The Harder They Come Celebrates 40th Anniversary

Here's some information on one of music's most important movies of all time.

Press:

Like the ultimate antihero Ivanhoe Martin, Perry Henzell's cult classic film The Harder They Come is now everywhere - available to fans worldwide online via iTunes US, iTunes Canada and VHX. The film's original producers, International Films Management (IFM) and its partner Syndctd Entertainment, today digitally released a restored, remastered HD version of the iconic, uniquely Jamaican film starring Jimmy Cliff.

For the first time, The Harder They Come has also been made available direct to fans to download and stream from the movie's official website. "Perry strongly believed in the power of Art to bridge cultural boundaries," said IFM Chair Justine Henzell, "so having his film available to the world in this manner is a dream come true."

VHX (vhx.tv) powers the direct-to-fan platform which allows anyone in the world with a web connection to purchase and stream a DRM-free digital download, along with the option to bundle official The Harder They Come merchandise like t-shirts, jerseys and posters. "We are thrilled to partner this iconic film with the two most important digital film distribution platforms of the moment," commented IFM Counsel and producing partner Andrew Herz.

IFM and Syndctd Entertainment distributed the restored film into theatres last September for a one-night only special theatrical event. As part of the 360-degree approach to re-launching the classic film, an official merchandise line has also been created with a fresh spin on vintage artwork from the movie. "Consumers are looking for something special in the box when they purchase a DVD or Blu-ray. We want to translate that experience with an HD quality digital download straight to any fan's computer, laptop or tablet, along with official clothing as depicted in the film, at a discounted price, and VHX has provided that solution." say Syndctd Entertainment co-founders Philip Camino and Jonathan Chaupin.

ABOUT THE FILM:
For more than 40 years, critics and audiences from all walks of life have sung the praises of Perry Henzell's gritty, groundbreaking masterpiece that brought reggae music to the international stage, helped make Jimmy Cliff a worldwide star, and demonstrated that music and art can change the world. This homegrown Jamaican film, co-written with award-winning playwright, Trevor Rhone, has gone on to become one of the best regarded independent features of all time. The 1973 U.S. launch of The Harder They Come led to four decades of smoke filled late night-screenings around the world. When Bob Marley and the Wailers first toured America later that year, they appeared in many of the same theaters that were screening The Harder They Come.

ABOUT THE SOUNDTRACK:
The San Francisco Chronicle called The Harder They Come original soundtrack album "one of reggae's cornerstones" - along with the Marley catalog. Rolling Stone ranks The Harder They Come the third greatest soundtrack of all time (behind only behind Prince's Purple Rain and The Beatles' Help!). Written and performed by Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker, the Melodians, Scotty, The Slickers and Toots and The Maytals, the twelve tracks span a wide range of Jamaican music styles popular at the time the film was shot in the early 1970s. It is little known that the soundtrack consists entirely of songs (1) written and/or performed brilliantly by Jimmy Cliff - or (2) hand-selected for the film by Perry Henzell from his personal record collection.