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From Amazon.co.uk
Director-producer Perry Henzel's all-Jamaican 1973 classic The Harder They Come--one of the most beloved of all international cult favourites--fiercely expresses the live-wire Jamaican spirit when an impoverished Africa tuned to American radio. Ivan, a country boy who dreams of fame as a singer, rides into Kingston on a rickety country bus in the opening scenes, only to meet with disaster heaped on disaster at the hands of those masked as friends. In a breathless defining climax, Ivan finally breaks from his passivity and begins to wreak his revenge. Soon Kingston's music Mafia and the equally corrupt authorities are after him, but like the real-life people's hero (a man named Rhygin) on whom this character is partially based, Ivan leads them on a maddening chase eluding capture until the movie's shocking final moments. ,p.
The film incorporates an archetypal passion for "outlaw" justice common to American Westerns, which were a staple of the Caribbean theatre circuit at the time. Released just 12 years after Jamaica achieved independence, The Harder They Come also reflects the disenchantment that soon followed a massive post-independence exodus from the island's country hamlets to the tropical ghettos of Kingston, where a more grinding urban poverty awaited. Brilliantly shot, directed, written, and acted; singer Jimmy Cliff excels in the leading role and Carl Bradshaw shines as his arch-enemy, the film tells an anthemic Jamaican story to seductive rhythms of a soundtrack that became a reggae bestseller.--Elena Oumano
Product Description
DVD Uk Version // W/Jimmy Cliff A.O.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This bleak tale set in Jamaica grabs hold of you and does not let go.
The story is of a young man Ivan, based loosely on a real life newspaper story of the time, who comes from the country looking for work in the city. He finds only rejection and dishonesty, and is lured to a life of crime through having no other options. The oppression of poverty and corruption of the city oppresses him (and us the viewer) until he snaps, and embarks on a violent revenge to get what he feels he deserves. In the end, all he gets is a defining moment of violence in the final moments of the film. Westerns were popular in Jamaica at the time, and this is reflected in the moments of the Django movie we see Ivan watch with his friends, one of the few moments of pleasure we see him have. That movie moment is echoed effectively in the final scenes in helping us realise Ivans detachment from reality at that point.
The camerawork and locations are simultaeously obviously low budget and yet often brilliant. The hand held camerawork combines with some often excellent cinematographic eye for creating a canvas, portraying a real and vivid Jamaica that you don't see in the travel brochures. The locations were largely what they could use for little cost, and yet every one effective in adding to the tale and the background colour, often making this feel like a documentary of life in Jamaica.
The realism is helped immensely by the cast, most of whom you get the feeling are potraying real vignettes from their lifes and situations they can relate to. Jimmy Cliff is raw and full of the youthful energy his character is supposed to have.... Read more ›
The story is of a young man Ivan, based loosely on a real life newspaper story of the time, who comes from the country looking for work in the city. He finds only rejection and dishonesty, and is lured to a life of crime through having no other options. The oppression of poverty and corruption of the city oppresses him (and us the viewer) until he snaps, and embarks on a violent revenge to get what he feels he deserves. In the end, all he gets is a defining moment of violence in the final moments of the film. Westerns were popular in Jamaica at the time, and this is reflected in the moments of the Django movie we see Ivan watch with his friends, one of the few moments of pleasure we see him have. That movie moment is echoed effectively in the final scenes in helping us realise Ivans detachment from reality at that point.
The camerawork and locations are simultaeously obviously low budget and yet often brilliant. The hand held camerawork combines with some often excellent cinematographic eye for creating a canvas, portraying a real and vivid Jamaica that you don't see in the travel brochures. The locations were largely what they could use for little cost, and yet every one effective in adding to the tale and the background colour, often making this feel like a documentary of life in Jamaica.
The realism is helped immensely by the cast, most of whom you get the feeling are potraying real vignettes from their lifes and situations they can relate to. Jimmy Cliff is raw and full of the youthful energy his character is supposed to have.... Read more ›
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
How can you love cinema or Reggae and NOT have this DVD?
One of the greatest movies - gritty, sharp and very uncomfortable.
