The Harder They Come

Synopsis

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.

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Cast

Jimmy Cliff

Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin

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Janet Bartley

Elsa

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Carl Bradshaw

Jose

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Ras Daniel Hartman

Pedro

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Basil Keane

Preacher

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Bob Charlton

Hilton

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

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Joanne Dunn

Barmaid

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Don Topping

DJ

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Karl Leslie

Freddie

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Sandra Redwood

Girl

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Ula Fraser

Elsa Friend

Crew

Art

• Sally Henzell Art Direction

Crew

• David McDonald Cinematography
• Peter Jessop Cinematography
• Franklyn St Juste Cinematography

Directing

• Perry Henzell Director

Editing

• Reicland Anderson Editor
• John Victor-Smith Editor
• Richard White Editor

Production

• Perry Henzell Producer
• Jeff Scheftel Producer
• Chris Blackwell Executive Producer

Sound

• Jimmy Cliff Music
• Desmond Dekker Music
• The Slickers Music
• Bob Povey Sound
• Burning Spear Sound

Writing

• Perry Henzell Writer
• Trevor D. Rhone Writer

Photos