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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.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
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El Rey plays some very fun stuff.
In the Tudor Period, Fencing Masters were classified in the Vagrancy Laws along with Actors, Gypsys, Vagabonds, Sturdy Rogues, and the owners of performing bears.
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11-25-2025, 12:43 AM
(This post was last modified: 11-25-2025, 12:44 AM by Drunk Monk.)
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.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
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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.
the hands that guide me are invisible
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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.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
