

01/08/1972
Ivanhoe Martin arrives in Kingston, Jamaica, looking for work and, after some initial struggles, lands a recording contract as a reggae singer. He records his first song, "The Harder They Come," but after a bitter dispute with a manipulative producer named Hilton, soon finds himself resorting to petty crime in order to pay the bills. He deals marijuana, kills some abusive cops and earns local folk hero status. Meanwhile, his record is topping the charts.

Jimmy Cliff
as Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin

Janet Bartley
as Elsa

Carl Bradshaw
as Jose

Ras Daniel Hartman
as Pedro

Basil Keane
as Preacher

Bob Charlton
as Hilton

Winston Stona
as Detective Ray Jones

Lucia White
as Mother

Volair Johnson
as Pushcart Boy

Beverly Anderson
as Housewife

Clover Lewis
as Market Woman

Elijah Chambers
as Longa

Prince Buster
as DJ at Dance

Ed 'Bim' Lewis
as Photographer

Bobby Loban
as Fitz

Joanne Dunn
as Barmaid

Don Topping
as DJ

Karl Leslie
as Freddie

Sandra Redwood
as Girl

Ula Fraser
as Elsa Friend

Carol Lawes
as Elsa Friend

Aston 'Bam' Winter
as Drunk

Toots Hibbert
as Himself

Adrian Robinson
as Editor

Franco Nero
as Django (archive footage)
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