The Five Heartbeats

Infobox Film | name = The Five Heartbeats


writer = Robert Townsend
Keenan Ivory Wayans [http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/11969/plot.jhtml]
starring = Robert Townsend
Michael Wright
Leon Robinson
Harry J. Lennix
Tico Wells
Harold Nicholas
Diahann Carroll [http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/11969/castcrew.jhtml]
director = Robert Townsend [http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/11969/castcrew.jhtml]
producer = Christina Schmidlin
Robert Townsend
Kokayi Ampah
Loretha C. Jones [http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/11969/details.jhtml]
distributor = 20th Century Fox [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101891/]
released = January 1, 1991 (U.S.) [http://search.ew.com/EWSearch/ew/search/search.html?search=the+five+heartbeats&x=0&y=0/]
runtime = 122 min.
language = English [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101891/]
choreography = Michael Peters [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/dvd/5948151/review/5948152/]
budget =
music = Stanley Clarke [http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/11969/castcrew.jhtml]
amg_id = 1:17660
imdb_id = 0101891

"The Five Heartbeats" is a drama/musical film written and directed by Robert Townsend along with Keenan Ivory Wayans and distributed by 20th Century Fox, the films main cast includes Robert Townsend, Michael Wright, Leon Robinson, Harry J. Lennix, Tico Wells, Harold Nicholas of the Nicholas Brothers, and Diahann Carroll. [http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/11969/castcrew.jhtml] The plot of the film (which is loosely based on the lives of several artists; The Dells, The Temptations, Frankie Lymon, Sam Cooke and others) [http://movies.msn.com/movies/movie/the-five-heartbeats/?pkw=PI&vendor=Paid%20Inclusion&OCID=iSEMPI] follows the three decade career of the fictional band The Five Heartbeats. The film depicts the rise and fall of a Motown inspired soul acts through the eyes of the film's main protagonist Donald "Duck" Matthews (portrayed by Robert Townsend), who serves as a narrator [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/five_heartbeats/?name_order=asc#] throughout the film although a majority of the cinema is presented in a consecutive time line as opposed to traditional flash backs. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/thefiveheartbeatsrhinson_a0a9e7.htm]

Due to the fact the movie predominantly features the fictional musical quartet The Five Heartbeats, the film's content includes a significant amount of original music conceived by various artists for the film's soundtrack which includes singles such as "A Heart Is a House for Love", "We Haven't Finished Yet", and "Nothing But Love" (which serves as the main protagonists' signature song in the film). A soundtrack was released on June 29, 1992, a year after the films initial release, [http://entertainment.circuitcity.com/Music/Album.aspx?prodid=VIR86208.2&si=ccity-prod&store=Music] with additional songs including both songs from the film and others recorded after it's release . [http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,86336,00.html]

The film was released to most North American audiences January 1, 1991 [http://search.ew.com/EWSearch/ew/search/search.html?search=the+five+heartbeats&x=0&y=0] however it was not made available to audiences in other continents until 2002 when a DVD was released prior to another DVD release in 2006 for the film's 15th anniversary. [http://www.answers.com/topic/the-five-heartbeats] The movie received mixed reviews from critics. [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/five_heartbeats/?name_order=asc#mo] [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19910329/REVIEWS/103290301/1023] The film performed modestly on its opening weekend at the box office grossing $1,630,689 it's first week in a total of 862 theaters, in total the film made between 8,431,000 [http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/11969/details.jhtml] and 8,750,400 [http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=fiveheartbeats.htm] US dollars which can be considered a moderate success due to the movie's significantly lower budget.

