The Harder They Come
Encyclopedia
The Harder They Come is a 1972 Jamaican crime film
directed by Perry Henzell
.
The film stars reggae
singer Jimmy Cliff
, who plays Ivanhoe Martin, a character based on Rhyging
, a real-life Jamaican criminal who achieved fame in the 1940s. Other major roles in the film were played by Janet Bartley (Elsa), Basil Keane (Preacher), the late Ras Daniel Hartman (Pedro), Beverly Anderson, who eventually married Michael Manley
who became the Prime Minister of Jamaica (Upper St. Andrew Housewife), the late Bob Charlton (Hilton), Jamaican actor Volair Johnson (Pushcart Boy), and well known Jamaican comedians Ed 'Bim' Lewis (Photographer), and Aston 'Bam' Winter (drunken husband).
The Harder They Come was released in February 1973 in New York City by Roger Corman
's New World Pictures to little attention. It became more popular when it was played to midnight audiences nationwide the following April. The film is referenced in the Clash
songs "The Guns of Brixton
" and "Safe European Home". In 2005, it was developed into a stage musical by the Theatre Royal Stratford East
and UK Arts International in the UK. Written and adapted by Henzell, it opened on 25 March 2006 boasting not only the original soundtrack but a couple of additions including The Ganja Song written by Geraldine Connor. The soundtrack to the film
is considered a breakthrough for reggae in the United States.
The last ten minutes of the film consist of Ivan swimming towards a speeding ship which would take him to safety. However, he can not grab onto the ladder dangled off the side, and he opens his eyes to find himself beached ashore. He sleeps in the shade of a tree then wakes, alerted to the presence of policemen with rifles. He comes out and lowers his revolvers, but the police shoot him many times and the film ends abruptly, cutting to the credits. He is presumed dead.
track "Hitz
" from the album No More Idols
samples a line from the film, as well as the track "Sunday Dub" on the Tino Corp.
release "Tino's Breaks Volume 5 (Dub)".
The film is referenced in a line of The Clash
's song "The Guns of Brixton
" from the London Calling
album.
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
directed by Perry Henzell
Perry Henzell
Perry Henzell was most famous for being the director of the first Jamaican feature film, The Harder They Come , starring Jimmy Cliff....
.
The film stars reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
singer Jimmy Cliff
Jimmy Cliff
Jimmy Cliff, OM is a Jamaican musician, singer and actor. He is the only currently living musician to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honour that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievement in the arts and sciences...
, who plays Ivanhoe Martin, a character based on Rhyging
Rhyging
Ivanhoe "Rhyging" Martin was a Jamaican outlaw and folk hero who died at age 24 of gunshot wounds sustained during a shootout with police officers on September 9, 1948, in Lime Cay, Jamaica...
, a real-life Jamaican criminal who achieved fame in the 1940s. Other major roles in the film were played by Janet Bartley (Elsa), Basil Keane (Preacher), the late Ras Daniel Hartman (Pedro), Beverly Anderson, who eventually married Michael Manley
Michael Manley
Michael Norman Manley ON OCC was the fourth Prime Minister of Jamaica . Manley was a democratic socialist....
who became the Prime Minister of Jamaica (Upper St. Andrew Housewife), the late Bob Charlton (Hilton), Jamaican actor Volair Johnson (Pushcart Boy), and well known Jamaican comedians Ed 'Bim' Lewis (Photographer), and Aston 'Bam' Winter (drunken husband).
The Harder They Come was released in February 1973 in New York City by Roger Corman
Roger Corman
Roger William Corman is an American film producer, director and actor. He has mostly worked on low-budget B movies. Some of Corman's work has an established critical reputation, such as his cycle of films adapted from the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, and in 2009 he won an Honorary Academy Award for...
