Do you want to see ‘The Five Heartbeats’?

Add to Netflix

The Five Heartbeats (1991)

tomatometer

All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 4.7/10
Reviews Counted: 16
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 10

No consensus yet.

No Score Yet...

Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 2

audience

liked it
Average Rating: 4.2/5
User Ratings: 18,130

My Rating

Added to your Facebook Timeline. — undo

Movie Info

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

R, 2 hr. 2 min.

Musical & Performing Arts, Drama

Directed By: Robert Townsend

Written By: Keenen Ivory Wayans, Robert Townsend

In Theaters: Mar 29, 1991 Wide

On DVD: Jan 22, 2002

Cast

Robert Townsend
Duck
Michael Wright
Eddie
Leon
J.T.
Harry J. Lennix
Dresser
Tico Wells
Choirboy
Chuck Patterson
Jimmy Potter
Diahann Carroll
Eleanor Potter
The Nicholas Brothers
Ernest 'Sarge' Johnson
Hawthorne James
Big Red
Harold Nicholas
Sarge
Phyllis Applegate
Myra Stone
Fred Asparagus
Big Red's Guy
Don Barnes
Lester
Paul Benjamin
Mr. King
Troy Beyer
Baby Doll
Gigi Bolden
Crystal
Brian Bradley
Five Horseman
Carla Brothers
Tanya Sawyer
Shanel Cason
J.T.'s Little Girl
Shannon Chambers
Matthew's Kid
Marilyn Coleman
Mrs. King
Mike Conn
Five Horseman
Barry Diamond
Five Horseman
Norma Donaldson
Mrs. Sawyer
David Drummond
Policeman
O.L. Duke
Monroe
Craig Eisner
Jimmy's Doorman
Roy Fegan
Bird
Aaron J. Galang
Theatre Security Man
Joey Gaynor
Five Horseman
Eugene Robert Glazer
David Green
Randy Harris
Big Red's Guy
Tommy Redmond Hicks
Pastor Blake
Devin C. Huff
Matthew's Kid
Jimmy Jackson
Little Duck
Ron Jaxson
Ebony Sparks
Alexis Johnson
Little Girl
Anne-Marie Johnson
Sydney Todd
Arnold Johnson
Mr. Matthews
Deborah Lacey
Rose
Kasi Lemmons
Cookie
Lakisha Luke
Matthew's Kid
Monique Mannen
Sandra Tillman
Bob Mardis
Midnight Falcon
Bobby McGee
Leon
David McKnight
Pastor Stone
Regina McLeod
Jackie
Lisa Mende
Marcia Sayles
Kathleen Mitchell
Crystal
Harris Peet
Phil Shumway
John Pittman
Hitman
Theresa Randle
Brenda
Veronica Redd
Mrs. Matthews
Timmie Rogers
Buddy Lewis
Roger Rose
The Midnight Falcon
Griff Ruggles
Policeman
Al Simon
Big Red's Guy
Donnie Simpson
Himself
Ron Smith
Poker Player
Harry Stanback
Speakeasy Guy
Suzanne Suter
Crystal
Tressa Thomas
Duck's Baby Sister
Tommy Townsend
Matthew's Kid
Recoe Walker
Ebony Sparks
Tiffanique Webb
Speakeasy Girl
Joel Weiss
St. George Hotel Doorma...
Jeannel Phillips White
Matthew's Kid
Kamar Phillips White
Matthew's Kid
John Witherspoon
Wild Rudy
Jimmy Woodard
Midnight Falcon
Brandon Wright
Matthew's Kid
Gregory "Popeye" Alexande...
Midnight Falcon
Christopher Bradley
Theatre Security Man
Lamont Johnson
Bobby Cassanova
Wayne "Crescendo" Ward
Ebony Sparks
Vincent J. Isaac
Hitman
Jaki Brown-Karman
Virginia Watson
John Canada Terrell
Michael "Flash" Turner
James Anderson
Big Red's Guy
Frank Fontaine
Poker Player
Carl Edwards
Five Horseman

Critic Reviews for The Five Heartbeats

All Critics (23) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (6) | Rotten (10) | DVD (5)

The rise and fall of a flashy, fictional 1960s rock group.

February 22, 2011 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Renee Schonfeld

Common Sense Media

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.

February 5, 2006 Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com

| Comment

Scott Weinberg

DVDTalk.com

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.

October 19, 2004 Comment

Bob Bloom

Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

A once or future 'VH1 movie that rocks.'

March 1, 2002 Full Review Source: Film Freak Central

| Comment

Walter Chaw

Film Freak Central

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Five Heartbeats

View All

SOULFULLY delightful...see this the go to "Dreamgirls"... as a follow up...you will...float on a soulful cloud. See it!

September 23, 2008

Fascade Fiveoneeight

Super Reviewer

Well made, but it?s a little to predictable to be a great film. Great music, the period detail is fair. The performances are fine, perhaps a bit melodramatic, but overall everyone does well. Very entertaining and it always held my interest.

November 8, 2009

James Higgins

The Five Heartbeats Quotes

View All

No quotes approved yet for The Five Heartbeats. Logged in users can submit quotes.

Submit a Quote from 'The Five Heartbeats'

A quote can be a single line from one character or a memorable dialog between several characters. Please make your quotes accurate. Quotes will be submitted for approval by the RT staff.

Example:

Luke: Alright. I'll give it a try.
Yoda: No. Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.