Jimmy Cliff is brilliant, the music is awesome and the way that Jamaica and the politics of the time are presented is painfully accurate.
A work of real genius.
One of the greatest movies - gritty, sharp and very uncomfortable.
Jimmy Cliff is brilliant, the music is awesome and the way that Jamaica and the politics of the time are presented is painfully accurate.
A work of real genius.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Whilst Christopher may be technically correct (see earlier review), I feel his review is very harsh. In fact I nearly didn't buy this DVD because of it. Thankfully I did and I'm very pleased with it. As he said the sound quality is excellent and the soundtrack is also supplied on a separate CD. As for the picture quality in my view it is also excellent. It's certainly far superior to my VHS copy (obviously) and leagues better than my 2001 BMG DVD release. With all the additional features as well I think it's fair to describe this release as the definitive version of this great film.
I actually contacted the company that released this DVD (Revolver) asking them about Christopher's comments and they responded with this very helpful reply; "The Harder The Come is fundamentally 4x3 (which is 1,33:1) as that is the way it was shot. However, for Revolver's release the 4x3 image is in a 16.9 format frame. Because of this, when watching it on your television it will appear with black bars at the top and bottom of the screen. Handily enough, this means on a widescreen telly, you can do a "movie expand" and blow it up so that it loses both these bars and appears as 16x9. The only way to make the actual film 16x9 full frame (aka FHA -1,78:1) is to arc it, which is extremely costly and you also risk losing some of the original image. It would not be of any real benefit in this instance because of the way it was shot...plus the same effect can be achieved by using the options available on a widescreen TV."
As I said I am really pleased with this definitive release of a classic film and I'm confident you will be too.
I actually contacted the company that released this DVD (Revolver) asking them about Christopher's comments and they responded with this very helpful reply; "The Harder The Come is fundamentally 4x3 (which is 1,33:1) as that is the way it was shot. However, for Revolver's release the 4x3 image is in a 16.9 format frame. Because of this, when watching it on your television it will appear with black bars at the top and bottom of the screen. Handily enough, this means on a widescreen telly, you can do a "movie expand" and blow it up so that it loses both these bars and appears as 16x9. The only way to make the actual film 16x9 full frame (aka FHA -1,78:1) is to arc it, which is extremely costly and you also risk losing some of the original image. It would not be of any real benefit in this instance because of the way it was shot...plus the same effect can be achieved by using the options available on a widescreen TV."
As I said I am really pleased with this definitive release of a classic film and I'm confident you will be too.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Ivan, who is sick of the countryside and the hardship there, decides to move to Kingston with the dream of becoming a singer. However, he finds that the hardship situation is no better than in the countryside, and turns to ecoming involved with cannabis smuggling.
The film explores the life of the ordinary people in Jamaica in the 70s,and the gritty realism of life on the streets.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Simon Green
Format:DVD
THE LEGENDARY FILM & REVOLUTIONARY SOUNDTRACK - TOGETHER AT LAST!
DIGITALLY REMASTERED - 2 DISC DVD & CD
" * * * * * Only sounds more alive thirty years after its original appearance" - Rolling Stone
The Film
This is the gritty, groundbreaking and truly legendary film that tells the story of Ivan Martin, an aspiring young singer-turned-outlaw, at war with Jamaica's music industry, the police, and his rivals in the ganja trade.
His dreams of stardom become reality as he rises to the top of the pop charts... and the most wanted list.
Digitally Remastered: This is the ultimate edition of The Harder They Come brought to you from the new High-Definition transfer and with Digitally Remastered sound to give you clarity like never before and a powerful 5.1 Audio option.
The soundtrack
Before the world knew or cared about Bob Marley this was reggae's defining mix of roots rhythms and social consciousness. For the decade before Marley's best-of album Legend in 1984, The Harder They Come was nothing less than the world's best-selling reggae album.
