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The Harder They Come (1973)

1973 • 1h 43m • Drama, Crime • R
On October 4, 2026
#11250
11250th by Pulse movie online
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CinemaSerf on The Harder They Come

6/10 · Sep 3, 2022

I want to start by mentioning the new Garden Cinema in Holborn, London; it’s a small venue, but it’s good to see somewhere new opening up, so check it out if you're around. The movie I watched there stars Jimmy Cliff as "Ivan," who dreams of being a reggae singer and lands a record deal with someone not exactly on the up-and-up. His song does alright, but he doesn't get much money for it. Annoyed and without funds, he starts selling drugs and then runs into trouble with the police. Before long, his actions place him in a situation similar to Robin Hood’s legendary status. Even though the police try hard – although they seem incapable of accurate aim – he avoids being caught and quickly becomes Jamaica's most wanted person. The soundtrack is really good; "You Can Get It if You Really Want It" plays a bit too often, but “Many Rivers to Cross” and the song with the same name as the film, along with Cliff’s interesting portrayal of his character, keep things enjoyable. However, the movie feels quite rough around the edges, with simple production values and editing. The dialogue, which uses Jamaican patois, is hard to understand because the sound mixing isn't great; it probably would have benefited from subtitles. It concludes as historical accounts indicate, and while I didn’t dislike it, I think its significance lies more in being Jamaica’s first locally produced feature film than in becoming a particularly memorable movie.

Source on TMDB