• Rating:
• Genre: Drama
• Movie Type: Showbiz Drama, Musical Drama
• Themes: Rise and Fall Stories, Musician's Life, Drug Addiction
• Director: Robert Townsend
• Main Cast: Robert Townsend, Michael Wright, Leon, Harry J. Lennix, Tico Wells
• Release Year: 1991
• Country: US
• Run Time: 122 minutes
• MPAA Rating: R

Plot

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 upward, the first rush of success, the dishonest record-company executives, the hard-nosed but nurturing managers, the sex, the drugs, the isolation and the precipitous downward slide. The film begins and ends in the 1990s, as the middle-aged "Duck" (Townsend) ruminates on the past and makes the best of the present. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast

• Robert Townsend - Duck
• Michael Wright - Eddie
• Leon - J.T.
• Harry J. Lennix - Dresser
• Tico Wells - Choirboy

Diahann Carroll - Eleanor Potter; Chuck Patterson - Jimmy 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 Doorman; 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" Alexander - 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

Credit

Christopher Young - Composer (Music Score); Kokayi Ampah - Producer; Ruth E. Carter - Costume Designer; Stanley Clarke - Composer (Music Score); Don Diers - Art Director; Nancy Israel - Co-producer; Loretha C. Jones - Producer; Michael Peters - Choreography; Samara Schaffer - Set Designer; Christina Schmidlin - Producer; Wynn P. Thomas - Production Designer; Robert Townsend - Director; Robert Townsend - Producer; Robert Townsend - Screenwriter; Keenen Ivory Wayans - Screenwriter; David Brownlow - Sound/Sound Designer; William Dill - Cinematographer; John Carter - Editor; Bill Dill - Cinematographer

Similar Movies

The Commitments; The Jacksons: An American Dream; Sparkle; What's Love Got to Do with It?; Flame; Grace of My Heart; That Thing You Do!; Why Do Fools Fall In Love; The Temptations; Introducing Dorothy Dandridge; Little Richard; My Boyfriend's Back; Elvis; Dreamgirls

• Artist: Movie Soundtrack
• Flags: Soundtrack
• Type: Soundtrack
• Rating:
• Styles: Pop-Soul, Film Music, Soundtracks
• Similar Albums: Duke of Earl: 23 Greatest Hits, Shakin' Fit!, Oh No Not My Baby: The Best of Maxine Brown, Hi Records Soul & R&B Years, Greatest Hits & Rare Classics, Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration, The Best of Glenn Jones, Billboard Top R&B Hits: 1974, Billboard Top R&B Hits: 1973, Mr. Excitement, The All Time Greatest Hits, Soul Survivors: The Best of Gladys Knight & the Pips 1973-1988, All for You, Soul'd Out

Review

The soundtrack of the 1991 Fox/Robert Townsend film about the travails of a fictional '60s soul music vocal group includes the hit ballad "A House Is Not a Home" performed by The Dells, whom Townsend consulted with on the film. Lead singer Marvin Junior, one of the most underrated voices in pop music, poignantly delivers the melancholy lyrics. After 7 had a Top 10 R&B smash with the smooth as silk "Nights Like This." There's plenty of retro touches on the album. "Baby Stop Running Around" has Temptations-ish James Jamerson-inspired bassline. The mid-tempo jam "In the Middle" sounds like The Spinners circa '70s. Patti Labelle intensely sings "We Haven't Finished Yet." Unfortunately, young Tressa Thomas' vibrant version from the film was not included on the CD. Rance Allen gives a sizzling performance on "I Feel Like Going On." The soundtrack makes a great companion to the movie, which is available from Fox Home Video. ~ Ed Hogan, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	iTunes	Composers	Performers	Time
A Heart Is a House for Love	...	Davitt Sigerson, Bob Thiele, Tristin Sigerson	The Dells, Vern Allison, Chuck Barksdale, John E. Carter, Marvin Junior, Michael McGill	(6:09)
We Haven't Finished Yet	...	Gary Prim, Tena Clark	Patti LaBelle, Tressa Thomas, Billy Valentine	(4:59)
Nights Like This	...	Jesse Johnson, Keith Lewis	After 7, Melvin Edmonds, Keith Mitchell, Kevon Edmonds	(4:04)
Bring Back the Days	...	Terry Coffey, John Nettlesby	U.S. Male	(4:39)
Baby Stop Running Around	...	Aisha Ahmad, Mike Baker		(3:09)
In the Middle	...			(3:20)
Nothing But Love	...	Doug Shawe, Mark Scola		(2:41)
Are You Ready for Me	...	Eddie Hokenson, Bruce Sudano		(3:07)
Stay in My Corner	...	Wade Flemons, Barrett Strong, Bobby Miller	The Dells	(6:11)
I Feel Like Going On	...	Rance Allen, Thomas Allen	L.A. Mass Choir, Baby Doll	(6:41)

Credits

The Dells (Performer), The Dells, Jesse Johnson (Producer), Patti LaBelle (Vocals), Patti LaBelle (Performer), George Duke (Arranger), George Duke (Vocals), George Duke (Producer), George Duke (Vocal Arrangement), George Duke (Remixing), David Hines (Engineer), David Hines (Mixing), After 7 (Performer), Kevin Fisher (Assistant Engineer), L.A. Mass Choir (Performer), Vern Allison (Performer), Vern Allison, Paul Arnold (Engineer), Paul Arnold (Mixing), Michael Baker (Vocals), Jeff Balding (Mixing), Chuck Barksdale, Kevin Becka (Assistant Engineer), John E. Carter (Performer), John E. Carter, Tena Clark (Producer), Terry Coffey (Producer), Melvin Edmonds (Performer), Melvin Edmonds, Brad Gilderman (Engineer), Ryan Greene (Engineer), Demetrius Harvey (Vocals), Marvin Junior (Performer), Marvin Junior, Michael McGill (Performer), Michael McGill, Gabriel Moffat (Assistant Engineer), Jon Nettlesbey (Producer), Dennis Parker (Engineer), Barney Perkins (Mixing), Jerry Peters (Producer), Darryl Phinnessee (Arranger), Darryl Phinnessee (Vocals), Darryl Phinnessee (Vocal Arrangement), David Schober (Engineer), David Schober (Mixing), Eddy Schreyer (Mastering), Jackie Smiley (Vocals), Tressa Thomas (Performer), Tressa Thomas, Steve Tyrell (Producer), Erik Zobler (Engineer), Erik Zobler (Remixing), Erik Zobler (Mixing), Michael Bosley (Mixing Assistant), Fred Kelly (Assistant Engineer), Chris Furman (Assistant Engineer), Bobby Miller (Producer), Greg McConnell (Assistant Engineer), Allan Nyerson (Mixing), Baby Doll (Performer), Kevon Edmonds (Performer), Bob Miller (Producer), U.S. Male (Performer), Jim Heimann (Design), Linda Carr (Production Coordination), John Nettlesby (Assistant Engineer), Howard Johnson (Producer), Michael O'Neill (Photography), Keith Michell (Performer), Keith Michell, Billy Valentine (Vocals), Billy Valentine (Performer), Billy Valentine

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)