History Film / TheHarderTheyCome

''The Harder They Come'' was the first [[UsefulNotes/{{Jamaica}} Jamaican]] film ever released. Directed by Perry Henzell in 1972 it quickly became a cult movie in Jamaica, but also managed to become a CultClassic in the rest of the world. In the United States it was marketed in the ''midnight movie'' circuit as something of an exotic {{Blaxploitation}} movie. Subtitles were required to help audiences understand the local Jamaican patois spoken in the film. This is why it was included in [[DannyPearyCultMoviesList Danny Peary's first volume of "Cult Movies" (1981)]].

* ShoutOut:
** The track "007 (Shanty Town)" references Franchise/JamesBond and ''Film/OceansEleven'' (the 1960s version).
** The song "Rivers Of Babylon" by The Melodians would later be covered by Boney M and became a huge disco hit.
** "The Guns Of Brixton" by Music/TheClash on ''Music/LondonCalling'' references the film. Much later it went full circle when Cliff recorded a CoverVersion.
---> ''You see, he feels like Ivan''
---> ''Born under the Brixton sun''
---> ''His game is called survivin' ''
---> ''At the end of "The Harder They Come"''

* {{Novelization}}: Released in 1980 and written by Ekwueme Michael Thelwell.

The film is notable for starring Music/JimmyCliff in the lead role, who was the biggest reggae star before Music/BobMarley came along. Cliff wrote and performed most of the songs on the CultSoundtrack, which all became hits in their own right: "You Can Get It If You Really Want", "The Harder They Come" and "Many Rivers To Cross". Other famous reggae songs in the film are "Rivers Of Babylon" by The Melodians, "Pressure Drop" by The Maytals and "007 (Shanty Town)" by Desmond Dekker. The hit songs made the soundtrack a genuine bestseller and many people in the West bought this CultSoundtrack without ever having seen the film. Some might not even be aware that it is a companion to a movie! The album is considered to have popularized reggae in the rest of the world, laying the grounds for future acts, most notable Music/BobMarley.

* DirtyCop: The Jamaican police are shown to be silent partners in the drug trade, basically running a ProtectionRacket by having the kingpins pay them in exchange for not getting arrested. A detective name Jones in particular is the point man for the cops in dealing with the with the ganja merchants, working out deals and threatening them if they step out of line.

A poor and jobless Jamaican man is caught up in a life of crime. One day he gets his chance to break out of poverty by recording a hit single, "The Harder They Come". When he is paid a ridiculous low fee for it he starts plotting to rebel against the corrupt record producer, while at the same time continuously running from the law...

* {{Blaxploitation}}: The movie was marketed in other parts of the world as a blaxploitation film, only because it features black people sticking it up to the man. But it did manage to reach the right crowd and became a mainstay in the midnight movie circuit.

* RefrainFromAssuming: Despite being a Jamaican movie it does not feature any reference to Rastafarianism (though Pedro was played by an actual Rasta, Ras Daniel Heartman, complete with dreadlocks), nor Music/BobMarley. The movie was released before Marley broke through internationally, thus explaining why Music/JimmyCliff was cast as star, seeing that he most the most famous reggae star before Marley surpassed him.

* RefrainFromAssuming: Despite being a Jamaican movie it does not feature any reference to Rastafarianism (outside of Pedro's dreadlocks), nor Music/BobMarley. The movie was released before Marley broke through internationally, thus explaining why Music/JimmyCliff was cast as star, seeing that he most the most famous reggae star before Marley surpassed him.

* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: In the 1940s a notorious Jamaican criminal named Vincent "Ivanhoe" Martin, aka [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhyging "Rhyging"]], managed to elude the police for several months and became somewhat of a Myth/RobinHood character in Jamaica. He was eventually shot by the police. The film is essentially a RealPersonFic placing Ivan in Kingston in TheSeventies, as a {{Reggae}} singer.

* BasedOnATrueStory: Sort of. In the 1940s a notorious Jamaican criminal named Vincent "Ivanhoe" Martin, aka [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhyging "Rhyging"]], managed to elude the police for several months and became somewhat of a Myth/RobinHood character in Jamaica. He was eventually shot by the police.

* RefrainFromAssuming: Despite being a Jamaican movie it does not feature any reference to rastafarianism, nor Music/BobMarley. The movie was released before Marley broke through internationally, thus explaining why Music/JimmyCliff was cast as star, seeing that he most the most famous reggae star before Marley surpassed him.

** "The Guns Of Brixton" by Music/TheClash on ''Music/LondonCalling'' references the film.
--> ''You see, he feels like Ivan''
--> ''Born under the Brixton sun''
--> ''His game is called survivin' ''
--> ''At the end of "The Harder They Come"''
* StonerFlick: Often treated that way, because it was... well... made in Jamaica.

