Search - The Harder They Come [Special Edition] [Criterion Collection] on DVD

Content Advisory: Violence, Nudity, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1972 DVD Release: 10/17/2000 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Special Collection Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 43 mins Studio: Criterion Members Wishing: 25 Genres: Crime, Musical Drama, Crime Drama, Showbiz Drama, Urban Drama See Also: The Harder They Come [30th Anniversary Special Edition], The Harder They Come

Reggae star Jimmy Cliff is the principal reason that The Harder They Come was one of the first truly successful films to come out of Jamaica. Cliff plays Ivan, a young would-be singer who finds the going rough when he hits the big city of Kingston. Jailed for participating in a knife fight, Ivan is exploited by a dishonest record-company executive upon his release. Turning his back on the establishment, Ivan becomes involved in the marijuana trade. He keeps the police at arm's length by offering them a slice of the action, but ultimately finds himself in the middle of a bloody raid. Ivan kills several cops and escapes, whereupon the duplicitous record exec releases Ivan's single "The Harder They Come," elevating the fugitive to the status of folk hero. The Harder They Come utilizes a take-no-prisoners approach to its material and presents an unadorned view of the seamier side of Jamaica life. The film resulted in an incredible upsurge in the popularity of reggae music in America; among the highlights in its hit-after-hit score are "You Can Really Get It If You Want It," "Sitting in Limbo," "Johnny Too Bad," and the title song. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Jimmy Cliff - Ivan

Perry Henzell's reggae-saturated gangster film The Harder They Come arrives on DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.66:1. A closed-captioned English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Mono. English subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include a commentary track recorded by director Henzell and lead actor Jimmy Cliff, interviews, and discographies and biographies of many of the artists whose music appears in the film. This disc shows once again why Criterion is one of the leading names in DVDs. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide