The Harder They Come poster
6.6/10 1972 1h 43m Released

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

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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Top Cast

Jimmy Cliff
Jimmy Cliff
Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin
Janet Bartley
Janet Bartley
Elsa
Carl Bradshaw
Carl Bradshaw
Jose
Ras Daniel Hartman
Ras Daniel Hartman
Pedro
Basil Keane
Basil Keane
Preacher
Bob Charlton
Bob Charlton
Hilton
Winston Stona
Winston Stona
Detective Ray Jones
Lucia White
Lucia White
Mother
Volair Johnson
Volair Johnson
Pushcart Boy
Beverly Anderson
Beverly Anderson
Housewife
Clover Lewis
Clover Lewis
Market Woman
Elijah Chambers
Elijah Chambers
Longa
Prince Buster
Prince Buster
DJ at Dance
Ed 'Bim' Lewis
Ed 'Bim' Lewis
Photographer
Bobby Loban
Bobby Loban
Fitz
Joanne Dunn
Joanne Dunn
Barmaid

Reviews

CinemaSerf 6/10

Firstly, a quick shout out for the new Garden Cinema in Holborn, London where I saw this recently. A small cinema, but it's great to see a new venue opening so give it a go if you are nearby. To the film, well that sees Jimmy Cliff as "Ivan" - a would-be reggae singer who manages to get himself a record deal with a fairly unscrupulous local producer. The song does OK, but he gets a pretty measly share. Frustrated -…

r96sk 8/10

<em>'The Harder They Come'</em> is entertaining crime flick fare. Jimmy Cliff brings a solid lead performance and some excellent music, which is certainly this film's strongest element; the eponymous track and "Sweet And Dandy" being my personal picks. The other cast members play their respective parts well. I've not got much more to note. Good music, enjoyable plot and sturdy messaging. What else is needed?…

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FAQ about The Harder They Come

What is The Harder They Come about?
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…
When was The Harder They Come released?
The Harder They Come was released in 1972.
What genres does The Harder They Come belong to?
The Harder They Come is categorised as Crime, Drama, Music.
Who stars in The Harder They Come?
The cast of The Harder They Come includes Jimmy Cliff, Janet Bartley, Carl Bradshaw, Ras Daniel Hartman, Basil Keane.