''The Harder They Come'' was the first [[UsefulNotes/{{Jamaica}} Jamaica]]n film ever released. Directed by Perry Henzell in 1972 it quickly became a cult movie in Jamaica, but also managed to become a CultClassic in the rest of the world. In the United States it was marketed in the ''midnight movie'' circuit as something of an exotic {{Blaxploitation}} movie. Subtitles were required to help audiences understand the local Jamaican patois dialect. This is why it was included in [[DannyPearyCultMoviesList Danny Peary's first volume of "Cult Movies" (1981)]].

The film is notable for starring Music/JimmyCliff in the lead role, who was the biggest reggae star before Music/BobMarley came along. Cliff wrote and performed most of the songs on the CultSoundtrack, which all became hits in their own right: "You Can Get It If You Really Want", "The Harder They Come" and "Many Rivers To Cross". Other famous reggae songs in the film are "Rivers Of Babylon" by The Melodians, "Pressure Drop" by The Maytals and "007 (Shanty Town)" by Desmond Dekker. The hit songs made the soundtrack a genuine bestseller and many people in the West bought this CultSoundtrack without ever having seen the film. Some might not even be aware that it is a companion to a movie!

Magazine/TimeMagazine included the album in their [[TimeAllTime100Albums 2006 list of 100 timeless and essential albums.]] Magazine/RollingStone placed it at #122 in [[Music/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime their list of the greatest albums of all time]].

* BasedOnATrueStory: Sort of. In the 1940s a notorious Jamaican criminal named Vincent "Ivanhoe" Martin, aka "Rhyhing", managed to elude the police for several months and became somewhat of a Myth/RobinHood character in Jamaica. He was eventually shot by the police.
* {{Blaxploitation}}: The movie was marketed in other parts of the world as a blaxploitation film, only because it features black people sticking it up to the man. But it did manage to reach the right crowd and became a mainstay in the midnight movie circuit.
* ButHeSoundsHandsome: Ivan, a total unknown in the music industry, goes to a dance club to see how people react to his first single. While the record is playing, he casually asks a stranger what he thinks of the song. When the man says "Not bad," Ivan responds, "''I'' think it's a hit."
* CelebrityCameo: Toots & the Maytals can be seen laying down voice tracks in the studio. They are also featured on the soundtrack.
* CrapsackWorld: Crime, poverty, corruption, police brutality, a mirror of Jamaican society.
* CultSoundtrack: A huge international bestseller. It features four songs by Jimmy Cliff, two by the Maytals and one each by Scotty, The Melodians, The Slickers and Desmond Dekker.

* FilmWithinAFilm: Characters are watching ''Film/{{Django}}'' in a movie theater. Spaghetti westerns were very much [[CultClassic cult movies]] in their own right in Jamaica.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Just like the titular character in ''Film/{{Django}}'' with whom he compares himself to Ivanhoe is ambushed by the police.
* TheForeignSubtitle: When first released in the West movie theater owners were forced to add English subtitles to the film, because nobody could understand the very thick Jamaican dialects.

** Characters watch ''Film/{{Django}}'' in a film theater.
** The track "007 (Shanty Town)" references Franchise/JamesBond and ''Film/OceansEleven'' (the 1960s version).
** The song "Rivers Of Babylon" by The Melodians would later be covered by Music/BoneyM and became a huge disco hit.

The film is notable for starring Music/JimmyCliff in the lead role, who was the biggest reggae star before Music/BobMarley came along. Cliff wrote and performed most of the songs on the CultSoundtrack, which all became hits in their own right: "You Can Get It If You Really Want", "The Harder They Come" and "Many Rivers To Cross". Other famous reggae songs in the film are "Rivers Of Babylon" by The Melodians, "Pressure Drop" by The Maytals and "007 (Shanty Town)" by Desmond Dekker. The EarWorm hit songs made the soundtrack a genuine bestseller and many people in the West bought this CultSoundtrack without ever having seen the film. Some might not even be aware that it is a companion to a movie!

'''The Harder They Come''' was the first [[UsefulNotes/{{Jamaica}} Jamaica]]n film ever released. Directed by Perry Henzell in 1972 it quickly became a cult movie in Jamaica, but also managed to become a CultClassic in the rest of the world. In the United States it was marketed in the ''midnight movie'' circuit as something of an exotic {{Blaxploitation}} movie. Subtitles were required to help audiences understand the local Jamaican patois dialect. This is why it was included in [[DannyPearyCultMoviesList Danny Peary's first volume of "Cult Movies" (1981)]].

