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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.
MPAA Rating:
for language.
Genre(s):
Drama
Run Time:
122min.
Theatrical Release Date:
03/29/1991
DVD Release Date:
01/22/2002
Distributor(s):
20th Century Fox
Director(s):
Robert Townsend
Starring:
Robert Townsend , Michael Wright , Leon , Harry J. Lennix , Tico Wells
Themes:
Drug Addiction,Musician's Life,Rise and Fall Stories
Tone:
Bittersweet,Earnest,Nostalgic,Poignant,Sentimental,Wistful
Keywords:
behind-the-scenes,blues-music,choir,church,corruption,cross-cultural-relations,drugs,extramarital-affair,friendship,music-business,racism,rival,songwriter,stars [celebrities],talent-show
Country of Origin:
USA (03-29-1991)
Language:
English