Plot

The movie begins in the 1980's as Donald "Duck" Matthews browses through a "Rolling Stone" magazine conveniently noticing an article questioning the recent exploits of The Five Heartbeats, The Temptations, and The Four Tops and why the groups disbanded. [http://books.google.com/books?id=5YWgxVkJmT4C&pg=PA220&dq=the+five+heartbeats&lr=&sig=ACfU3U0Nl-quxN9UYyRjd5Q6i_fBRfUcNw#PPA220,M1] This leads to a flashback which features the entire plot. Donald Matthews, Anthony "Choirboy" Stone (whose father is a minister), and Terrence "Dresser" Williams are preparing to perform at an on stage music contest however they are forced to prepare to sing both their vocals and those of other members since J.T. is upstairs being intimate with his girlfriend and Eddie King, Jr and Bobby, the lead singers, are absent from the area. (Duck is originally the group's piano player.) Meanwhile Bobby and Eddie King, Jr. make their first on screen appearance. They are found cheating while gambling and the two are forced to abandon the game in order to run from what could otherwise be their demise, Bobby is shot in the leg while running. However, Eddie is able to make it just in time to perform along with the other Heartbeats. While Bobby survived the adventure, he is no longer shown throughout the movie. Donald Matthews replaces him after becoming an active member of the group.

The group ultimately loses the contest to Flash and the Ebony Sparks but they manage to please the crowd and are noticed by music producer Jimmy Potter. [http://books.google.com/books?id=5YWgxVkJmT4C&pg=PA220&dq=the+five+heartbeats&lr=&sig=ACfU3U0Nl-quxN9UYyRjd5Q6i_fBRfUcNw#PPA220,M1] Jimmy becomes the groups new manager and brings in Ernest "Sarge" Johnson as the group's choreographer. After vigorous dance training Sarge and Jimmy are confident the Heartbeats are ready to perform in a much larger music competition. Bird witnesses the Heartbeats rehearsing their routine and despite the pessimistic comments of the various members of his band (Bird and The Midnight Falcons) Turner directs the group's girlfriends to boo the Heartbeats while they perform and cheer on The Midnight Falcons. Additionally the announcer at the stadium introduces a new rule to The Heartbeats forcing them to play with a piano player they are unfamiliar with. To further hinder the group's success the announcer misleads the audience to dislike the group even more falsely stating they had compared themselves to other soul acts (including the Falcons and The Temptations) and believed themselves to be better than the other groups combined. [http://books.google.com/books?id=Ogs6dQaSEZQC&pg=PA19&dq=robert+townsend+the+five+heartbeats&lr=&sig=ACfU3U2q69rr4t2j-1w1F0QjadtH-idxDw#PPA19,M1]

The Heartbeats then perform "A Heart Is a House for Love," which would later become a hit song after the films release. Subsequent to Jimmy and Sarge's unsuccessful attempts to reach the piano Duck grows frustrated with the house piano player's butchering of the music and throws him offstage, taking over the piano and revamping the performance. Eddie leads the group in a rousing acappella number which results in Bird's girlfriend fainting in Eddie's arms. Also watching in the audience is Flash, the leader of the Ebony Sparks. This performance leads to winning with a standing ovation and the interest of Big Red, who owns Big Red Records. [http://books.google.com/books?id=Ogs6dQaSEZQC&pg=PA19&dq=robert+townsend+the+five+heartbeats&lr=&sig=ACfU3U2q69rr4t2j-1w1F0QjadtH-idxDw#PPA19,M1] Big Red is impressed by their prior performance and offers them a deal however Jimmy and his wife Eleanor (aware of Big Red's corrupt operations) decline it. The group along with the Potters go in search for a record company they can trust however the only other ones that will sing them are predominately Caucasian operated and will only allow their songs to be conceived if first covered by a white group giving the Heartbeats only minor song writing credit. Ultimately they decide to sign with Big Red.