* StreisandEffect: When Ivan, an unknown in the music industry, goes on the run from the police after shooting three officers, his song skyrockets in popularity. When the police tell his producer they're going to ban the song for glorifying criminality, the producer warns them that banning it will generate even more public interest.
* TheresNoBInMovie: It's a very low-budget film with people who never acted before. But it is authentic.

* NobleFugitive and {{Outlaw}}: Ivanhoe is chased by the police and wanted for murder, but he was forced to go into crime in order to survive.

[[quoteright:238:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_harder_they_come_7943.jpg]]

'''The Harder They Come''' was the first [[UsefulNotes/{{Jamaica}} Jamaica]]n film ever released. Directed by Perry Henzell in 1972 it quickly became a cult movie in Jamaica, but also managed to become a CultClassic in the rest of the world. In the United States it was marketed in the ''Midnight Movie'' circuit as something of an exotic {{Blaxploitation}} movie. Subtitles were required to help audiences understand the local Jamaican patois dialect.

''"The Harder They Come"'' tells the story of a poor and jobless Jamaican man who is caught up in a life of crime. One day he gets his chance to break out of poverty by recording a hit single, "The Harder They Come". When he is paid a ridiculous low fee for it he starts plotting to rebel against the corrupt record producer, while at the same time continuously running from the law...

The film is notable for starring Music/JimmyCliff in the lead role, who was the biggest reggae star before Music/BobMarley came along. Cliff wrote and performed most of the songs on the CultSoundtrack, which all became hits in their own right: ''"You Can Get It If You Really Want", "The Harder They Come"'' and ''"Many Rivers To Cross".'' Other famous reggae songs in the film are ''"Rivers Of Babylon"'' by The Melodians, ''"Pressure Drop"'' by The Maytals and ''"007 (Shanty Town)"'' by Desmond Dekker. The EarWorm hit songs on the soundtrack album also helped making reggae music popular in the west. It was a genuine bestseller and many people in the West bought this CultSoundtrack without ever having seen the film. Some might not even be aware that it is a companion to a movie! Magazine/TimeMagazine included the album in their [[TimeAllTime100Albums 2006 list of 100 timeless and essential albums.]]

'''Tracklist'''

* BasedOnATrueStory: Sort of. In the 1940s a notorious Jamaican criminal named Vincent "Ivanhoe" Martin, aka "Rhyhing", managed to elude the police for several months and became somewhat of a Myth/RobinHood character in Jamaica. He was eventually shot by the police.
* Literature/TheBible: "Rivers Of Babylon" by The Melodians is based on the Biblical Psalm 137: 1-4.

* EarnYourHappyEnding: ''The Harder They Come'', ''You Can Get It If You Really Want'' and ''Many Rivers To Cross''.

* IndependentMovie: It's a very low-budget film with people who never acted before.

* NobleFugitive: Ivanhoe is chased by the police and wanted for murder, but he was forced to go into crime in order to survive.

* PopCulturalOsmosis: Outside of Jamaica the soundtrack is better known among the general public than the film itself.

* ShoutOut: Characters watch ''Film/{{Django}}'' in a film theater.

* TimeMarchesOn: This film is a time capsule of what life in Jamaica was like in the early 1970s.

* BasedOnATrueStory: Sort of. In the 1940s a notorious Jamaican criminal named Vincent "Ivanhoe" Martin, aka "Rhyhing", managed to elude the police for several months and became somewhat of a Literature/RobinHood character in Jamaica. He was eventually shot by the police.

''(The Harder They Come('' was the first [[UsefulNotes/{{Jamaica}} Jamaica]]n film ever released. Directed by Perry Henzell in 1972 it quickly became a cult movie in Jamaica, but also managed to become a CultClassic in the rest of the world. In the United States it was marketed in the ''Midnight Movie'' circuit as something of an exotic {{Blaxploitation}} movie. Subtitles were required to help audiences understand the local Jamaican patois dialect.

''"The Harder They Come"'' was the first [[UsefulNotes/{{Jamaica}} Jamaica]]n film ever released. Directed by Perry Henzell in 1972 it quickly became a cult movie in Jamaica, but also managed to become a CultClassic in the rest of the world. In the United States it was marketed in the ''Film/MidnightMovie'' circuit as something of an exotic {{Blaxploitation}} movie. Subtitles were required to help audiences understand the local Jamaican patois dialect.

