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The Harder They Come

  • 19721972
  • RR
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
6.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Harder They Come (1972)
Trailer 1
Play trailer2:18
4 Videos
33 Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Music

Wishing to become a successful Reggae singer, a young Jamaican man finds himself tied to corrupt record producers and drug pushers.Wishing to become a successful Reggae singer, a young Jamaican man finds himself tied to corrupt record producers and drug pushers.Wishing to become a successful Reggae singer, a young Jamaican man finds himself tied to corrupt record producers and drug pushers.

IMDb RATING
6.9/10
6.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Perry Henzell
  • Writers
    • Perry Henzell
    • Trevor D. Rhone
  • Stars
    • Jimmy Cliff
    • Janet Bartley
    • Carl Bradshaw
Top credits
  • Director
    • Perry Henzell
  • Writers
    • Perry Henzell
    • Trevor D. Rhone
  • Stars
    • Jimmy Cliff
    • Janet Bartley
    • Carl Bradshaw
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 57User reviews
    • 66Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos4

    The Harder They Come
    Trailer 2:18
    The Harder They Come
    The Harder They Come
    Trailer 2:09
    The Harder They Come
    The Harder They Come
    Clip 2:26
    The Harder They Come
    The Harder They Come
    Clip 3:04
    The Harder They Come

    Photos33

    The Harder They Come (1972)
    The Harder They Come (1972)
    The Harder They Come (1972)
    The Harder They Come (1972)
    The Harder They Come (1972)
    The Harder They Come (1972)
    The Harder They Come (1972)
    The Harder They Come (1972)
    The Harder They Come (1972)
    The Harder They Come (1972)
    The Harder They Come (1972)
    The Harder They Come (1972)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jimmy Cliff
    Jimmy Cliff
    • Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martinas Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin
    Janet Bartley
    • Elsaas Elsa
    Carl Bradshaw
    • Jose Smithas Jose Smith
    Ras Daniel Hartman
    • Pedroas Pedro
    Basil Keane
    • Preacheras Preacher
    Bob Charlton
    • Hiltonas Hilton
    Winston Stona
    • Detective Ray Jonesas Detective Ray Jones
    Lucia White
    • Motheras Mother
    Volier Johnson
    • Pushcart Boyas Pushcart Boy
    • (as Volair Johnson)
    Beverly Anderson
    • Housewifeas Housewife
    Clover Lewis
    • Market Womanas Market Woman
    Elijah Chambers
    • Longaas Longa
    Prince Buster
    • DJ at Danceas DJ at Dance
    Ed 'Bim' Lewis
    • Photographeras Photographer
    Bobby Loban
    • Fitzas Fitz
    Joanne Dunn
    • Barmaidas Barmaid
    Adrian Robinson
    • Editoras Editor
    Don Topping
    • DJas DJ
    • Director
      • Perry Henzell
    • Writers
      • Perry Henzell
      • Trevor D. Rhone
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    The Harder They Come

    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —Daniel Jos. Leary
    • jamaica
    • revenge
    • west indies
    • reggae
    • singer
    • 34 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • "...dem a loot, dem a shoot, dem a wail in shanty town"
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Music
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      First feature film produced in Jamaica.
    • Quotes

      Jose Smith: Him think hero can die til the last reel.

    • 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.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert Holiday Video Gift Guide (1992)
    • Soundtracks
      You Can Get It If You Really Want
      Performed by Jimmy Cliff

      Composed by Jimmy Cliff

    User reviews57

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    "Dem a loot, dem a shoot, dem a wail in shanty town"
    I have always listened very much to all kind of Reggae(also ska and rocksteady) and the record "The harder they come" is one of the best record's ever. So I had really looked forward to see this film. First off all I must say that the songs are fantastic in this film with songs like for example: "Rivers of babylon", "Many rivers to cross", "Sitting here in limbo" and of course the title song.

    Jimmy Cliff stars as Ivan, a country boy who comes to the big city looking for fame through music but is forced to become a "rude boy" and it will have big consequences. The film maybe is not a masterpiece but the music is and I thought it was so very funny to watch a film from Jamaica.

    This is also one of the biggest cult classics ever and it is very entertaining. The ending is pretty amazing. The acting by the great singer Jimmy Cliff is actually good, and the rest of the unknown cast is also good. This film is a MUST-SEE! My rating would be a 8 or a 9/10
    helpful•14
    3
    • anton-6
    • Aug 5, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 14, 1976 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • Jamaica
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ju hårdare du slår...
    • Filming locations
      • Kingston, Jamaica
    • Production company
      • International Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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