The Five Heartbeats
Brief Synopsis
Five young friends are drawn together by music during the Motown era of the Sixties. Their dream of success takes them from amateur nights in ghetto clubs to the pinnacle of show business success and personal tragedy.
Cast & Crew
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Robert Townsend
Director
Robert Townsend
Michael Wright
Leon Robinson
Harry Lennix
Tico Wells
Film Details
Also Known As
Five Heartbeats, Heartbeats
MPAA Rating
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Music
Musical
Release Date
1991
Distribution Company
20th Century Fox Distribution
Location
New York City, New York, USA; Los Angeles, California, USA
Technical Specs
Duration
2h 1m
Synopsis
Five young friends are drawn together by music during the Motown era of the Sixties. Their dream of success takes them from amateur nights in ghetto clubs to the pinnacle of show business success and personal tragedy.
Director
Robert Townsend
Director
Cast
Robert Townsend
Michael Wright
Leon Robinson
Harry Lennix
Tico Wells
Diahann Carroll
Barry Diamond
Roger Rose
Timmie Rogers
Eugene Robert Glazer
Joey Gaynor
Deborah Lacey
Frank Fontaine
Aaron J Galang
Paul Benjamin
Jeff Kushon
Lead Person
Roy Fegan
Bob Mardis
Phyllis Applegate
James Carl Anderson
Suzanne Suter
Al Simon
Gregory Alexander
Shanel Cason
Shannon Chambers
Recoe Walker
Anne-marie Johnson
Gigi Bolden
Harold Nicholas
Kasi Lemmons
Troy Beyer
John Pittman
Freddie Asparagus
Marilyn Coleman
Harris Peet
Don Barnes
David Drummond
Jimmy Woodard
Kathleen Mitchell
Bobby Mcgee
Tiffanique Webb
Brandon Wright
Chris Bradley
Joel Weiss
Wayne Ward
Arnold Johnson
Jeannel Phillips White
Regina Mcleod
Craig Eisner
Carla Brothers
Chuck Patterson
Kamar Phillips White
Jimmy Jackson
Tammy Townsend
Griff Ruggles
Vincent J Isaac
Tressa Thomas
Michael Conn
Randy Harris
Devin C Huff
Carl Edwards
Ron Jaxson
O. L. Duke
Hawthorne James
Ron Smith
Donnie Simpson
Himself
Harry Stanback
Norma Donaldson
Alexis Johnson
Lakisha Luke
Brian Bradley
John Witherspoon
Tommy Hicks
Veronica Redd
John Canada Terrell
Monique Mannen
Lisa Mende
Theresa Randle
Donnie Simpson
Self
David Mcknight
Crew
Michael G Abrams
Casting Associate
Art Adams
Assistant Camera Operator
Brian Adams
Assistant Camera Operator
Aisha Ahmad
Song
Carl Aldana
Storyboard Artist
Rance Allan
Song
Steven Allen
Song
Thomas Allen
Song
Matthew Altman
Production Assistant
Kokayi Ampah
Location Manager
Kokayi Ampah
Associate Producer
D Austin
Song
Michael Baker
Song
Dasal Banks
Camera
Ted Basso
Driver
Greg Bauer
Driver
Glenn Bell
Post-Production Assistant
Thomas Bell
Song
Jason Belsky
Transportation Captain
Brian Bernstein
Assistant Camera Operator
Troy Beyer
Song Performer
Kai Blomberg
On-Set Dresser
Will Blount
Property Master
Kai Blumberg
On-Set Dresser
Sara Bolder
Dialogue Editor
Lynn Bopeley
Boom Operator
Chris Bradley
Stand-In
John Branagan
Stunts
Denita Brazier
Script Supervisor
Karl Brinson
Special Thanks To
Alonzo Brown
Stunts
Darin D Brown
Casting Associate
Effie T. Brown
Other
Jaki Brown-karman
Casting
David Brownlow
Sound Mixer
Findly Bunting
Assistant Camera Operator
Harold Burns
Stunts
Susan Cabral
Makeup
Yule Caise
Segment Director
Joseph W Calloway
Camera Operator
Christopher Carlson
On-Set Dresser
Phil Carr-forster
Camera Operator
Cecily Carrington
Other
John N Carter
Editor
Ruth Carter
Costume Designer
Huckleberry Caton
Boom Operator
Frank Claridge
Other
Tena Clark
Song
Stanley Clarke
Music
Richard Clarkson
Assistant Camera Operator
Terry Coffey
Song
Michelle Colbert
Electrician
Marsha Cole
Production Assistant
Cleo Conder-smith
Assistant
Bob K Cummings
Stunts
Gregg Dandridge
Stunts
Angela Dashielle
Wardrobe Assistant
Carole Lee Davis
Scenic Artist
Victor Davis
Extras Casting Assistant
Jennifer Dawson
On-Set Dresser
Louise Del Araujo
Driver
Mike Deluna
Stunts
Rodney Dennis
Craft Service
Leslie Dicker
Scenic Artist
Don Diers
Art Director
Bill Dill
Dp/Cinematographer
Bill Dill
Director Of Photography
Derrick Dowell
Special Thanks To
Merl Downs
Driver
Lamont Dozier
Song
George Duke
Song
George Duke
Music Producer
Gregory Eagles
Stunts
Wanda Earl
Assistant
Gregg Elam
Stunt Coordinator
Kirk A Elam
Stunts
Ousaun Elam
Stunts
Dan Engstrom
Assistant Sound Editor
William Engvick
Song