The film is notable for starring Music/JimmyCliff in the lead role, who was the biggest reggae star before Music/BobMarley came along. Cliff wrote and performed most of the songs on the soundtrack, which all became hits in their own right: ''"You Can Get It If You Really Want", "The Harder They Come"'' and ''"Many Rivers To Cross".'' Other famous reggae songs in the film are ''"Rivers Of Babylon"'' by The Melodians, ''"Pressure Drop"'' by The Maytals and ''"007 (Shanty Town)"'' by Desmond Dekker. The EarWorm hit songs on the soundtrack album also helped making reggae music popular in the west. It was a genuine bestseller and many people in the West bought this CultSoundtrack without ever having seen the film. Some might not even be aware that it is a companion to a movie!

!! Many tropes to cross

* Literature/TheBible: ''Rivers Of Babylon'' by The Melodians is based on the Biblical Psalm 137: 1-4.

* DenOfIniquity: ''007 (Shanty Town)''

* NoBudget: The film was made with very little money.
* PepTalkSong: ''You Can Get It If You Really Want''.

** The track ''007 (Shanty Town)'' references Franchise/JamesBond and ''Film/OceansEleven'' (the 1960s version).
** The song ''Rivers Of Babylon'' by The Melodians would later be covered by Music/BoneyM and became a huge disco hit.

* TrainSong and TrainStopping: ''Draw Your Brakes'' by Scotty, a cover of ''Stop That Train'' by The Spanishtonians.
* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: This film is a time capsule of what life in Jamaica was like in the early 1970s.

''"The Harder They Come"'' was the first [[UsefulNotes/{{Jamaica}} Jamaica]]n film ever released. Directed by Perry Henzell in 1972 it quickly became a cult movie in Jamaica, but also managed to become a CultClassic in the rest of the world. In the United States it was marketed in the MidnightMovie circuit as something of an exotic {{Blaxploitation}} movie. Subtitles were required to help audiences understand the local Jamaican patois dialect.

* StonerFlick: Often treated that way, because it was... well... made in Jamaica.
* TrainSong: ''Draw Your Brakes'' by Scotty, a cover of ''Stop That Train'' by The Spanishtonians.

The film is notable for starring Music/JimmyCliff in the lead role, who was the biggest reggae star before Music/BobMarley came along. Cliff wrote and performed most of the songs on the soundtrack, which all became hits in their own right: "You Can Get It If You Really Want", "The Harder They Come" and "Many Rivers To Cross". Other famous reggae songs in the film are "Rivers Of Babylon" by The Melodians, "Pressure Drop" by The Maytals and "007 (Shanty Town)" by Desmond Dekker. The EarWorm hit songs on the soundtrack album also helped making reggae music popular in the west. It was a genuine bestseller and many people in the West bought this CultSoundtrack without ever having seen the film. Some might not even be aware that it is a companion to a movie!

''"The Harder They Come"'' was the first [[UsefulNotes/{{Jamaica}}]]n film ever released. Directed by Perry Henzell in 1972 it quickly became a cult movie in Jamaica, but also managed to become a CultClassic in the rest of the world. In the United States it was marketed in the MidnightMovie circuit as something of an exotic {{Blaxploitation}} movie. Subtitles were required to help audiences understand the local Jamaican patois dialect.

* [[spoiler:DownerEnding]]: Ivanhoe is eventually murdered by the police, just when he was making it big as a musical star.

"The Harder They Come" was the first Jamaican film ever released. Directed by Perry Henzell in 1972 it quickly became a cult movie in Jamaica, but also managed to become a CultClassic in the rest of the world. In the United States it was marketed in the MidnightMovie circuit as something of an exotic {{Blaxploitation}} movie. Subtitles were required to help audiences understand the local Jamaican patois dialect.

"The Harder They Come" tells the story of a poor and jobless Jamaican man who is caught up in a life of crime. One day he gets his chance to break out of poverty by recording a hit single, "The Harder They Come". When he is paid a ridiculous low fee for it he starts plotting to rebel against the corrupt record producer, while at the same time continuously running from the law...

* FilmWithinAFilm: Characters are watching Film/{{Django}} in a movie theater. Spaghetti westerns were very much [[CultClassic cult movies]] in their own right in Jamaica.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Just like the titular character in Film/{{Django}} with whom he compares himself to Ivanhoe is ambushed by the police.

* BasedOnATrueStory: Sort of. In the 1940s a notorious Jamaican criminal named Vincent "Ivanhoe" Martin, aka "Rhyhing", who managed to elude the police for several months and became somewhat of a Literature/RobinHood character in Jamaica.
* CultSoundtrack: Perhaps even more famous than the film itself. It features four songs by Jimmy Cliff, two by the Maytals and one each by Scotty, The Melodians, The Slickers and Desmond Dekker.
* FilmWithinAFilm: Characters are watching Film/{{Django}} in a movie theater. Spaghetti westerns were very much [[CultClassics cult movies]] in their own right in Jamaica.

* FakeBlood: The blood in this movie is obviously red paint.