The Harder They Come poster

The Harder They Come

19721h 43mCrime · Drama · Music
directed by Perry Henzell

“With a Piece in His Hand He Takes on the Man!”

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TMDB
6.6 / 10
125 votes
IMDb
6.9 / 10
7,194 votes
Rotten Tomatoes
91%

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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.

Cast

Jimmy Cliff·Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin
Janet Bartley·Elsa
Carl Bradshaw·Jose
Ras Daniel Hartman·Pedro
Basil Keane·Preacher
Bob Charlton·Hilton
Winston Stona·Detective Ray Jones
Lucia White·Mother
Volair Johnson·Pushcart Boy
Beverly Anderson·Housewife