Throughout this era (mid to late 1960's) The Five Heartbeats are very successful, receiving numerous awards, charting several hits, and being featured on national magazine covers. However, when Eddie begins to abuse alcohol and cocaine, [http://books.google.com/books?id=5YWgxVkJmT4C&pg=PA220&dq=the+five+heartbeats&lr=&sig=ACfU3U0Nl-quxN9UYyRjd5Q6i_fBRfUcNw] leading him to miss rehearsals and various performances, other Heartbeats are required to sing his part. [http://books.google.com/books?id=Ogs6dQaSEZQC&pg=PA19&dq=robert+townsend+the+five+heartbeats&lr=&sig=ACfU3U2q69rr4t2j-1w1F0QjadtH-idxDw#PPA19,M1] This leads Eddie to become very paranoid and even attempt to blackmail the other Heartbeats and Jimmy using his affiliation with Big Red. After Jimmy threatens to go to authorities with information that could have Big Red arrested for his corruption Red has Jimmy killed. Additionally, Red attends the funeral and attempts to woo Eleanor. Bird and The Heartbeats (excluding Eddie) testify against Big Red and convict him for the murder. Eddie also receives an equal amount of blame but because he claims he was not the one driving the truck that intentionally hit Jimmy he never goes to court. The Heartbeats go on to perform with Flash, their old rival, singing lead. [http://books.google.com/books?id=Ogs6dQaSEZQC&pg=PA19&dq=robert+townsend+the+five+heartbeats&lr=&sig=ACfU3U2q69rr4t2j-1w1F0QjadtH-idxDw#PPA19,M1]

Throughout the post-Eddie era the Heartbeats score their most successful hit leading to them receiving an award, however after Duck discovers his brother J.T. is having an affair with his fiancee', Duck leaves the group. Shortly after the group disbands, Eddie (having given up drugs and alcohol and becoming a church member in Choir Boy's congregation) is forgiven by the group, and the Matthews brothers finally forgive each other. In the final scene (ending in the 80's where the film begins) Flash has made a successful transition from doo wop music to pop (as many R&B artists attempted in the 80's), The Heartbeats however are disappointed by the music at the time and aspire to show they're new found families how they performed at the peak of their career. At first Eddie declines to join the other Heartbeats but Eleanor Potter finally coming to terms with her husband's death forgives Eddie.

Cast and Characters

The Five Heartbeats

In the film, The Five Heartbeats are a popular doo-wop quintet [http://www.fakebands.com/fakeband_f.html] founded by members Duck and J.T Matthews, Eddie King, Jr., Choir Boy Stone, and Dresser Williams. The film follows their fictional career and personal ordeals over the decades. [http://books.google.com/books?id=Ogs6dQaSEZQC&pg=PA19&dq=robert+townsend+the+five+heartbeats&lr=&sig=ACfU3U2q69rr4t2j-1w1F0QjadtH-idxDw#PPA19,M1]

Lamont Johnson as Bobby Cassanova: [http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/11969/castcrew.jhtml] Bobby and Eddie are originally co-lead singers of the group. Bobby is only seen in the movie's opening scenes when he and Eddie are running after being caught cheating at a high stakes poker game. Bobby gets shot in the leg while running and does not perform with the group in any part of the movie. Duck becomes an active member of the group, thus replacing him.

Robert Townsend [http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/11969/castcrew.jhtml] as Donald "Duck" Matthews: [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101891/] Robert Townsend's character along with the character's brother (J.T Matthews) originally hail from a poor background shown sharing their room with almost ten other individuals in one scene. One of the film's main protagonists, Duck serves as The Five Heartbeats' co-founder, brother of fellow Heartbeat's member J.T Matthews, and originally was only the composer and musician for the group. He is a permanent vocalist after group member Bobby disappears from the plotline. He takes his composing very seriously, as can be seen when he shoves a piano player off stage during a Heartbeat performance. Duck is depicted to be very shy and usually unsuccessful when attempting to maintain a relationship. He's devoted to the other members of the fictional quintet and is usually forgiving in instances where he is betrayed by various members (such as when J.T. is supposed to introduce a girl to Duck but introduces himself instead). He serves as the movie's narrator, with the film beginning as he reminisces about the group's entire career when looking at a "Rolling Stone" article featuring The Heartbeats as well as The Temptations and The Four Tops that questions their recent exploits and why the groups disbanded in the first place. The rest of the movie is told as one long flashback until the story returns to present day. [http://books.google.com/books?id=5YWgxVkJmT4C&pg=PA220&dq=the+five+heartbeats&lr=&sig=ACfU3U0Nl-quxN9UYyRjd5Q6i_fBRfUcNw]

