Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

The Harder They Come Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 12, 2019

1972’s “The Harder They Come” was a shot of authenticity from Jamaica, which was, at the time, beginning to establish itself, developing its culture and sound. Director Perry Henzell decided to share that magic with the world, creating a feature that celebrated movie storytelling yet remained verite in style, using a rough sense of filmmaking to pull viewers into island life, following the exploits of a character (portrayed by Jimmy Cliff) who experiences poverty, finds his voice in music, and ends up an outlaw. Henzell can’t escape the low-budget stiffness of the production, but there’s undeniable energy on display, with the picture soaking in the juices of reggae and smoked into a stupor, all the while providing a grand tour of life in Jamaica, with Henzell creating an enthralling travelogue.

For additional analysis, please read Svet Atanasov’s 2015 Review.

The Harder They Come Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented as a "New 4K scan from the original 16mm negative," the AVC encoded image (1.67:1 aspect ratio) presentation attempts to offer the definitive viewing experience for "The Harder They Come." It's a scrappy movie to begin with, leaving extraordinary detail difficult to come by, but there are textures to appreciate, including facial surfaces and the decay of the poverty-stricken land. Distances are appreciable, offering a dimensional look at street life. Hues maintain consistency, surveying Jamaican greenery and period costuming, which favors a lot of creams and golds. Primaries are secure throughout. Delineation is acceptable, picking up on limited lighting and evening encounters. Grain is film-like. Source is in rougher shape, finding debris, speckling, and scratches. Some frame discoloration is periodically encountered.

The Harder They Come Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix tries to overcome a low-budget sound design and aged materials. Clarity is good for this movie, and while optional subtitles are highly recommended, those in turn with the Jamaican Patois should be able to follow along, only encountering some mild hiss. Soundtrack selections retain more definition, with detailed instrumentation and comfortable volume. Vocals retain appealing clarity. Sound effects register as intended, offering mild snap to gunplay.

The Harder They Come Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc 1

• Commentary features author David Katz.

• "One and All: The Phenomenon of 'The Harder They Come'" (10:09, SD) is a quick summary of the picture's developing success, with reggae historian Roger Steffens guiding the featurette, which also collects interviews with cast and crew, along with fans such as John Densmore of The Doors. Topics include the casting of Jimmy Cliff, director Perry Henzell's intent to show off the real Jamaica, the story's origins in real-world crime, screenplay themes, the initial release, and the lasting legacy of "The Harder They Come."

• "A Hard Road to Travel" (52:01, SD) is a lengthier making-of for "The Harder They Come," with Henzell detailing his initial inspiration for the project and his early career ambitions. Script development is recounted, and casting is explored, with Cliff a major "get" for the feature, while Henzell worked carefully with the rest of the cast, developing performances. Cinematography achievements are noted, including the use of Super 16mm, which was a new process at the time. Production challenges are revealed, with Henzell hoping for authenticity but soon encountering basic playability, requiring major reshoots to hammer the movie into shape. While the Jamaican reaction to "The Harder They Come" was huge, it was in the international release of the film that cemented its legacy, with Henzell soon tasked to sell the picture around the world by himself.

• Interview (9:41, SD) returns to Steffens for a 1986 conversation with Jimmy Cliff, who fields questions about his true identity, musical influences, song inspirations, and religion and regrets.

• Interview (7:26, SD) with Henzell's friend Arthur Gordon is a short run-through of his own employment history, his first meeting with the director of "The Harder They Come," and the developing popularity of the feature.

• Interview (10:55, SD) returns to Gordon, who spends a moment with Henzell, meeting at a time when he's just finished his screenplay for a sequel to "The Harder They Come." The helmer also talks about his follow-up endeavor, "No Place Like Home," and shares the importance about staying in Jamaica.

• Interview (39:27, HD) with David MacDonald is a lengthy conversation about "The Harder They Come," with the cinematographer actually recommended for the gig by Ridley Scott. MacDonald retraces the history of the picture and examines his relationship with Henzell, dealing with a production that ultimately ran out of funds, requiring a different cinematographer to finish the film. A lengthy technical discussion about Super 16mm is included, along with MacDonald's experience in Jamaica. Memories about Jimmy Cliff, the enormous use of weed on the set, and the feature's hope to bring reggae to the world are shared.

