The Harder They Come
“With a Piece in His Hand He Takes on the Man!”
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Harder They Come TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2015-09-04
Top Cast
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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
Clover Lewis
Market Woman
Elijah Chambers
Longa
Prince Buster
DJ at Dance
Ed 'Bim' Lewis
Photographer
Bobby Loban
Fitz
Joanne Dunn
Barmaid
Don Topping
DJ
Karl Leslie
Freddie
Release History & Theatrical Window
CH4 Film Jamaica
Festival / Special Debut
February 8, 1973
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Perry Henzell
- Screenplay & Story
- Trevor D. Rhone, Perry Henzell
- Original Score
- Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker, The Slickers
- Original Title
- The Harder They Come
- Country of Origin
- Jamaica
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 43m
- Production Studios
- International Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Perry Henzell
Trevor D. Rhone, Perry Henzell
Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker, The Slickers
Reicland Anderson, Richard White, John Victor-Smith
Chris Blackwell, Perry Henzell, Jeff Scheftel
Department Leadership Roster
Perry Henzell
Producer
Jeff Scheftel
Producer
Perry Henzell
Director
Reicland Anderson
Editor
Richard White
Editor
John Victor-Smith
Editor
Trevor D. Rhone
Writer
Perry Henzell
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Harder They Come.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Harder They Come.
Movie Collection
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A list of mids found by Mid Hunters
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Harder They Come
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
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 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.
Who directed The Harder They Come?
The Harder They Come was directed by Perry Henzell.
Who stars in The Harder They Come?
The principal cast of The Harder They Come includes Jimmy Cliff, Janet Bartley, Carl Bradshaw, Ras Daniel Hartman, Basil Keane.
When was The Harder They Come released and how long is it?
The Harder They Come was released in 1972 with a total runtime of 1h 43m.
Who composed the musical score for The Harder They Come?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Harder They Come was composed by Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker, The Slickers.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Harder They Come?
The Harder They Come holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).