Michael Wright [http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/11969/castcrew.jhtml] as Eddie King, Jr. : [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101891/] Eddie comes from an area that features predominantly poor individuals, his own father believing his attempts to start a career in the music industry will be unsuccessful once claims "You'll never be shit cause I ain't shit" he also states within the same conversation "I just want him [Eddie] to be better than me." Similar to David Ruffin,Eddie is the lead vocalist of the band and falls into a life of drugs that eventually leads to his expulsion from the group as well as emotional trauma from various members of the band. In the film Eddie King Jr. is one of the founding members of The Heartbeats and serves as the crowd pleaser who's voice leads to success in many of their performances. This gives him a high level of confidence to the point he becomes arrogant believing even without the other members of the group he'd still be successful. After missing various rehearsals and not showing up for performances [http://books.google.com/books?id=5YWgxVkJmT4C&pg=PA220&dq=the+five+heartbeats&lr=&sig=ACfU3U0Nl-quxN9UYyRjd5Q6i_fBRfUcNw#PPA220,M1] the group rotates lead singing responsibilities. b [http://books.google.com/books?id=Ogs6dQaSEZQC&pg=PA19&dq=robert+townsend+the+five+heartbeats&lr=&sig=ACfU3U2q69rr4t2j-1w1F0QjadtH-idxDw#PPA19,M1] , Eddie is reluctant to leave and tries to use his affiliation with Big Red to attempt to buy out the group's manager, Jimmy Potter. This inadvertantly leads to Jimmy's death and Eddie's being replaced with Michael "Flash" Turner, of Flash and the Ebony Sparks. Eddie falls into a life of destitution before finding his way to Christianity. He then becomes sober and joins the church choir that Choirboy directs at his father's church. Eventually the group and Jimmy's wife Eleanor forgive him for his role in Jimmy's death.

Leon Robinson [http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/11969/castcrew.jhtml] as J.T Matthews: [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101891/] The character referred to in the movie only by the nickname J.T. is the older brother of Duck Matthews. The character is depicted to be sexually vigorous and his brother once states that J.T should seek "rehabilitation" in order to control his urges. He often loses interest with women after having slept with them, this becomes so common throughout the film he describes it as a disease. Following Eddie's departure from the band and Flash becoming The Heartbeats' new lead singer J.T. begins to believe his contributions to the group are not appreciated by the audience and improvises his vocals during one performance stealing the spotlight from Flash. J.T and Duck have disputes throughout the film usually involving the theft of petty items such as tooth brushes (one argument was the inspiration for a staged brawl during a performance). However J.T. has an affair with Duck's fiancee' (which she planned to end, choosing Duck over J.T.), which resulted in Duck leaving the group. Years later the brothers reconcile.

Tico Wells [http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/11969/castcrew.jhtml] as Anthony "Choirboy" Stone: [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101891/] Featured much less commonly than the other members of the other group, Stone is arguably the youngest member of The Heartbeats. Often criticized by his peers due to his small demeanor, high pitched vocals, and background, Stone is given the nick name "Choirboy" (much to his offense) for his past as a choirboy in his father's church. Similar to Eddie, Stone's father does not support his decision to become a music artist fearing rock and jazz are music of the devil [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19910329/REVIEWS/103290301/1023] believing Wells should remain at the church and become a priest. However Choirboy contradicts his father's advice stating that "God gave [him] [his] voice" and goes on tour with The Heartbeats after their first single is released. He appears with the band in all their performances as the falsetto singer. After the group disbands, he returns home and resumes his place as the choir director of his father's church. He helps Eddie get over his drug addiction and is the first Heartbeat to forgive Eddie for Jimmy's murder. Duck jokingly states in the final scene "I wasn't the worst dancer. Choirboy was."