's New World Pictures to little attention. It became more popular when it was played to midnight audiences nationwide the following April. The film is referenced in the Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
songs "The Guns of Brixton
The Guns of Brixton
"The Guns of Brixton" is a song by the English punk rock band The Clash. It was written and sung by bassist Paul Simonon, who grew up in Brixton, south London...
" and "Safe European Home". In 2005, it was developed into a stage musical by the Theatre Royal Stratford East
Theatre Royal Stratford East
The Theatre Royal Stratford East is a theatre in Stratford in the London Borough of Newham. Since 1953, it has been the home of the Theatre Workshop company.-History:...
and UK Arts International in the UK. Written and adapted by Henzell, it opened on 25 March 2006 boasting not only the original soundtrack but a couple of additions including The Ganja Song written by Geraldine Connor. The soundtrack to the film
The Harder They Come (soundtrack)
The Harder They Come is the soundtrack album to the iconic film of the same name, released in 1972 in the United Kingdom as Island Records ILPS 9202. It was issued in February 1973 in North America as Mango Records SMAS-7400. It peaked at #140 on the Billboard 200.-Content:The heart of the...
is considered a breakthrough for reggae in the United States.
Plot
Ivanhoe Martin is a poor Jamaican man in search of a job, before finally getting one as a reggae singer. Upon the verge of a hit record, he discovers the only way he can get a hit record is by signing away the rights. Eventually, Jose (played by Carl Bradshaw), one of the first people he met after he moved to Kingston, offers him an opportunity dealing marijuana. He turns to a life of crime and violence.The last ten minutes of the film consist of Ivan swimming towards a speeding ship which would take him to safety. However, he can not grab onto the ladder dangled off the side, and he opens his eyes to find himself beached ashore. He sleeps in the shade of a tree then wakes, alerted to the presence of policemen with rifles. He comes out and lowers his revolvers, but the police shoot him many times and the film ends abruptly, cutting to the credits. He is presumed dead.
Cast
- Jimmy CliffJimmy CliffJimmy Cliff, OM is a Jamaican musician, singer and actor. He is the only currently living musician to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honour that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievement in the arts and sciences...
as Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin - Janet Bartley as Elsa
- Carl Bradshaw as Jose
- Ras Daniel Hartman as Pedro
- Basil Keane as Preacher
Remake
Plans are afoot for a remake of the movie, with a screenplay written by Chris Salewicz. The film is a joint venture between Henzell's daughter Justine, Xingu Films and Conquering Lion Pictures. Filming is due to begin in 2011, with a projected release date of 2012.Uses in other media
The Chase & StatusChase & Status
Chase & Status are an electronic music production duo from London consisting of Saul Milton and Will Kennard. MC Rage & Andy Gangadeen also make up the live band.-2003-2005:...
track "Hitz
Hitz (song)
"Hitz" is a single from English drum-and-bass duo Chase & Status, which features vocals from English singer Tinie Tempah. The single was released in the United Kingdom as a digital download on 15 July 2011, and served as the sixth release from the studio album No More Idols. It peaked at number 39...
" from the album No More Idols
No More Idols
No More Idols is the second album by British production duo Chase & Status, released on 28 January 2011. No More Idols marks the first major full-length release by Chase & Status since their debut album More Than Alot three years prior; a period in which the group signed a major management deal...
samples a line from the film, as well as the track "Sunday Dub" on the Tino Corp.
Tino Corp.
Tino Corp. is a record label that is "dedicated to curating unique beats and sounds", including funky breaks and scratching records. It is made up of the following people:...
release "Tino's Breaks Volume 5 (Dub)".
The film is referenced in a line of The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
's song "The Guns of Brixton
The Guns of Brixton
"The Guns of Brixton" is a song by the English punk rock band The Clash. It was written and sung by bassist Paul Simonon, who grew up in Brixton, south London...
" from the London Calling
London Calling
London Calling is the third studio album by the English punk rock band The Clash. It was released in the United Kingdom on 14 December 1979 through CBS Records, and in the United States in January 1980 through Epic Records...
album.