Frank Eulner
Assistant Sound Editor
C Josetta Evans
Extras Casting Assistant
Robert Eviangelisto
On-Set Dresser
Mia Farrell
Post-Production Assistant
Ken Fischer
Sound Effects Editor
Ken Fisher
Steadicam Operator
Wade Flemons
Song
Frank Fontaine
Hair Assistant
Warren Fox
Electrician
Antonio Franchi
Other
Beverlyn Fray
Production Assistant
Rob Fruchtman
Dialogue Editor
John Funches
Song
Aaron J Galang
Grip
Vincent Galindez
Assistant Camera Operator
D J Gardiner
Driver
Kirk Gardner
Steadicam Operator
Patricia Garling
Art Assistant
Wendy Gayner
Scenic Artist
Alan Gitlin
Assistant Camera Operator
Edgar Godineaux
Choreographer
Ramanee Goldsworth-higgs
Driver
Michael Gooch
Carpenter
J R Grubbs
Assistant Sound Editor
Diane Gutterud
Production Coordinator
Mark Gutterud
Assistant Camera Operator
Patricia Hacker
Special Thanks To
Lota Hairston-hadley
Production Assistant
Emil Clayton Hampton
Steadicam Operator
Dwayne Hargray
Extras Casting Assistant
Barbara Harris
Adr Voice Casting
Elisha Harris
Gaffer
Norman Harris
Song
Wendell Harris
Electrician
William Hart
Song
Demetrius Harvey
Song Performer
Chris Hayes
Camera Operator
Robbie Heine
Stand-In
Sharon Heyward
Special Thanks To
Tommy Hicks
Special Thanks To
Joanne Higgins
Post-Production Assistant
Mildred Hill
Song
Patty Hill
Song
Edward Hokenson
Song
Brian Holland
Song
Edward Holland
Song
Jennifer Holliday
Song
Jennifer Holliday
Song Performer
Cliff Howard
Stand-In
Mel Howard
Special Thanks To
Janie Hudson
Adr Mixer
Carol Hunt
Production Assistant
April Hunter
Costumes
James Hurd
On-Set Dresser
Graig Hutchison
Production Auditor
Sarah Hyde-hamlet
Casting Associate
Richard Hymns
Sound Editor
Jimmy Ienner
Special Thanks To
Nancy Israel
Production Manager
Nancy Israel
Coproducer
Darlene Jackson
Wardrobe Supervisor
Terry Jackson
Other
Donna Jaffe
Assistant Sound Editor
Frank James
Rigging Gaffer
Tim James
On-Set Dresser
Edith Jenkins
Scenic Artist
Arthur Johns
Hair Stylist
Cindy Johnson
On-Set Dresser
Darryl Johnson
Costumes
Jesse Johnson
Song
Jesse Johnson
Song Performer
Judy Johnson
Craft Service
Krister C Johnson
Driver
Stephanie Johnson
Electrician
Tom Johnson
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
K Jones
Song
Kipper Jones
Song
Kipper Jones
Song Performer
Loretha Jones
Producer
June Josef
Makeup Assistant
Marvin Junior
Song
Anton Kaprow
Carpenter
Kim Kassira
Song Performer
Stan Keitt
Assistant Camera Operator
Alfonse Kettner
Song
Neil Klindworth
Production Assistant
Erik Knight
Art Department Coordinator
Lucy Kwak
Other
Patti Labelle
Song Performer
Stacey Lande
Scenic Artist
Mary Helen Leasman
Foley Editor
Jerry Leitch
Driver
Timothy Leitch
Driver
Robert Leitelt
Grip
John K Lemons
Costumes
Irving Lewis
Stunts
Jim Lewis
Stunts
Keith Lewis
Song
Kojo Lewis
Location Manager
Ken Lindstrom
Assistant Editor
Cliff Lipson
Photography
Lalette Littlejohn
Makeup Assistant
David Mahaffey
Carpenter
Tony Mahalopolous
Driver
Willie Mann
Dolly Grip
Brad Marshall
Sound
Glenn Matayoshi
Props Assistant
Jonas C. Matz
Medic
John Mcclain
Special Thanks To
Rusty Mcclennon
Stunts
Rita Mcghee
Costumes
Morgan Mcguinnes
Driver
Malcolm Mclaren
Song
Regina Mcleod
Production Assistant
Chaz Merriam
Driver
Sandra Middleton
Assistant Director
Bobby Miller
Song
Juan Minaya
Song
Robyn Mitchell
Location Casting
Mike Moad
Dolly Grip
Marnie Moore
Foley Artist
Film Details
Also Known As
Five Heartbeats, Heartbeats
MPAA Rating
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Music
Musical
Release Date
1991
Distribution Company
20th Century Fox Distribution
Location
New York City, New York, USA; Los Angeles, California, USA
Technical Specs
Duration
2h 1m
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States 1991
Released in United States on Video September 12, 1991
Released in United States Spring March 29, 1991
Shown at American Film Market (AFM) in Santa Monica February 28 - March 8, 1991.
Began shooting March 19, 1990.
Completed shooting May 23, 1990.
Film noted "In loving memory of John Sherrod".
Film was a negative pickup for 20th Century Fox.
Released in United States 1991 (Shown at American Film Market (AFM) in Santa Monica February 28 - March 8, 1991.)
Released in United States Spring March 29, 1991
Released in United States on Video September 12, 1991
