The Harder They Come (1972)

What it’s 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 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

• J

  Janet Bartley

  Elsa

• C

  Carl Bradshaw

  Jose

• R

  Ras Daniel Hartman

  Pedro

• B

  Basil Keane

  Preacher

• B

  Bob Charlton

  Hilton

• 

  Winston Stona

  Detective Ray Jones

• L

  Lucia White

  Mother

• V

  Volair Johnson

  Pushcart Boy

• B

  Beverly Anderson

  Housewife

• C

  Clover Lewis

  Market Woman

• E

  Elijah Chambers

  Longa