Which 1972 Jamaican crime film starred Jimmy Cliff as Ivanhoe Martin?

The 1972 Jamaican crime film starring Jimmy Cliff as Ivanhoe Martin is *The Harder They Come*.

Directed by Perry Henzell and co-written with Trevor D. Rhone, the film follows Ivan, a poor young Jamaican who travels to Kingston hoping to become a recording star. After exploitation by the music industry and a turn toward crime, he becomes a notorious figure. Jimmy Cliff’s performance is central to the film’s enduring reputation.

Its soundtrack helped introduce Jamaican reggae to a worldwide audience. It includes songs by Cliff, Desmond Dekker, the Slickers, the Maytals, and others, including the title song. The film is sometimes confused with a reggae album or song because its soundtrack became almost as famous as the movie itself.

The Harder They Come was one of Jamaica’s most influential films and remains a landmark of Caribbean cinema.