The Five Heartbeats (1991)
Average Rating: 4.7/10
Reviews Counted: 16
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 10
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 2
liked it
Average Rating: 4.2/5
User Ratings: 18,624
My Rating
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
Mar 29, 1991 Wide
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 -
-
-
John Canada Terrell
Michael "Flash" Turner -
James Anderson
Big Red's Guy -
Frank Fontaine
Poker Player -
Carl Edwards
Five Horseman
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All Critics (23) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (6) | Rotten (10) | DVD (5)
The rise and fall of a flashy, fictional 1960s rock group.
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.
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.
A once or future 'VH1 movie that rocks.'
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