Roommates, there have been many great musical movies throughout the years, but there are some that are definitely superior to the rest. 30 years ago today, “The Five Heartbeats” was officially released in movie theaters and quickly became a classic!
Based on the rise and fall of a fictional 1960s R&B group, the movie featured memorable original songs, iconic characters and just the right amount of drama to keep audiences hooked. Director and star Robert Townsend put his blood, sweat and tears into bringing “The Five Heartbeats” to audiences back in the spring of 1991.
Also starring Leon, Michael Wright, Harry J. Lennix and Tico Wells, “The Five Heartbeats” wasn’t a box office success, but that didn’t stop its incredible influence. Once the film was released on VHS home video, it became a hit with fans who couldn’t get enough of the music, the characters and the story.
Another little known fact about the movie is that it was co-written by Keenan Ivory Wayans, who was riding high on the success of his legendary sketch comedy series “In Living Color,” that has premiered just a short time earlier.
As for the music in “The Five Heartbeats,” all of the songs that the group sang in the film were voiced by classic R&B group The Dells—although the actors who played the fictional group did such an amazing job of lip synching that many were shocked to learn they weren’t doing their own singing.
So as we celebrate this classic, let us know your favorite moment from “The Five Heartbeats!” Happy Anniversary!
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