The unforgettable 1972 flick with Jimmy Cliff is a  classic Jamaican movie and it will be remade using the production companies of United Kingdom- based Zingu Films and Canada-based Conquering Lion with producer Justine Henzell.

The original film was written and directed by Perry Henzell, Justine Henzell’s father.

Produced and set in Jamaica, the film became a midnight classic when it hit the States the following year, distributed by Roger Corman.

The movie boasts a reggae soundtrack with tracks by Cliff himself. Can’t talk about this cult classic movie without mentioning the legendary soundtrack and the impact of the film’s reggae soundtrack on the global music scene.

Conquering Lion’s producerDamon D’Oliveira described the remake as “a re-imagining that will move to contemporary reggae and reggae-influenced grooves.”

The original film starred Jimmy Cliff, Janet Bartley and Carl Bradshaw.

Its plot involved a Reggae singer pushing his singing career in the city, but finding it harder than he thought.

Producer Justine Henzell said that, for the first time, she is confident that they will have a team that will simultaneously honor the original while creating a new narrative worthy of the legacy.

The movie will be filmed in Jamaica and London and the new version will try to keep the same real informative view on Jamrock.

Chris Salewicz who also wrote Third World Cop is in charge for the screen play and the movie will be in production next year.

“THE HARDER THEY COME” MOVIE

The Harder They Come is a 1972 Jamaican crime film directed by Perry Henzell and co-written by Trevor D. Rhone, starring legendary Jamaican singer Jimmy Cliff.

The film is most famous for its reggae soundtrack that is said to have “brought reggae to the world”.

The film was a sensation in Jamaica due to its naturalistic portrayal of black Jamaicans in real locations and its use of local Patois (Jamaican Creole).

However, the popularity of the movie was limited outside of Jamaica because the local Patois spoken by the characters was so thick that it required subtitles, making it possibly “the first English-language movie in history to require subtitles in the United States”.

This movie become a cult and an iconic movie that inspired many others on the same theme, but not all could nail the exploration of Jamaican culture and identity like Perry Henzel did.

“The Harder They Come” remains a unique masterpiece, despite several attempts to copy it,  and among the reasons of its success of course there are elements like the story, the leading actor Jimmy Cliff/ Ivan and the Rebel Spirit he incarnates, with the whole film revolving around crime and the struggles of the main character, the Ghetto Life theme that offers a realistic depiction of life in the impoverished urban areas of Jamaica, addressing social issues such as poverty, corruption, and inequality more prevalent than ever during the historical and cultural backdrop of the film’s setting: 1960s in Jamaica.

This is also the first Jamaican movie that offers a glimpse on the Gangster Culture digging into the representation of criminal activities and the gangster lifestyle.

Another crucial element of “The Harder They Come” success is also the rise to fame experience of Ivan’s journey from a struggling musician to local celebrity.

Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff stars as Ivan Martin, an aspiring singer who leaves his rural village for the big city of Kingston, hoping to make a name for himself. Robbed of his money and possessions on his first day in town, he finds work with a self-righteous preacher and an unscrupulous music mogul who exploits young hopefuls.

In desperation, the simple country boy turns outlaw, at war with both the police and his rivals in the ganja trade.

Ivan’s dream of stardom soon becomes a reality as he rises to the top of both the pop charts… and the most-wanted lists. This story will grab you in, if you did not see it yet, press play below and enjoy the full original movie for free in HD.

 “The Harder They Come” HD FULL MOVIE Jimmy Cliff