"The Harder They Come" was on last night

[Error]

Has anyone seen this? What did you perceive was the message of the film?

[Blue-Jay]

1. Is it a porno?

[ironflange]

4. If it was. . .

Wouldn't they spell "come" differently?

[sakabatou]

15. *snrk*

[Omphaloskepsis]

2. Is this the movie with Jimmy Cliff?

I saw it about ten years ago and don't remember much.

[Error]

3. Yeah - it is

first time I saw it I didn't really get it.

this time I was able to make a bit better effort to understand the dialogue. Basically it is the story of a man who wants to succeed as a musician in a world of corruption. He wants to make it as a music star. Nobody will play his song because they are controlled by the mob. He bucks against the system of corruption and they shut him out.

He then turns to selling ganja to make money for food. He wants to know why he gets so little money compared to the man behind it all, whom nobody knows who he is. The ganja seller sees him as a disturbance and removes the police protection. He then shoots his first victim - the cop who tries to nab him. The cops pursue and he becomes a local folk hero for evading the cops as he defiantly and violently pursues his dream. His song becomes a hit as a result of his shooting sprees. The cops then shut down the ganja trade and try to starve him out of the ghetto. He almost escapes the island - the other ganja traders rat him out and the army finally hunts him down and kills him.

[idgiehkt]

5. The soundtrack is my favorite reggae/ska album of all time

The Maytals, Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker. It does not get any better. I have never seen the movie but I have worn that soundtrack out for the last twenty years.

If I had to guess the message I would think it might be in that graffiti they show in one of the scenes that says "I was here/but then I disappeared."

some songs (and scenes from the movie)

Sweet and Dandy - the Maytals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_St8Kbo4uwU

Many Rivers to Cross (live), by Jimmy Cliff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW5TH2WoYc0

The Harder They Come (movie scenes) by Jimmy Cliff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGE4dnrPPZQ

You Can Get It If You Really Want by Desmond Dekker (I think Jimmy Cliff
sings this on the soundtrack, not sure)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORamWDzFuaM

[mark414]

6. fuck yes

this album is pure classic, one of the greatest soundtracks and albums ever, period

[Hand]

11. Roger that!

I bought it on vinyl years and years ago and wore it out. Have to get the CD--remixed, remastered...

[datasuspect]

7. desmond decker is one of my faves

thanks for posting this . . .

[idgiehkt]

12. me too

he had one of the most beautiful voices, like a ska Smokey Robison or something.

[idgiehkt]

8. here's a link to the soundtrack

I think everyone should listen to this, it'll change your life, lol

http://www.amazon.com/Harder-They-Come-Jimmy-Cliff/dp/B...

I keep hoping someone will load 007/Shantytown by Desmond Dekker onto youtube one day; it's my favorite ska song ever and one of my favorite songs of all time/ here is the amazon sample of it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B00005LZWR001...

[mark414]

9. this was the best i could find

a ride through through jamaica to the tune of 007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuZ_6_-W5CA

[idgiehkt]

10. YES!!!

that is awesome, thank you. Great footage in that too.

That song is like a drug for me. I've actually seen some reggae bands perform it live and the feeling in the audience when it's done live is just amazing. Thank you!

It's actually not a happy song but ska beats just always feel uplifting to me even when the subject matter is so dark like in this song (and in Johnny Too Bad, another one of my favorites from that soundtrack).

Dem a loot, dem a shoot, dem a wail
A Shanty Town
Dem a loot, dem a shoot, dem a wail
A Shanty Town
Dem rudeboys get a probation
A Shanty Town
And rudeboy bomb up the town
A Shanty Town

0-0-7
0-0-7
At ocean eleven
And the rudeboys a go wail
'Cause them out of jail
Rudeboys cannot fail
'Cause them must get bail

Also found "Sitting in Limbo" by Jimmy Cliff from the soundtrack too, this is to a fanvid but it's not too obnoxious

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_yGkosy9qc

I can't believe Cliff isn't every bit as famous as Bob Marley

[idgiehkt]

13. SNL recording of Toots and the Maytals doing Pressure Drop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Xy3_1ZVrlY

[Deja Q]

14. You get the hankey, I'll get the black light...