John Canada Terrell as Flash: [http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/11969/castcrew.jhtml] Michael "Flash" Turner is the lead singer of Flash and the Ebony Sparks, the Heartbeats' only competition they haven't managed to defeat. When Eddie goes into a downward spiral, Flash is brought in as the new lead singer. Since he's also a ladies' man, this leaves J.T. feeling out of sorts and J.T. upstages Flash at a performance, serenading a woman until she faints. The group has high commercial success with Flash at the helm until at an awards ceremony he thanks the Heartbeats for the career boost and announces that he will be going solo, releasing an album within the next month.

Harry J. Lennix [http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/11969/castcrew.jhtml] as Terrence "Dresser" Williams: [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101891/] The original choreographer of The Heartbeats, Dresser also serves as the groups bass singer and one of the founding members. He is replaced by Ernest "Sarge" Johnson as the choreographer after Sarge proves he's more qualified by out-dancing Dresser. He is the least forgiving of Eddie's role in his Jimmy Potter's murder and he along with Eleanor Potter holds his grudge against Eddie until the end of the film.

Other Characters

Hawthorne James as Big Red Davis: The owner of the first record label The Five Heartbeats are signed to, Big Red serves as the films main antagonist. Davis is affiliated with the Potter family before the film begins though the exact details of their prior meetings are never revealed. Eddie King, Jr. attempts to rejoin The Heartbeats by black mailing the Potters and the other members of the band, but when Jimmy Potter attempts to report Big Red's corruption to authorities Davis has Potter killed. Davis is later shown attempting to woo Potter's wife who is shown to have affection for throughout the film at Jimmy Potter's funeral. Subsequent to this event Big Red is arrested and convicted of organizing Potter's assassination due to the testimony of The Heartbeats including Bird, who he had his men dangle out a window when he asked about his royalties. [http://books.google.com/books?id=Ogs6dQaSEZQC&pg=PA19&dq=robert+townsend+the+five+heartbeats&lr=&sig=ACfU3U2q69rr4t2j-1w1F0QjadtH-idxDw#PPA19,M1]

Chuck Patterson as Jimmy Potter: [http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/11969/castcrew.jhtml] The Heartbeat's manager, Jimmy is responsible for giving the group the opportunity to perform at more publicized events and receive training from Ernest "Sarge" Johnson. He replaces Eddie King, Jr. after he was late for various rehearsals and performances so Big Red attempts to black mail Potter and then to buy him out. Potter declines threatening to present evidence of Big Red's corruption to authorities. Jimmy's's death is orchestrated by Big Red. [http://books.google.com/books?id=Ogs6dQaSEZQC&pg=PA19&dq=robert+townsend+the+five+heartbeats&lr=&sig=ACfU3U2q69rr4t2j-1w1F0QjadtH-idxDw#PPA19,M1]

Diahann Carole as Eleanor Potter: [http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/11969/castcrew.jhtml] Jimmy Potter's wife, Eleanor along with her husband are the original supporters of The Five Heartbeats. She dislikes Big Red from the start of the film and is most distraught when Jimmy Potter is killed, however she forgives Eddie King, Jr. for his role in the murder at the end of the film.

Roy Fegan [http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/11969/castcrew.jhtml] as Bird: [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101891/] Originally the antagonist of the film, Bird is known as the lead singer of Bird and The Midnight Falcons. Early in the film the character attempts to defeat The Five Heartbeats in a vocal contest by organizing a group of females to boo The Heartbeats and cheer the Falcons. Later on in the film Bird is beaten up and dangled over a window by Big Red's men after asking about his royalties. After Big Red orchestrates the murder of Jimmy Potter (The Heartbeat's manager) Bird joins members of the Heartbeats in testifying against Red and helps to convict him of the murder. [http://books.google.com/books?id=Ogs6dQaSEZQC&pg=PA19&dq=robert+townsend+the+five+heartbeats&lr=&sig=ACfU3U2q69rr4t2j-1w1F0QjadtH-idxDw#PPA19,M1]

Harold Nicholas of Harold and Fayard Nicholas as Ernest "Sarge" Johnson: [http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/11969/castcrew.jhtml] Johnson is The Five Heartbeat's choreographer. His role is small but it's indicated he choreographs all the dance moves for the group. Sarge is last seen in the hospital on his birthday. He (who makes a significant transition and his age between his different appearances in the film) asks for a cigarette. Though there is no funeral he is never mentioned again.

