The Harder They Come
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| The Harder They Come | |
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| Directed by | Perry Henzell |
| Produced by | Perry Henzell Chris Blackwell (exec.—uncredited) |
| Written by | Perry Henzell Trevor D. Rhone |
| Starring | Jimmy Cliff |
| Music by | Jimmy Cliff Desmond Dekker The Slickers |
| Cinematography | Peter Jessop David McDonald Franklyn St. Juste |
| Editing by | Reicland Anderson John Victor-Smith Richard White |
| Studio | International Films Inc. Xenon Pictures |
| Distributed by | New World Pictures |
| Release date(s) | 1972 (Venice Film Festival) February 8, 1973 (US) |
| Running time | 120 minutes |
| Country | Jamaica |
| Language | English, Jamaican Patois |
The Harder They Come is a 1972 Jamaican crime film directed by Perry Henzell.[1]
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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] The soundtrack to the film is considered a breakthrough for reggae in the United States.[5]
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[edit] 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.
[edit] Cast
- Jimmy Cliff as Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin
- Janet Bartley as Elsa
- Carl Bradshaw as Jose
- Ras Daniel Hartman as Pedro
- Basil Keane as Preacher
[edit] Reception
The movie received mostly mixed, to positive to very positive reviews.[6][7][8]
[edit] Remake
Plans are afoot for a remake of the movie, with a screenplay written by Chris Salewicz.[9][10] 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.[10]
[edit] Novel derived from the movie
In 1980, Jamaican American author Michael Thelwell published a novel based on the movie, using the same title. It has been noted that Thelwell inserted many Jamaican proverbs into the novel that were not in the movie.[11]
[edit] Uses in other media
The Chase & Status 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. Jimmy Cliff recorded a cover version of this song in 2011.
[edit] References
- ^ Katz, David (2006-12-04). "Obituary: Perry Henzell". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2006/dec/04/guardianobituaries.obituaries1. Retrieved 2011-04-12.
- ^ "Perry Henzell, 70, Filmmaker of ‘The Harder They Come,’ Dies". The New York Times. 2006-12-05. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/05/obituaries/05henzell.html. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
- ^ "Perry Henzell - Obituaries, News - The Independent". The Independent (London). 2006-12-02. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/perry-henzell-426679.html. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
- ^ "Reggae show The Harder They Come goes global". Evening Standard. http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23845941-reggae-show-the-harder-they-come-goes-global.do. Retrieved 2011-04-12.
- ^ McLellan, Dennis (2006-12-02). "Perry Henzell, 70; his movie `The Harder They Come' brought reggae to the world". The Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2006/dec/02/local/me-henzell2. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
- ^ Weiler, A. H. (1973-02-09). "Screen: Not for Tourists:Jamaica's Other Face in 'Harder They Come". The New York Times. http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9505E3D71738EF3ABC4153DFB4668388669EDE&scp=2&sq=The%20Harder%20They%20Come&st=cse. Retrieved 2011-04-12.
- ^ "The Harder They Come". Chicago Sun Times. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19730209/REVIEWS/301010314. Retrieved 2011-04-12.
- ^ "The Harder They Come". Variety. 1972-09-06. http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117928349?refcatid=31. Retrieved 2011-04-12.
- ^ Pulver, Andrew (2011-04-11). "The Harder They Come set for modern reggae remake". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/apr/11/the-harder-they-come-reggae-remake. Retrieved 2011-04-12.
- ^ a b Campbell, Howard (2011) "'Harder They Come' Remake Set For 2012", Jamaica Gleaner, 11 April 2011, retrieved 2011-04-25
- ^ Coteus, Stephen. 2011. "Touble never sets like rain": Proverb (in)direction in Michael Thelwell's The Harder They Come. Proverbium 28:1-30.
