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+--- Thread: The Harder They Come (/showthread.php?tid=3154)
The Harder They Come - Drunk Monk - 08-17-2014
I just saw Jimmy Cliff at RotR30. I even used the image for THTC on my JNK laminate (and was disappointed at how few so-called Reggae fans didn't recognize it). Anyway, I still luv THTC. It captures JA really well, the fashion, the music, the roughness of 'yard. Not sure how it might play out to non-Reggae fans but it still works for me.
Caught this on El Rey network. It's the first time I've watched that channel and I think I might be hooked.
Re: The Harder They Come - Dr. Ivor Yeti - 08-18-2014
El Rey plays some very fun stuff.
RE: The Harder They Come - Drunk Monk - 11-25-2025
Ttt over 11 years later.
And now I’ve been talent for El Rey for two seasons, and it’s already gone dark. What a wonderful weird world…
Watched this again in honor of Jimmy Cliff’s passing. It’s such an odd film, more like cinéma vérité than a reggae thriller. Cliff’s character Ivan is such a punk. He’s also so young - it was 1972. The soundtrack is bashment - raw roots reggae - how Rasta sausage is made. Toots is so young too. Stacy popped in for a second to watch and was struck by how well it captured that singular Jamaican vibe - we both felt it brought us right back to when we were there in ‘96, except the for the cars. For some reason, Leslie Kong really stuck out to me - it’s the most footage of him I’ve ever seen. Usually he’s just in still photos. He was a major producer mogul in the foundation days of reggae, and was who discovered Cliff irl. The chillum scene also sticks out - hard to hit those with such panache and volume. Like I said, cinéma vérité.
Such a fitting snapshot of those early years of reggae. Still love this film for so many reasons, despite its quirky unevenness.
Seen on hoopla.
RE: The Harder They Come - King Bob - 11-25-2025
The NYT obit had a link to an old (and mediocre) article about a 2019 revival of the movie in New York, and the cinematographer said the ideas kept changing and that he never saw a script. In the Cliff obit they said that they filmed off and on because they kept running out of money. That probably contributes to the unevenness.
RE: The Harder They Come - Drunk Monk - 11-25-2025
It definitely has that low budget random feel, but that's so much of its charm.
Ironically, I find myself humming Toot's 'Sweet & Dandy' more than 'The Harder They Come' afterwards. The studio session with Toots is fire.