they are the ones who believed that the world should see how black music began and evolved into what is the most dominant music in America. We have had problems over the years with the really bad music and the really great music. This shows that black people lots of talent and much more charisma and can truly ACT.