The Five Heartbeats

The Five Heartbeats

121 mins | Drama, Music | March 29, 1991

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.

The Five Heartbeats

121 mins | Drama, Music | March 29, 1991

The Five Heartbeats
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.
IMDb rating 7.5
Producers 20th Century Fox
Original title The Five Heartbeats
Directors Robert Townsend
Writers Robert Townsend, Keenen Ivory Wayans

Cast

Robert Townsend

as Duck

Michael Wright

as Eddie

Leon

as J.T.

Harry Lennix

as Dresser

Tico Wells

as Choirboy

Diahann Carroll

as Eleanor Potter

Harold Nicholas

as Sarge

John Canada Terrell

as Michael 'Flash' Turner

Chuck Patterson

as Jimmy Potter

Hawthorne James

as Big Red

Roy Fegan

as Bird

Troy Byer

as Baby Doll

Carla Brothers

as Tanya Sawyer

Deborah Lacey

as Rose

Theresa Randle

as Brenda

John Witherspoon

as Wild Rudy

Bobby McGee

as Leon

O.L. Duke

as Monroe

Kasi Lemmons

as Cookie

Eugene Robert Glazer

as David Green

Timmie Rogers

as Buddy Lewis

Tommy Redmond Hicks

as Pastor Blake

Donnie Simpson

as Donnie Simpson

Norma Donaldson

as Mrs. Sawyer