Criterion Reflections – Episode 146 – Perry Henzell’s The Harder They Come

Criterion Reflections is David Blakeslee’s ongoing project to watch all of the films included in the Criterion Collection in chronological order of their original release. Each episode of Season 5: 1973 features a short video clip in which David offers a few thoughts about films that were destined to eventually bear the Criterion imprint, whether published on physical media or made available on their streaming platform. These clips will occasionally be accompanied by lengthier podcast episodes including other guests for films that call for more in-depth coverage. In this episode, David is joined by Richard Doyle, Josh Hornbeck, Brad McDermott, and James Merritt to discuss The Harder They Come, directed by Perry Henzell. In 2000, the Criterion Collection published the film on DVD as Spine 83. It is currently streaming on the Criterion Channel and available on Blu-ray and DVD in editions published by Shout! Factory.

EPISODE LINKS:

PERRY HENZELL

• Wikipedia
• Letterboxd
• Caribbean Beat
• Jakes Hotel
• Jamaicans.com
• RastaStudio
• ReggaeZine
• The Guardian (obituary)
• New York Times (obituary)

THE HARDER THEY COME

• The Criterion Collection
• The Criterion Channel
• Shout! Factory
• Wikipedia
• Letterboxd
• JustWatch
• Boston Phoenix (1973)
• New York Times (1973)
• Roger Ebert (1973)
• Variety (1972)
• Cinepassion
• Cole Smithey
• Criterion Confessions
• Criterion Contraption
• Every 70s Movie
• Fanboy Nation
• Midnight Only
• Rock! Shock! Pop!
• Salon
• San Francisco Chronicle
• Slant
• Spinning Image
• TCM

PREVIOUSLY:

BLACK CAESAR

UP NEXT:

CHARLOTTE’S WEB

MORE!

• Criterion Reflections blog (1922 – 1967)
• Criterion Reflections columns on CriterionCast (1968)
• The Eclipse Viewer
• A Journey Through the Eclipse Series

CONTACT:

• David Blakeslee [ YouTube / TikTok / Website / Facebook / Letterboxd ]
• Richard Doyle [ Letterboxd ]
• Josh Hornbeck [Website / Twitter / Instagram / Letterboxd ]
• Brad McDermott [ Instagram / Letterboxd / Gallery ]
• James Merritt [ YouTube / Instagram / X ]