• Interview (31:21, HD) with associate producer Yvonne Brewster mostly includes anecdotes about the making of "The Harder They Come," dealing with production origins and working with Jimmy Cliff.

• Music Video (3:32, SD) is for "The Harder They Come" by Jimmy Cliff.

• Photo Gallery (7:29) offers personal pictures from the shoot, and snaps of life in Jamaica.

Disc 2

• "No Place Like Home" (89:54, HD) is a Henzell's follow-up to "The Harder They Come," presented here with a "New restoration from the original negative."

• "Perry Henzell: A Filmmaker's Odyssey" (25:00, HD) opens with a retelling of "The Harder They Come" story before moving to focus on "No Place Like Home." Ready to dive back into filmmaking, Henzell got to work on his second movie in 1973, armed with a small crew and no screenplay. Finding quickly dried up and shooting stopped, with Henzell trying to resurrect the feature in 1981, only to find his original negative was missing. In 2004, projectionist Dave Garonzik, fueled by fandom for "The Harder They Come," learned of the second picture, soon setting out to find the negative. After a long hunt, "No Place Like Home" was located, in need of an extensive restoration and new footage. Henzell's vision was finally realized, with the effort prepared for a debut screening at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival.

• "Rise-up from the Cutting Room Floor" (4:56, HD) is an overview of the restoration process, hosted by Garonzik.

• Songs: "P.J. Soles Original Vocal Track for 'World Full of Beauty'," (1:56) and "Steven Soles Original Guitar and Vocal Track for 'World Full of Beauty'" (3:29) are offered.

• And a Trailer (3:21, SD) is included.

Disc 3

• "Filmin' in the Gully: Anatomy of Three Scenes" (13:27, HD) talks with cinematographer Franklin St. Juste, who shares information concerning his initial hiring, technical challenges with Super 16mm, reshoots, and the creation of sequences with little prep or props (including a gun fight between two characters and only one weapon was purchased for the production).

• "Duppies in the Control Room: Dynamic Sounds Studio Then and Now" (11:32, HD) is a tour of the Jamaican facility with Errol Gayle, who shares anecdotes along the way.

• "10A: The Jamaican Film Yard" (13:31, HD) surveys the Jamaican production space, with Sally Henzell leading a tour of the grounds, offering her memories.

• Interview (24:26, HD) with Ridley Scott discusses his initial meeting with Perry Henzell and his time in Jamaica, making commercials. Scott offers his memories of local customs and life, an assessment of Henzell's career, and goes on a bit of a tangent concerning generational divide when it comes to attention spans.

• "Out of Many One Filmmaker" (60:45, HD) talks "The Harder They Come" and Perry Henzell with Chris Browne, Storm Saulter, Gerald "Rass Kassa" Hynes, and Maxine Waters.

• "Everyone a Star: The Original Cast" (48:57, HD) discusses acting under Henzell with P.J. Soles, Carl Bradshaw, and Winston Stona.

• "Whole Heap of Help" (48:09, HD) covers more Henzell and "The Harder They Come" with Beverly Manley, Robert Russell, and Cookie Kinkead.

• "Roots: The Family Henzell" (46:05, HD) explores domestic life with Perry Henzell, interviewing wife Sally Henzell, and children Justine and Jason Henzell.

• "How Perry Henzell Rocked the World" (59:11, HD) talks music with Steven Soles, "Native" Wayne Jobson, and Chris Salewicz.

• "Live from the Reggae Awards" (11:52, HD) hits the red carpet to examine the influence of "The Harder They Come," with guests offering memories about the film and Henzell.

• "The Legacy of Perry Henzell: A Story of Jamaican Cinema" (1:30, HD) presents end credits and few parting offerings of gratitude from the crew.

The Harder They Come Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Shout Factory goes big with their release of "The Harder They Fall," not only offering the feature and a myriad of supplements, but also including Henzell's troubled follow-up, "No Place Like Home," creating a set that successfully encapsulates the helmer's filmmaking drive. There's a lot to work through here, but the core experience of "The Harder They Come" is maintained, offering an enjoyable presentation of the cult movie.