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Features: DVD
It's 1965, the early days of rock and roll, and five buddies who share the dream of "making music" journey together through three decades. Acting both as a family and sometimes as bitter rivals, they experience success and tragedy in this excellent film. The ground breaking Robert Townsend (Hollywood Shuffle) performs dual roles as director and star. With compelling performances by a cast which includes Leon and Diahann Carroll, The Five Heartbeats is an irresistible combination of music and drama which captures a unique period in musical and American history. Townsend did research for his fictional R&B group by hanging out and travelling with The Dells, an R&B group that has been together for 38 years. The Dells acted as technical advisors on the film.
"...a giddy mixture of comedy, music and drama." Desson Howe, Washington Post
"A stunning and exhuberant motion picture. Terrific acting and unforgettable music." Jim Whaley, PBS
"Townsend shows a real talent...to go for the human truth in his characters." Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Editor's Note
Actor-director Robert Townsend came to fame depicting the pitfalls of the Hollywood experience for black actors with his 1987 film HOLLYWOOD SHUFFLE. Four years later, he took on the mid-'60s music scene with THE FIVE HEARTBEATS. After doing extensive research with long-lived pop/R&B group the Dells, he painted a cinematic scene of five young friends in the 60s who share the dream of making music. They journey together through three decades, experiencing all the ups and downs show business had to offer, intensified by the difficulties faces by black acts in the era of civil-rights protest. Interacting as everything from a close-knit musical family to occasional bitter rivals, the fictional Five Heartbeats experience both success and tragedy in this excellent film. The multi-talented Townshend functions as both director and star, alongside compelling performances by a cast that includes Leon and Diahann Caroll. Featuring a mix of original songs and classic Motown material, THE FIVE HEARTBEATS is an irresistible combination of music and drama that captures a unique period in American cultural history.
| Features | TV Spots | | Theatrical Trailer | | Interactive Menus | | Audio: English Dolby Digital 4.0 & Dolby Digital Surround | | Subtitles: English, Spanish | | "Making Of..." Featurette | | Widescreen Version | | Robert Townsend Profile | | Scene Selection |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Foxvideo |
| Release Date: 1/22/2002 |
| Running Time: 120 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1991 | | Catalog ID: 2001876 | | UPC: 00024543018766 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | 1.85:1 |
| Cast & Crew
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| | Professional Reviews | New York Times
"...Fundamental sweetness and sincerity....[In cameo, Harold Nicholas's] very presence expands the range of this film..." 03/29/1991 p.C14Los Angeles Times
"...Musically, THE FIVE HEARTBEATS is on target all the way. It's hard to remember a recent film that had so many warm-hearted, rousing, big-souled song numbers..." 03/29/1991 p.F1 The Village Voice 8 of 10
A propulsive score, spirited choreography by Michael Peters and evocative sets and costumes help Townsend re-create musical history.
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