Bet You Didn’t Know: Secrets Behind The Making Of “The Five Heartbeats”

November 19th, 2012 - By Veronica Wells

In 1991, after the success of his self-funded project, Hollywood Shuffle Keenan Ivory Wayans and Robert Townsend decided to take on a studio film, a first for Townsend. The collaboration didn’t do so well in theaters but over 20 years later, it’s a favorite in the black community. You know the lines and the songs. Check out these behind the scenes secrets.

Source: cinema.de

Where did the story come from?

Though the story was based on several R&B groups and solo artists, including The Temptations, The Dells, Frankie Lymon and Sam Cooke, Robert Townsend told Black Voices that the breakup of The Temptations when he was a child, inspired the story. “I grew up with a lot of the singing groups from the ’60s, such as The Temptations, The Dells and The O’Jays. I always loved music. When The Temptations broke up, I took it personally. [The Five Heartbeats] came out of that.”

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  • Nea J

    Despite some bad acting and editing, I love this movie. It truly is a classic. My favorite scene is when Eddie is singing “I Feel Like Going On”. Makes me wanna stand up & testify everytime I see that part.

  • http://twitter.com/MsRedboneBrite Tee Elyse

    “It takes more than love! More than love to to BUILD it up! To BUUUUUUIIIIILLLLLLDDDDDDD it up! Is there a heart! Is there a heart in the house tonight! STAND UP!”

    Wooooo, chile!! I just flashed! Lmaooooo!!

    • Rayjulian85

      YAAAAASSS!! My FAVORITE scene!

    • TRU

      YOU GO TEE!!!!!

  • janice

    My favorite part of this movie is….

    The Slap- Big Red “Ooh God Eleanor you shouldn’t, Ooh God you shouldn’t be alone…maybe sometime…” SLAAAAAAP….
    Eleanor-”Get Out!!!”

  • http://www.facebook.com/ERJitterbugg Johnnie Q. X. Sturner

    Mannnnn this was (and is) my movie!

    By the way, did Leon get Madonna’s song titles mixed up or did the author of this article misquote him? He was in “Like A Prayer”, not “Like A Virgin”.

  • PA-TX

    I guess my country arse was the only one who actually thought his name was Eddie King, not Kane, this whole time!

    • IllyPhilly

      LOL. At the end imo you can hear the “ing” when he says that line.

    • ms. lisa

      u from port arthur?!

      • PA-TX

        Haha, based on my username it would seem as such. But no, I’m not big pimpin down in P.A.T.! (in my Bun B voice)

  • Nenah

    This is a classic!

  • msgeegee

    i feel like such a traitor saying this but I NEVER liked this movie. I thought the whole thing was sooooooo corny.

    • Nenah

      No you didn’t! LOL It actually took me forever to finally watch it. The first time I was like meh, but the second or third time I saw why people loved it so much.

  • IllyPhilly

    Harlem Nights and This movie I’m shocked to find didn’t do well because of the fact that they are sooo entertaining.

    • Tamz

      Harlem Nights is another movie I watch EVERY TIME it comes on TV. Lol You’re right, that movie was hilarious, I didn’t know it didn’t do well.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tiffanie-MadameGigglez-Thomas/665285721 Tiffanie MadameGigglez Thomas

    Im glad im not the only one who found that scene with Duck’s & JT lil sister extremely annoying…

    • psylocke_2001

      Me too! It’s definitely a cringeworthy moment.

    • http://www.facebook.com/southphillygirl215 Kenya Tyler

      The face that Robert Townsend makes during that is creepy. JUST SING THE DAMN SONG!!!