The Harder They Come (1972)
Ivanhoe Martin arrives in Kingston, Jamaica, looking for work and, after some initial struggles, lands a recording contract as a reggae singer. He records his first song, "The Harder They Come," but after a bitter dispute with a manipulative producer named Hilton, soon finds himself resorting to petty crime in order to pay the bills. He deals marijuana, kills some abusive cops and earns local folk hero status. Meanwhile, his record is topping the charts.
Director: Perry Henzell
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Jimmy Cliff as Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin |
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Janet Bartley as Elsa |
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Carl Bradshaw as Jose |
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Ras Daniel Hartman as Pedro |
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Basil Keane as Preacher |
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Bob Charlton as Hilton |
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Winston Stona as Detective Ray Jones |
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Lucia White as Mother |
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Volair Johnson as Pushcart Boy |
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Beverly Anderson as Housewife |
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Clover Lewis as Market Woman |
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Elijah Chambers as Longa |
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Prince Buster as DJ at Dance |
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Ed 'Bim' Lewis as Photographer |
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Bobby Loban as Fitz |
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Joanne Dunn as Barmaid |
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Don Topping as DJ |
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Karl Leslie as Freddie |
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Sandra Redwood as Girl |
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Ula Fraser as Elsa Friend |
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Carol Lawes as Elsa Friend |
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Aston 'Bam' Winter as Drunk |
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Toots Hibbert as Himself |
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Adrian Robinson as Editor |
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Franco Nero as Django (archive footage) |
| Sound | Jimmy Cliff | Music |
| Production | Chris Blackwell | Executive Producer |
| Production | Perry Henzell | Producer |
| Production | Jeff Scheftel | Producer |
| Sound | Desmond Dekker | Music |
| Directing | Perry Henzell | Director |
| Editing | Richard White | Editor |
| Editing | Reicland Anderson | Editor |
| Sound | The Slickers | Music |
| Crew | David McDonald | Cinematography |
| Sound | Bob Povey | Sound |
| Sound | Burning Spear | Sound |
| Editing | John Victor-Smith | Editor |
| Crew | Peter Jessop | Cinematography |
| Crew | Franklyn St Juste | Cinematography |
| Art | Sally Henzell | Art Direction |
| Writing | Trevor D. Rhone | Writer |
| Writing | Perry Henzell | Writer |