Troy Beyer as Baby Doll: [http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/11969/castcrew.jhtml] Eddie's girlfriend, also a singer, who leaves Eddie after he begins to abuse drugs and alcohol. She later reprises her role and they are shown singing together in a choir with Anthony Stone as their director.

Other Bands

Bird and The Midnight Falcons portrayed by actors Roy Fegan, Gregory Alexander, Roger Rose, Jimmy Woodland: [http://books.google.com/books?id=Ogs6dQaSEZQC&pg=PA19&dq=robert+townsend+the+five+heartbeats&lr=&sig=ACfU3U2q69rr4t2j-1w1F0QjadtH-idxDw#PPA19,M1] The group The Five Heartbeats compete against their fellow Big Red label mates in their second onscreen performance. The Midnight Falcons attempt to cheat by ordering their girlfriends to deliberately cheer against The Heartbeats and cheer for the Falcons, additionally the announcer misleads the rest of the audience to do the same by falsely stating the Heartbeats made numerous arrogant claims. [http://books.google.com/books?id=Ogs6dQaSEZQC&pg=PA19&dq=robert+townsend+the+five+heartbeats&lr=&sig=ACfU3U2q69rr4t2j-1w1F0QjadtH-idxDw#PPA19,M1]

Flash and the Ebony Sparks portrayed by John Canada Terrell, Ron Jackson, Recoe Walker and Wayne "Crescendo" Ward: [http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/11969/castcrew.jhtml] This is the group that seems to win all the competitions the Heartbeats enter. The frontman (Flash) later becomes the lead singer for the Five Heartbeats when Eddie is forced out of the group due to his drug use.

Production

After writing (along with Keenan Ivory Wayans), producing, directing, and starring in his previous film Hollywood Shuffle, Robert Townsend had gained a near cult status with independent filmmakers due to his dedication to the past film which caused him to max out all his credit cards and spend nearly $100,000 of his own money raised through savings and various acting jobs in order to produce the film. When writing Townsend's first feature length film, The Five Heartbeats, Townsend and Keenan Wayans kept comedy an important aspect of the film, but ventured to explore complex characters in a more dramatic way. [http://books.google.com/books?id=5YWgxVkJmT4C&pg=PA220&dq=the+five+heartbeats&lr=&sig=ACfU3U0Nl-quxN9UYyRjd5Q6i_fBRfUcNw#PPA220,M1] After extensive research with R&B singing group The Dells, who are renown for there four decade career, Townsend used his film to depict a similar story following three friend's who aspire to become musicians. [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/five_heartbeats/#] Due to the setting of the film Townsend was capable of tying in other elements such as race relations as well. [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/five_heartbeats/#] Due to the movie's budget Townsend used little known actors of the time, with the exceptions of Leon Robinson, Diahann Carroll and Harold Nicholas of The Nicholas Brothers. [http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/11969/castcrew.jhtml]

'Heartbeats of America'

To promote the film Townsend along with other actors who portrayed the fictional musical quartet The Five Heartbeats (Leon Robinson, Michael Wright, Harry J. Lennix, and Tico Wells) performed with real life Soul/R&B band The Dells (one of the many groups that inspired the movie) in a concert prior to the film's released. Similar to the movie's musical performances The Dells sang the vocals and recorded mix tapes the actors lip synced. [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,313030,00.html]

oundtrack

Infobox Album |
Name = The Five Heartbeats
(Music from the Motion Picture)
Type = Soundtrack
Artist = Various Artists


