Wishing to become a successful Reggae singer, a young Jamaican man finds himself tied to corrupt record producers and drug pushers.
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Title: The Harder They Come (1972)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Jimmy Cliff | ... | Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin | |
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Janet Bartley | ... | Elsa |
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Carl Bradshaw | ... | Jose Smith |
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Ras Daniel Hartman | ... | Pedro |
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Basil Keane | ... | Preacher |
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Bob Charlton | ... | Hilton |
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Winston Stona | ... | Detective Ray Jones |
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Lucia White | ... | Mother |
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Volair Johnson | ... | Pushcart Boy |
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Beverly Anderson | ... | Housewife |
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Clover Lewis | ... | Market Woman |
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Elijah Chambers | ... | Longa |
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Prince Buster | ... | DJ at Dance |
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Ed 'Bim' Lewis | ... | Photographer |
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Bobby Loban | ... | Fitz |
Edit
Plot Summary
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Add Synopsis
Storyline
With dreams of becoming a successful Reggae singer, a young Jamaican man finds corruption from his record producers and the drug pushers they're connected to. Rather than fail his dreams Ivan lets nothing stand in his way, not even the law. Written by Daniel Jos. Leary
Taglines:
The film that took reggae music to the world! See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
JamaicaLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
5 August 1977 (Denmark) See more »Also Known As:
The Harder They Come See more »Filming Locations:
JamaicaCompany Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (TV)Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Color (Metrocolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1
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See more »
Performed by The Slickers
Composed by Hylton Bexford, Winston Bailey, Sydney Crooks and Derric Crooks
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Bassist for The Clash, Paul Siminon, was inspired by this film when he wrote the song The Guns of Brixton. Siminon explicitly references the film in the lyrics "You see he feels like Ivan, born under the Brixton sun. His game is called surviving, at the end of The Harder They Come". The song appears as the 10th track on their groundbreaking 2LP London Calling. See more »Quotes
Ivan Martin: [title song] and the oppressors are trying to keep me down /T rying to drive me underground / And they think that they have got the battle won / I say, "Forgive them, Lord, they know not what they've done," / For as sure as the Sun will shine / I'm going to get my share now, what's mine and the harder they come, the harder they fall, one and all.See more »
Alternate Versions
In the original, pre-Midnight Show, unrated version, when Jimmy Cliff is lashed for slicing his antagonist, there are shots of frontal nudity when he is strapped over the barrel, making his urination explicit. See more »Soundtracks
Johnny Too BadPerformed by The Slickers
Composed by Hylton Bexford, Winston Bailey, Sydney Crooks and Derric Crooks
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
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Though the low budget of this film is obvious, it is an amazing story, nonetheless so because it's based on a true one! It's also sometimes quite beautifully filmed.
What seems like it will be a simple country-boy-makes-good-in-the-city fairytale turns into a darker story of ego, searing poverty, class warfare, and a lust for fame. At first we're drawn to the Ivan, then gradually repulsed.
The compelling plot is built on a fantastic set of characters that weave a chillingly accurate portrayal of Jamaica in the late 60's -- a tapestry of desperately poor but infinitely resilient people.
To those IMDb reviewers who thought the story immoral - would you say the same thing about Bonnie & Clyde, Scarface, or Cagney's Public Enemy? This movie examines the effect of despair, desperation, and ambition. It's not a fairytale -- grow up.