American Cinematheque to pay tribute to Perry Henzell

Monday, March 15, 2010

The American Cinematheque will on Friday salute the memory of legendary Jamaican film-maker, Perry Henzell with an evening dedicated to his feature films at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California.

Henzell has been called "the most important filmmaker to emerge from the Caribbean" and his landmark film, The Harder They Come, was responsible for introducing Reggae music to the world. With unique insight, visual sense and original thinking, he forever changed the way we look at things. Through his films, stage plays, and novels, the worldwide impact of his work continues to grow.

A courtyard reception sponsored by Red Stripe Beer and Universal Music and will see DJs spinning the music of star of the film and international artiste, Jimmy Cliff and the soundtrack of the same name, The Harder They Come. There will also be a celebration of Cliff's induction into this year's Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

Guests will enjoy a double feature, which commences with the showing of No Place Like Home, which was also directed by Henzell. Following the success of The Harder They Come, Perry Henzell directed part two of his Jamaican trilogy, which follows New York producer Susan as she ventures into the Jamaican countryside (reversing the country-to-city trajectory of the first film) in search of a runaway actress. After working on the film throughout the 1970s, Henzell discovered that the footage had been lost. Fortunately, it was found 30 years later, and now Henzell's follow-up to his breakthrough classic can be seen on the big screen!

Discussion in between films will be led by Justine Henzell (Perry's daughter) and will include producer David Garonzik, actress PJ Soles, producer Arthur Gorson, Roger Steffens and special surprise guests. Moderator will be Wayne Jobson.

The Harder They Come is a 1972 Jamaican crime film directed by Perry Henzell.

The film stars reggae singer Jimmy Cliff, who plays Ivanhoe Martin, a character based on Rhyging, a real-life Jamaican criminal who achieved fame in the 1940s. Other major roles in the film were played by Janet Bartley (Elsa), Basil Keane (Preacher), the late Ras Daniel Hartman (Pedro), Beverly Anderson (now Manley), the late Bob Charlton, Jamaican actor Volaire Johnson (pushcart boy), and well known Jamaican comedians Ed 'Bim' Lewis (photographer), and Aston 'Bam' Winter (drunken husband).

The Harder They Come was released in February 1973 in New York City by Roger Corman's New World Pictures to little attention. It became more popular when it was played to midnight audiences nationwide the following April. The film is referenced in the Clash songs The Guns of Brixton and Safe European Home. In 2005, it was developed into a stage musical by the Theatre Royal Stratford East and UK Arts Productions in London. Adapted by Henzell, it opened on March 25, 2006. The soundtrack to the film is considered a breakthrough for reggae in the United States.

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COMMENTS (3)

Melasante Daley
3/19/2010

Wish there would be some more info on the Tribute to Perry Henzell, such as time of event and whether it is an open or close event. I
'm only about 3 miles from where the tribute will be held and would definately attend if time fits within my schedule.

Leon Ewart
3/18/2010

Again, let's not get it twisted. This black versus white issue. We all know of Trevor Rhone and his contributions (google Trevor Rhone). He was voted the second most important black figure in film, only after Sidney Poitier ( I stand to be corrected). The question should be, after the film "The Harder They Come", when are we next going to see another great film coming out of island? Maybe the industry could approach a white man (Chris Blackwell) been that a black man wouldn't want to run the risk of losing money. The same brother would rather make loose music videos disrespecting our sisters. Why not use that same creativity in the music videos and direct it along a more creative channel. Once you see a dancehall video, you have seen them all. Any black film makers want to rise to the channel?

william jackson
3/15/2010

interesting that this is all about the white jamaican (no offense intended) Henzell and there is no mention of its black Jamaican co-screenwriter Trevor Rhone,
without whom it is generally accepted; The Harder They Come would NEVER have
been an artistic or box-office success. I understand that the Henzell's are well-meaning Jamaicans and have the right to memorialize their scion Perry Henzell but they must desist from doing so at the expense of pimping Jamaica's greatest and most accomplished screenwriter, the late Trevor D. Rhone.

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American Cinematheque to pay tribute to Perry Henzell