Released = April 2, 1991
Recorded =
Genre = Pop and Soul music
Length =
Label = Capitol [http://www.allmusicguide.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jnfqxqe5ldke] [http://www.answers.com/topic/the-five-heartbeats]
Producer =
Reviews = All Music Guide 3/5 [http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,86336,00.html] A soundtrack for the film was released by Virgin Records featuring original music from both the film and those recorded by various artists (most predominately the Dells) for the soundtrack. Both "Nights Likes This" and "A Heart Is a House for Love" went on to become top 20 hits on the Hot Black Singles section of the US Billboard music charts. [http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,86336,00.html] The entire album is described in an inuniverse tense, crediting the songs to fictional characters in the film as opposed to the actual vocalists.
#A Heart Is a House for Love - The Dells
#We Haven't Finished Yet - Patti LaBelle, Tressa Thomas, Billy Valentine
#Nights Like This - After 7
#Bring Back the Days - Uncredited Vocalist
#Baby Stop Running Around - Uncredited Vocalist
#In the Middle - The Spinners
#Nothing But Love - The Dells with Billy Valentine
#Are You Ready for Me - Uncredited Vocalist
#Stay in My Corner - The Dells
#I Feel Like Going On - Rance Allen [http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,86336,00.html] [http://www.allmusicguide.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jnfqxqe5ldke]

Reception

The film grossed approximately $8,500,000 [http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=fiveheartbeats.htm] [http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/11969/details.jhtml] after being released in 862 theaters throughout North America, however despite the film's moderate success it was not well received by a majority of critics. [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/five_heartbeats/?name_order=asc#] On Rotten Tomatoes "The Five Heartbeats" accumulated an average of %46 positive reviews, although only 13 reviews where counted (6 of which where positive, the remaining seven negative). [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/five_heartbeats/?name_order=asc#] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times describes the movie as "Townsend's first traditional feature film; his directorial debut, some four years ago, was Hollywood Shuffle, a series of comic sketches that parodied the cliched ways Hollywood has used black characters in the movies. Most of those sketches were under 10 minutes; this time, at feature length, Townsend shows a real talent, and, not surprisingly, an ability to avoid most cliches, to go for the human truth in his characters. Townsend tells their [the members of the Five Heartbeat's] stories in an interlocking series of episodes that's confusing at first - the opening 20 minutes or so are hard to follow - and then settles down, as if he's found his way. I doubt if the movie was shot in chronological order, but it certainly picks up confidence and power as it goes along, until by the end we really care about these guys, especially in a couple of scenes where they have to make decisions for a lifetime." [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19910329/REVIEWS/103290301/1023] However due to the nature of the film music montages where commonly used to progress the plot, critics considered this to be a major flaw. [http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/20018/five-heartbeats-15th-anniversary-special-edition-the/] Ebert also states in his review that numerous scenes in the film serve no purpose other than to represent the racism encountered by various African American musical acts during the early 60's. [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19910329/REVIEWS/103290301/1023] Despite criticism received the film received due to its "cliched" plot generally the numerous musical performances where highly acclaimed, [http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/20018/five-heartbeats-15th-anniversary-special-edition-the/] All Music Guide complimented the Dell's lead singer Marvin Junior (the vocalist who provided the singing voice for fictional character Eddie King, Jr) stating him to be "one of the most underrated voices in pop music." [http://www.allmusicguide.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jnfqxqe5ldke] Tressa Thomas's performance of "We Haven't Finished Yet" in particular was described by critics as favorable. [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,313751,00.html] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/thefiveheartbeatsrhinson_a0a9e7.htm] The film received an ASCAP award for Most Performed Songs in a Motion Picture for the song "Nights Like This." [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101891/awards]

DVD Releases

A DVD was released for the film in 2002, a special edition was also released in 2006 for the film's 15th Anniversary which includes additional content. [http://www.answers.com/topic/the-five-heartbeats]

Foot Notes