Tracklisting:
1. You Can Get It If You Really Want - Jimmy Cliff
2. Draw Your Breaks - Scotty
3. Rivers of Babylon - The Melodians
4. Many Rivers to Cross - Jimmy Cliff
5. Sweet and Dandy - The Maytals
6. The Harder They Come - Jimmy Cliff
7. Johnny Too Bad - The Slickers
8. Shanty Town - Desmond Dekker
9. Pressure Drop - The Maytals
10. Sitting in Limbo - Jimmy Cliff
11. You Can Get It If You Really Want - Jimmy Cliff
12.... Read more ›
DIGITALLY REMASTERED - 2 DISC DVD & CD
" * * * * * Only sounds more alive thirty years after its original appearance" - Rolling Stone
The Film
This is the gritty, groundbreaking and truly legendary film that tells the story of Ivan Martin, an aspiring young singer-turned-outlaw, at war with Jamaica's music industry, the police, and his rivals in the ganja trade.
His dreams of stardom become reality as he rises to the top of the pop charts... and the most wanted list.
Digitally Remastered: This is the ultimate edition of The Harder They Come brought to you from the new High-Definition transfer and with Digitally Remastered sound to give you clarity like never before and a powerful 5.1 Audio option.
The soundtrack
Before the world knew or cared about Bob Marley this was reggae's defining mix of roots rhythms and social consciousness. For the decade before Marley's best-of album Legend in 1984, The Harder They Come was nothing less than the world's best-selling reggae album.
Tracklisting:
1. You Can Get It If You Really Want - Jimmy Cliff
2. Draw Your Breaks - Scotty
3. Rivers of Babylon - The Melodians
4. Many Rivers to Cross - Jimmy Cliff
5. Sweet and Dandy - The Maytals
6. The Harder They Come - Jimmy Cliff
7. Johnny Too Bad - The Slickers
8. Shanty Town - Desmond Dekker
9. Pressure Drop - The Maytals
10. Sitting in Limbo - Jimmy Cliff
11. You Can Get It If You Really Want - Jimmy Cliff
12.... Read more ›
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Old time classic that can be watched over and over again and you'd...
I just love this film and I can't think of anyone that doesn't!! Jimmy Cliff at his best!! Compared to technology these days, this film would seem a bit "out dated" to... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Miss T
3.0 out of 5 stars
subtitles are not in english
Classic reggae film, some of those Jamaican accents are pretty full-on and the fact that I cant read Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or Finnish didn't help much!
Published 1 month ago by Stuart
4.0 out of 5 stars
ok
this movie was an alright movie looked better when i was younger but still can't knock it too much considering the storyline. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Electric
5.0 out of 5 stars
love it
Great. Docu footage excellent. Patois fab. xxxxxxxxxxx xxxx xxx xxxx x x xxx x x xx x x x xx
Published 5 months ago by babs
5.0 out of 5 stars
Harder They Come
This movie meant a lot to me back in the days. watching it on a black and white tv at the time.
Yes enjoyed it very much. Read more
Yes enjoyed it very much. Read more
Published 5 months ago by millmill
5.0 out of 5 stars
We all know that this is a classic movie, BUT...
..I must say that Revolver Dvd people have wasted an oportunity to make this a perfect dvd release. The picture seems much better and brighter than my old Criterion copy and also... Read more
Published 7 months ago by SeaWasp
4.0 out of 5 stars
An island story
I write this review on Jamaica Day, fifty years after independence, having just been to see this film for the third or fourth time in my life - I remember going to see it on its... Read more
Published 10 months ago by GlynLuke
5.0 out of 5 stars
Harder They Come
A true reggae classic movie/soundtrack in every-way. Captures jamaica in a rough cut way. Town, country, church and dancehall. Its a pity the part two didn't make it.
Published 21 months ago by Mr. A. Reid
5.0 out of 5 stars
a struggle
this film has really made me aware how dificult it must of been to get noticed in the music era of that time,when being unknown with such natural talent would be a loss,this guy... Read more
Published 24 months ago by mr robert brown
5.0 out of 5 stars
You SHOULD get it if you really want!!!!
This is THE movie you want to see if you're into reggae and Jamaica!!!!
You should get it if you really want.......
You should get it if you really want.......
Published on 9 Jun 2011 by eddy wally
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