The Five Heartbeats (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.
Director: Robert Townsend
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Robert Townsend as Duck |
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Michael Wright as Eddie |
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Leon as J.T. |
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Harry Lennix as Dresser |
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Tico Wells as Choirboy |
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Diahann Carroll as Eleanor Potter |
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Harold Nicholas as Sarge |
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John Canada Terrell as Michael 'Flash' Turner |
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Hawthorne James as Big Red |
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Roy Fegan as Bird |
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Troy Byer as Baby Doll |
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Carla Brothers as Tanya Sawyer |
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Deborah Lacey as Rose |
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Theresa Randle as Brenda |
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John Witherspoon as Wild Rudy |
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Bobby McGee as Leon |
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O.L. Duke as Monroe |
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Kasi Lemmons as Cookie |
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Eugene Robert Glazer as David Green |
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Timmie Rogers as Buddy Lewis |
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Tommy Redmond Hicks as Pastor Blake |
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Donnie Simpson as Donnie Simpson |
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Norma Donaldson as Mrs. Sawyer |
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Roger Rose as The Five Horsemen |
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James Anderson as Big Red's Guys |
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Arnold Johnson as Mr. Matthews |
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Monique Mannen as Sandra Tillman |
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Paul Benjamin as Mr. King |
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Phyllis Applegate as Myra Stone |
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David McKnight as Pastor Stone |
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Veronica Redd as Mrs. Matthews |
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Chuck Patterson as Jimmy Potter |
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Tressa Thomas as Duck's Baby Sister |
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John Pittman as Hitman |
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Tammy Townsend as Matthew's Kids |
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Bobby Mardis as The Midnight Falcons |
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Lamont Johnson as Bobby Cassanova |
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Marilyn Coleman as Mrs. King |
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Suzanne Suter as The Crystals |
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Gigi Bolden as The Crystals |
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Recoe Walker as The Ebony Sparks |
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Wayne 'Crescendo' Ward as The Ebony Sparks |
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Gregory 'Popeye' Alexander as The Midnight Falcons |
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Jimmy Woodard as The Midnight Falcons |
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Randy Harris as Big Red's Guys |
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Harry Stanback as Speakeasy Guy |
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Tiffanique Webb as Speakeasy Girl |
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Vincent J. Isaac as Hitman |
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Mayuto Correa as Dancer |
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Robin Ray Eller as Heartbeat Dancer (uncredited) |
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Coffee Wright as Mrs. king's friend (uncredited) |
| Directing | Robert Townsend | Director |
| Writing | Keenen Ivory Wayans | Writer |
| Writing | Robert Townsend | Writer |
| Costume & Make-Up | John Lemons | Costumer |
| Camera | Bill Dill | Director of Photography |
| Art | Susan Raney | Set Decoration |
| Sound | Stanley Clarke | Original Music Composer |
| Art | Wynn Thomas | Production Design |
| Costume & Make-Up | Ruth E. Carter | Costume Design |
| Art | Samara Hutman | Set Decoration |
| Production | Robert Townsend | Producer |
| Production | Loretha C. Jones | Producer |
| Crew | Harry Stanback | Security |
