The ultimate Black cult classic film might just be The Five Heartbeats. Sorry, Dolemite and Soul Plane! This is a classic that everyone has seen and loves.
Written by Robert Townsend and co-created with best friend and comedian Keenen Ivory Wayans, this film did terribly at the box office when released and was panned by critics. But how did it become a classic that everyone (Black) has seen just a few years later?
After the surprise success of Hollywood Shuffle in 1987 (the first Townsend and Wayans collaboration), Robert created a follow-up film, but this time he went with music. He was a fan of Motown, and the Temptations were his favorite group. He took the “Classic Five” era of the Temptations and decided to tell their story through the Black experience in 1960s music. Produced by Warner Brothers, they called it The Five Heartbeats, and Robert and Keenen got to work
The original cast was totally different from the film we see and love today. Originally, it was supposed to be a comedy. Robert Townsend contacted David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks, former members of the Temptations, to oversee the film. Robert was always Donald ‘Duck’ Matthews and the writer of the group. Co-creator Keenen Ivory Wayans was originally cast as J.T. Matthews, the brother of ‘Duck, then eventually played by Leon. David Alan Grier was to be the bass singer, Dresser, but Harry Lennix took over the role. Townsend also wanted up-and-coming superstar actor Denzel Washington to play the iconic role of Eddie King Jr;, but Michael Wright did the character justice when he was cast as the lead singer. Also, other stars included in the original cast were comics Damon Wayans, Reynaldo Rey, Robin Harris, actress Vanessa L. Williams, and more. Whitney Houston was written a part in the movie too; however, her team said it was too small. She later starred in The Bodyguard the following year. A lot of big names auditioned for roles in The Five Heartbeats, including Don Cheadle, Niecy Nash, and R. Kelly, just to name a few.
After all of this, Warner Bros. surprisingly passed on the film, leading to several changes, including the cast. It then went on hiatus for a few years. The film eventually obtained a new producer, 20th Century, but most of the actors on the roster were now busy with the breakthrough television show, In Living Color. That canceled out the Wayans siblings and David Alan Grier. Robin Harris also passed away in the spring of 1990. Other characters now rounded out the film, including record executive Big Red Davis (Hawthorne James), rival groups Bird (Roy Fegan) & the Midnight Falcon, Flash (John Canada Terrell) & the Ebony Sparks, and manager Jimmy Potter (Chuck Patterson). Old Black Hollywood was represented well with legendary comic Timmie Rogers as the Apollo Theater MC. Harold Nicholas of the Nicholas Bros. was the group’s choreographer, and Diahann Carroll was manager Jimmy Potter’s wife. Diahann Carroll made her return to film for the first time since Claudine in 1974.
Even though some folks to this day will argue you down, The Five Heartbeats were not an actual group. As mentioned earlier, Robert was a huge Temptations fan and wanted David Ruffin on board. They had to pass because the story was so close to the Temptations, Berry Gordy, and Motown Records. Besides the Temptations, the film was based on various stories and accounts from other 1960s artists like Jackie Wilson, James Brown, Don Robey, Nat Tarnopol, the Dells, and others. The Dells also lent their voices to songs and replaced David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks as musical advisors for the film.
Released 35 years ago on May 29, 1991, The Five Heartbeats debuted at number 8 at the box office but was quickly out of theaters. A lot of trouble came about from violence at movie theaters and negative reactions to the trailer. On a $10 million budget, it underperformed, only making $8 million in return. The next year, the film found life on cable networks and home video (including the official release and even bootlegs!) It seemed like every Black family had a copy of this film.
What caught on about this movie was the storyline, the acting, and most importantly, the MUSIC! The movie might not have been a hit, but the songs sure were. The film score was done by bassist Stanley Clarke, and the soundtrack by keyboardist George Duke. Two songs from the project are still played on classic R&B stations today. “A Heart Is a House For Love” was sung by Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, the Dells. The song peaked at number 13 on the R&B Charts. “Nights Like This,” was performed by After 7 and written and produced by The Time’s Jesse Johnson. The song was a Top 25 Pop Hit on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and peaked at number 7 on the R&B chart. Jesse Johnson, After 7, and The Dells wrote songs, produced, and performed on the soundtrack. Other producers were Bruce Sudano and Norman Harris. Vocalists included Billy Valentine of the Valentine Brothers, Howard Johnson, Jennifer Holliday, Gospel Legend Rance Allen, and Mrs. Patti LaBelle. “Nights Like This” received an ASCAP Award for Most Performed Song in a Motion Picture.
The Five Heartbeats was Robert Townsend’s first but not his last foray into music and film. Jackie’s Back, another fictional film starring Jennifer Lewis, followed in 1999 on Lifetime Network. Two biopics came in 2000. Leon starred as Little Richard in a made-for-TV film, and Natalie Cole narrated herself in Livin’ For Love: The Natalie Cole Story. Both premiered on NBC. Beyoncé’s film debut was on MTV (remember that station!) in the 2001 film Carmen: A Hip-Hopera.
A documentary about the film “Making The Five Heartbeats” was released in 2018. A stage play was in the works in 2019, but as of 2026, it has not materialized.
We’ve Got Nothing But Love for the Five Heartbeats.
Written by: Kerry Lewis
The post Is There A Heart In The House Tonight! – Celebrating The Cult Classic, The Five Heartbeats first appeared on The Fleet Mag.