The Five Heartbeats

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The Five Heartbeats ★★★ 1991 (R)

Well told story of five black singers in the 1960s, their successes and failures as a group and as individuals. Although every horror story of the music business is included, the story remains fresh and the acting excellent. Music is fine, but secondary to the people. Well written characters with few cliches. Skillfully directed by Townsend (of “Hollywood Shuffle”) who did research by talking to the Dells. Less than memorable showing at the boxoffice but fun and entertaining. 122m/C VHS, DVD . Robert Kevin Townsend, Tressa Thomas, Michael Wright, Harry J. Lennix, Diahann Carroll, Leon, Hawthorne James, Chuck Patterson, Roy Fegan, Tico Wells, John Canada Terrell, Harold Nicholas, Paul Benjamin, Norma Donaldson, Eugene Robert Glazer, Lamont Johnson; D: Robert Kevin Townsend; W: Keenen Ivory Wayans, Robert Kevin Townsend; C: Bill Dill; M: Stanley Clarke.